A Second Raised Bed
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: A Second Raised Bed
- From: G*
- Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 08:36:35 -0500
Hello to all,
Just completed my second raised bed for this fall and got it planted, watered
and mulched for the winter to come.
This one is on the outside edge of my garden, connecting the mid-level with
the upper level. There are steps going up the hill and these form the inside edge
of the raised bed. Construction was a bit modular in that I used two-hole concrete
blocks and then capped them off with creek-stone. Bed itself in about 4 1/2 feet
wide and about 35 feet long swinging in a gentle "S" up the hill.
Starting at the top of the inclined bed and working my way back down, I began
with some Erythronium "White Beauty" (Trout Lilies) close to the corners and the
stone work. To the back of the bed is 3 Geranium maculatum "Helen Gallager" with 3
Caulophyllum thalictroides up in front of the geraniums and in the middle of the
bed. Then I swing out and down the front of the bed with 3 Panax quinquefolia
(Ginseng). Next comes Polygonatum obtusifolium to the back of the bed and then a
small Fothergill called "Blue Mist"in the corner. The shrub is underplanted with
Phlox stolenifera blue. Along the rocks that divide the bed at this point to
prevent wash-out are Silene virginica or Fire Pinks.
On the other side of the rocks dividing the bed I pick up once more with
Silene and mix them with more Erythronium. This time E. dens-canis in mixed
colors. To the back of the bed once more I have planted Stenanthium gramineum or
Grassy-bells. In front of these are the dwarf toadlily, Tricyrtis nana in yellow
blooms. Next is Glaucidium palmatum in white blooms with Hanabusea asiatica up
front in blue. Ranzana japonica in pink is next along the stone edge of the bed.
One more Polygonatum in back with a bit of height to reflect the Grassybells used
earlier. P. verticiliatum. Brunneria "Langtrees" forms the back and end of the bed
with Polemonium B. "Heavenly Beauty" swinging around to the middle and front of
the bed.The bed ends with a Rhododendron "Yak" underplanted with a white Phlox
divarcata.
Wish I had the time to do two more large beds, but looks as though this will
be it for this season.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
