Bizzy Garden

Not very inspiring or attractive are some of the kindest things I could say about the patch of ground at the front of our home. Since we can't remove some of the grass (which is community property) to make a larger and better shaped area we must work with what we have.

Even though I didn't care for the colour the community chose for our house, it does look better having been freshly painted. The removal of the hedge that was full of spiders and never did anything (didn't grow, didn't flower) gave us a clean palette on which to work.

This area is always mostly in the shade hidden from direct sun by the garage. This means that my original desire for a beautiful English flower garden was a non-starter. 

Away go the old pieces of slate and some of the soil for a strangely shaped patio.

The soil is replaced by a layer of gravel.

Followed by one of sand.

Nice paving stone work but what is it for?
It's for hubby to be able to walk to and from the hose after surfing to wash the salt off his feet and wet suit without walking on the grass (which can be muddy).

The remaining area for planting gets dug over with the addition of some compost to break up the clay soil and provide better drainage.

The final result.
Over in the small strip of soil we have a Japanese Gold Dust Aucuba which has small red berries on it, and several impatiens (known as Bizzy Lizzies in England).
In the main section are more Bizzy Lizzies, another Aucuba, a Silver Lady Fern, a Philodendron (a version called Hope as in we hope it isn't going to grow too big), two Coleus, and two Daylilies. The Daylily is salt tolerant s it should do alright on the right hand side of the garden area.