The raspberries I stuck in the ground are looking unhappy with me. They may not take.

[conuly]

But I ordered basil with my groceries, and instead of leaves I got plants, so I sent A to the store to buy more basil and shoved the plants in the ground, and they look ecstatic, guys. Historically, our basil has often managed to reseed itself at the end of the season, too. I wouldn't bet that it'll happen this year, but it might!

Eventually I'll be done with the backyard and the side yard and I'll move to... the front yard! We can divide this like Gaul into three parts: the base of the porch, between the wall and sidewalk, the tree lawn.

The base of the porch is elevated from the sidewalk by about four feet and has a forsythia and it used to have a barberry hedge and now it's overgrown with crap. I could put more currant bushes there, or more raspberries or blueberries, or maybe lilacs - my mother always wanted lilacs. Or, alternatively, I can eschew the bush idea and put plants, but I don't know what. Mommy loved bulbs, everybody loves bulbs... but I don't love bulbs. Sorry. I could probably use the last of my wildflower seeds (I ordered more and should now have enough finally thank goodness) but... meh, I want something more cultivated in the front, I think.

The area between the wall and the sidewalk has an overenthusiastic rose bramble that must die die die die die. I kinda want to put a butterfly bush there, which would neatly deter people from putting their trash there... but would I keep it trimmed? If not, maybe I should just go with, like, a row of sunflowers. But those are a hassle to handle at the end of the season, they don't want to be dug up.

And then there's the tree lawn. You can fit one parked car there, so I think no matter what I need a little stepping stone to let my neighbors get in and out of their car. We have a tree there, I think it's a redbud. And of course we often put our trash there on garbage night, but we could shift to putting it over slightly on the other side of the house where it's just sidewalk. So my options are either a nice, very low groundcover, or maybe some pansies or marigolds? Something that won't argue with the tree and that will definitely say "Go away, I have planted something here".

What do you all suggest for every area? Every option considered!

Comments

[mama_kestrel]

Creeping phlox is low, gorgeous in the spring, and a good ground over in other seasons.

[moon_custafer]

so I sent A to the store to buy more basil and shoved the plants in the ground, and they look ecstatic, guys.

Picturing some kind of basil rave here, with all the plants saying and holding glow-sticks in their leaves.

[movingfinger]

I planted a lilac that will grow to be smellable from the deck, so I'm strongly in favor of a lilac by the porch. Make it a super-fragrant one!

Pansies and marigolds are annuals and I assume you mean both---pansies, cool season, marigolds for when they burn out. They are nice filers. However, I vote for creeping phlox with stepping stones also. You could also look at cerastium (silver-grey foliage, delicate white flowers) to mix with the phlox. (Deer and rabbits may eat the blossoms off both of those, have a Plan B in mind.) Liriope and hakone grass, which both come in various colors including variegated, would also look good in the hell strip, framing stepping stones. Make your stepping stone quite large as the plants will flop in around it and reduce the apparent size and people will then stomp the plants anyway. Both liriope and hakone grass die back in winter where I am, I am not sure Staten Island isn't mild enough to keep them going. (If you want something evergreen, you'll need to go with something like vinca.) You could also set a couple of the nonstop daylilies in with the phlox, hakone grass, or whatever you add---Hyperion literally will bloom all summer once it gets going and is easy care and there are descendants of Hyperion available too. Nobody steps on daylilies, they're pretty. I'd probably place a stepping stone for both front and back of car doors.

Butterfly bush is kinda invasive and may self-seed if you put it there, I would choose cautiously if you like those.

If people are in the habit of putting their trash where your unloved rose is, you will have trouble breaking them of the habit: consider replacing that rose with a better one? Still a deterrent but more attractive? Could you get away with a small prunable tree there, eg. dogwood? There are some excellent selections in evergreens that stay small available now, too.

[adafrog]

*crosses fingers for your raspberries*

[chez_jae]

I once had a massive raspberry patch, and the fallen berries are what kept it seeded/propagating. Just throw some random berries on the ground. LOL!