Small Backyard Designs
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Pink Muhly Grass
Muehlenbergia capillaris
A clump forming hardy perennial grass reaching up to 5 x 6 ( rarely over 4 ) feet.
Native to southeastern North America, it is endangered in the wild in Connecticutt, New Jersey and Maryland, and is extinct in the wild in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The fine textured foliage is wire-like and blue-green to deep green.
The foliage clump is topped from mid August through October by pink cloud-like inflorescences up to 10 x 8 inches in size.. The flower inflorescences are exceptionally beautiful when backlit by the sun. Occasional deep irrigation during late summer will enhance autumn blooming.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun on very well draineds soil. It is not eaten by deer. Extremely drought, heat, salt and poor soil tolerant. Mostly found on sandy and rocky soils in the wild and does not need much fertilizer. Pests and disease problems are very rare.
Great for urban garden and against white stucco walls.
Also a great plant for drought plagued parking lot islands.
Cut plants to ground during late winter to make room for fresh new growth.
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Regal Mist
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet ( foliage up to 3 x 3 feet ), with spectacular dusky-pink, hazy flower panicles.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat, drought as well as humidity tolerant, making it a great landscape plant for both the desert southwest and the southeastern U.S.
White Cloud
Reaches up to 4.5 feet, with deep green foliage and creamy-white, massed, cloud-like plumes throughout autumn. It is among the most beautiful of all ornamental grasses.
Tolerates as low as -5 F.
Muehlenbergia emersleyi El Toro ( Bullgrass ) A very attractive, clumping grass, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet. It forms a denser clump than Muhlenbergia rigens. The species is native to hilly oak woodlands from Arizona to Texas. The coarse foliage is blue-green. The leaves are wider than that of Muhlenbergia rigens. The showy flower spikes are fluffy and rose-purple, eventually fading to tan. Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( the species only hardy to zone 7 ) in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. It is clay tolerant and very drought / heat tolerant. Soak weekly during summer during the first season, biweekly the following summer to establish new plants. Established plants can be soaked every 3 weeks. Deer resistant. Cut clumps back hard during early spring every other year to eliminate thatch.
Muehlenbergia lindheimeri ( Lindheimer Muhly Grass )
A perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 4 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, that is native to the Edwards Plateau of Texas as well as northern Mexico.
The fountain-like foliage is blue-green. The foliage is deciduous and clumps are cut back hard during early spring.
The purplish, turning to silvery fountain-like plumes, up to 5 feet high, are borne during autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun. Very heat, drought, clay, salt, mediterranean climate and deer tolerant.
Muehlenbergia Pink Flamingo
A narrow, upright, vigorous hybrid, reaching up to 5 x 4 feet. It is a hybrid between Muehlenbergia rigens and the Gulf Coast Muhly Grass.
The very narrow foliage is blue-green.
The soft pink flower spikes are borne during early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat, drought as well as humidity tolerant, making it a great landscape plant for both the desert southwest and the southeastern U.S.
Great for the confined urban garden and against white stucco walls.
Also a great plant for drought plagued parking lot islands.
Deer resistant.
Muehlenbergia reverchonii ( Autumn Embers Muhly Grass )
A perennial grass, reaching up to 3 x 2 feet, that is native from southwest Oklahoma to northern Texas.
The finely-textured foliage is mid-green.
The flowers appear in a very attractive pinkish-red, haze during autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on very well drained soil including clay. It is extremely heat and drought tolerant, making it great for the inner city as well as suburban strip mall landscaping. Considering its native range, it is very tolerant of the heat + humidity combination found in the southeast. It is highly deer resistant.
Muehlenbergia rigens ( Deer Grass )
A very attractive ornamental grass, reaching up to 5 x 7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, forms a dense, evergreen clump of gray-green foliage turning to buff-tan during winter. It is native from California to Texas; south into northern Mexico.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on rich, well drained soil. Extremely adaptable and very drought tolerant. It is not prone to pests or disease.
A clump forming hardy perennial grass reaching up to 5 x 6 ( rarely over 4 ) feet.
Native to southeastern North America, it is endangered in the wild in Connecticutt, New Jersey and Maryland, and is extinct in the wild in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The fine textured foliage is wire-like and blue-green to deep green.
The foliage clump is topped from mid August through October by pink cloud-like inflorescences up to 10 x 8 inches in size.. The flower inflorescences are exceptionally beautiful when backlit by the sun. Occasional deep irrigation during late summer will enhance autumn blooming.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun on very well draineds soil. It is not eaten by deer. Extremely drought, heat, salt and poor soil tolerant. Mostly found on sandy and rocky soils in the wild and does not need much fertilizer. Pests and disease problems are very rare.
Great for urban garden and against white stucco walls.
Also a great plant for drought plagued parking lot islands.
Cut plants to ground during late winter to make room for fresh new growth.
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Regal Mist
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet ( foliage up to 3 x 3 feet ), with spectacular dusky-pink, hazy flower panicles.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat, drought as well as humidity tolerant, making it a great landscape plant for both the desert southwest and the southeastern U.S.
White Cloud
Reaches up to 4.5 feet, with deep green foliage and creamy-white, massed, cloud-like plumes throughout autumn. It is among the most beautiful of all ornamental grasses.
Tolerates as low as -5 F.
Muehlenbergia emersleyi El Toro ( Bullgrass ) A very attractive, clumping grass, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet. It forms a denser clump than Muhlenbergia rigens. The species is native to hilly oak woodlands from Arizona to Texas. The coarse foliage is blue-green. The leaves are wider than that of Muhlenbergia rigens. The showy flower spikes are fluffy and rose-purple, eventually fading to tan. Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( the species only hardy to zone 7 ) in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. It is clay tolerant and very drought / heat tolerant. Soak weekly during summer during the first season, biweekly the following summer to establish new plants. Established plants can be soaked every 3 weeks. Deer resistant. Cut clumps back hard during early spring every other year to eliminate thatch.
Muehlenbergia lindheimeri ( Lindheimer Muhly Grass )
A perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 4 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, that is native to the Edwards Plateau of Texas as well as northern Mexico.
The fountain-like foliage is blue-green. The foliage is deciduous and clumps are cut back hard during early spring.
The purplish, turning to silvery fountain-like plumes, up to 5 feet high, are borne during autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun. Very heat, drought, clay, salt, mediterranean climate and deer tolerant.
Muehlenbergia Pink Flamingo
A narrow, upright, vigorous hybrid, reaching up to 5 x 4 feet. It is a hybrid between Muehlenbergia rigens and the Gulf Coast Muhly Grass.
The very narrow foliage is blue-green.
The soft pink flower spikes are borne during early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat, drought as well as humidity tolerant, making it a great landscape plant for both the desert southwest and the southeastern U.S.
Great for the confined urban garden and against white stucco walls.
Also a great plant for drought plagued parking lot islands.
Deer resistant.
Muehlenbergia reverchonii ( Autumn Embers Muhly Grass )
A perennial grass, reaching up to 3 x 2 feet, that is native from southwest Oklahoma to northern Texas.
The finely-textured foliage is mid-green.
The flowers appear in a very attractive pinkish-red, haze during autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on very well drained soil including clay. It is extremely heat and drought tolerant, making it great for the inner city as well as suburban strip mall landscaping. Considering its native range, it is very tolerant of the heat + humidity combination found in the southeast. It is highly deer resistant.
Muehlenbergia rigens ( Deer Grass )
A very attractive ornamental grass, reaching up to 5 x 7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, forms a dense, evergreen clump of gray-green foliage turning to buff-tan during winter. It is native from California to Texas; south into northern Mexico.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on rich, well drained soil. Extremely adaptable and very drought tolerant. It is not prone to pests or disease.
Prunella
Prunella grandiflora ( Self-Heal )
A low, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 x 4 feet.
It can be used for groundcover.
The leaves are up to 4 x 2 inches.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in sun or shade on well drained to moist soil.
Tolerates wet conditions.
A low, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 x 4 feet.
It can be used for groundcover.
The leaves are up to 4 x 2 inches.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in sun or shade on well drained to moist soil.
Tolerates wet conditions.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Landscape Architecture for Dummies 1
Ive written pretty extensively in the past about why I dont like the term, landscaping, applied to the fields of design and landscape architecture.
Despite my often indignant writing, I understand that for the majority of the population, landscape architecture is not really something theyre familiar with and that many lack the vocabulary to discuss it. As it happens my default response when, landscaping, crops up in conversation is generally to smile my most patient, parish vicar smile and explain what the correct terms would be. You see, I actually think that using the correct terminology is helpful to all involved. Heres an example:
I was recently (but to protect the guilty, not that recently) asked by an architect to review a design and access statement that he had prepared for a new building, for landscaping content. Apparently it had not gone down that well with the local authority. In his summary of landscaping he described the area to north of his building as landscaped, the area around the building as to be landscaped and similarly, the area south of the building, also as to be landscaped. In actual fact, the area north was existing woodland, the area around the building was to be planted as gardens and the area south of the buildings was to be hard paved. Do you see the problem? This kind of sums up why using landscaping as a catch all for our work is such a problem, because it doesnt really explain what is actually being done.
So in a benevolent effort to spread the gospel of landscape architecture, I thought Id produce a brief glossary of landscape terms:
landscape - the stuff all around us from when we step out of our, houses, offices and generic buildings, and look around. A particularly handy term to use, when youre not referring to buildings.
soft landscape - the stuff that grow; trees, shrubs, grass and all things green.
hard landscape - the stuff in the landscape that isnt green; think surfacing, furniture and other man-made features.
existing vegetation - trees and shrubs that are already there. In fact theyre free - how cool is that?!?
landscaping - mowing the lawn, tarmac-ing and general maintenance done by men with pick-ups and overalls.
For more a more thorough, if rather USA-centric list of terms, see ASLAs Landscape Architecture Glossary:
http://www.asla.org/nonmembers/publicrelations/glossary.htm
If that left you felling a little overwhelmed, my advice is to just try to memorise the top two or three. Or maybe just the top one - landscape.
Imagine, and Im looking at you Mr Architect, how much time youll save over the course of your life by referring to landscape, as opposed to landscape-Ping!. Think of every Ping! as a second you wont spend with your children or designing your masterwork (perhaps future man will consider your sargasso blue, clad distribution shed in a similar light to the works of Palladio). And what is the carbon footprint of every superfluous Ping! Not only will you help to preserve the sanity of pedantic landscape architects, but youll also help to save the planet too!
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Roosevelt Elementary School Centennial Time Garden
Roosevelt Elementary School Centennial Time Garden
Conceptual Design Process & Drawing April 2008
NE Olympia, Washington
Pickerel Weed
Pontederia cordata
A rhizomatous perennial water plant, reaching up to 4 ( usually 2 ) feet in height, that is native to eastern North America.
The heart-shaped leaves, up to 10 x 6 inches, are glossy deep green.
The mid-blue ( with yellow eye ) flowers are borne on sturdy, stout spikes from early summer through mid autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade in permanent water from 0.5 to 12 inches deep.
* photos taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co., PA
A rhizomatous perennial water plant, reaching up to 4 ( usually 2 ) feet in height, that is native to eastern North America.
The heart-shaped leaves, up to 10 x 6 inches, are glossy deep green.
The mid-blue ( with yellow eye ) flowers are borne on sturdy, stout spikes from early summer through mid autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade in permanent water from 0.5 to 12 inches deep.
* photos taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co., PA