The redbud front and center has evolved on the windy slope as a large shrub. To the right is an ash I’ve kept small by pruning. To the left is a burgundy-colored ninebark. Behind that, staghorn sumac and willow. In front is a row of globemaster alliums that I scored at Costco one year. Rocks and lambs’ ears serve as edging.
Blue, green and yellow spreading junipers on the slope put all worries about erosion in the past. Any area they haven’t filled in yet, lambs’ ears are temporarily doing the job. Behind them, highbush blueberries are also loving the sunny slope. On the right is the red maple, on the left, a willow (perhaps a Bebb willow, not sure). In the back are dappled willow and Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar).
The curve of the iris bed echoes the shape of the supported red pine. The yellow lantern magnolia now has all its leaves. I left the soft-textured lambs’ ears flowers standing in this area, just for height.
On the other side of the magnolia is a purple smokebush and Scarlet O’Hara andromeda. Dark green rudbeckia foliage contrasts with Rheingold Globe arborvitae, mugo pine and lambs’ ears.
We planted several plants inkberries and this one’s the happiest. I love how the bluish tint of the lambs’ ears picks up on the water and the blue sky. The lambs’ ears are not native, however, they’ve been a huge help to fill in spots and prevent erosion on the dry, sandy slope where the junipers haven’t had a chance to fill in yet. To their right, upslope, is a patch of highbush blueberries.
A line of red pines had been suffering for a while. Now there’s no question; they are dead. While they await being felled, they happen to pick up on the color of a brilliant purple smokebush. To the left of the smokebush is a gray dogwood in flower; to its left is a Yellow Lantern magnolia. Bearberry, red knockout roses, purple blooms of catmint, yellow flowers of rue and white spikes of lambs’ ears all provide for plenty of contrast in the front yard.
