The South Border did not exist on the day we closed on the house. But we had ideas.

On June 3 we planted three hydrangeas, Limelight, Angel’s Blush and Firelight, as well as two lilacs, deep purple Yankee Doodle and double white Beauty of Moscow. Shrubs were planted in the ground with the the addition of Martin’s compost.

Once shrubs were in the ground we built the lasagna beds around them with cardboard and compost so  that we could plant perennials – and an annual or two.

Now, one year later,  with additional plantings of roses, virburnams and various groundcovers like lady’s mantle, and sedums the view from Office Window 2 is quite different.

The eastern end of the South Border includes the hydrangeas and lilac in the rear with roses in  the front. Low growing Purple Rain begins on  the left, then you can see the tiny white buds of a white rose (Lion’s Fairy Tale I thinks. Thomas Affleck pink follows then the apricot Folksinger and another white which is either Lion’s Fairy Tale or Polar Express, both of  which are Kordes roses.

You can see the white rose from the previous photo, then The Fairy which is not yet blooming but loaded with  buds and doing splendidly. To the far right is the wonderful Zaide,  a lush Kordes pink.

This photo gives you a better view of Zaide,  and Kockout Red ends this section of the South Border. There is only one other very small rose beyond the Knockout and we’ll have to wait for next year for her blooms. I hope you notice the tall mullein that Mother Nature planted for us at the very edge of the driveway. So far so good! The Main Garden behind the house is also doing well. Keep Watching.