Lots of changes this Spring: Part 2 - HotTub Bed

My vision for the landscaping around the hot tub is along the lines of a cottage garden.  I can't let myself go and allow a free-for-all like the traditional cottage look.  Rather, I want it well organized with waves of color but still with the tall pinks and purples with hints of yellow peaking through.  I need most of the things to be tall to be able to see them over the hot tub from inside the house.  I must look ridiculous to the neighbors, because before I plant anything, I put it in place,  run inside and stand at the window to figure out how it will look from the inside. On the hot hot days, this is where I'll be enjoying the space anyway!

Many of the plants I'm looking for are not at any of my local stores (or they just sold out before I could get there), so I'm leaving space for them next Spring.  Next year, I will be quicker on the click and order by mail.  Bluestone Perennials seem to have most of what I want at pretty good prices.  One flower that I'm very excited about is a Coneflower 'Milkshake'.  Then I can walk around singing, "My milkshake brings the boys to the yard." and it will be true.  Of course, most of the boys will be butterflies and bees, but that's ok.  I still get to sing.

As of the end of May, this is what we are looking at  (Eeeek - preposition at the end!!!  Is it EVER ok?)

This pic was in my previous post, but i wanted an overall view before zooming in

This Amsonia just finished blooming.  The tiny blue star flowers were very dainty, but very pretty.  I have read that if I shave this down a bit it will become bushier for the fall color show it will put on for us.  Hopefully this works.  I put this close to the walkway next to the evergreen so the fall color would be seen from everywhere and contrast well against the darker colors.  The flagstones are there just to cover and kill the grass that keeps coming up through the mulch and newspaper.

 Amsonia 'Halfway to Arkansas'

Again, more flagstone to kill the lawn grass so I can better see my Ornamental grass.  Seems kind of ridiculous doesn't it.  I pull grass seed out of the mulch then go and water the grass we laid down other places.  Someday I'd like an arbor at this point to go over the sidewalk and make a grand entrance to the yard.  

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' (Dwarf Fountain Grass)

 Infront of the emerald green arborvitae's is brick edging.  I can't afford what I really want this year, so I found some coleus on sale.  I figured they would soften the space and put on a show.

Coleus

This is what you would see if you were walking into the yard from the driveway (underneath the someday arbor)

 (Below) You can barley see this guy.  I may need to find him a new home.  I bought him thinking he was an annual, but right before I put him in a pot I read Perennial.  Ok then.  This is a Toffee Twist Sedge.  At the bottom left corner is Super Star Creeper.  That flagstone is a path to get around the hot tub and I want different ground covers in-between the stones.

Sedge 'Toffee Twist'

 In an attempt to be sure and use evergreens throughout the garden, I bought 2 of these cuties.  It will take a few years but it should grow 2-3 feet around and maintain it's round shape. Mr. Bowling Ball

Thuja occidentalis 'Mr Bowling Ball' Arborvitae

 I did get some plants through the mail.  I ordered 10 Liatris bulbs for $2.99.  I was proud of the my stingy self and as long as the green thumb cooperates, it will be a good deal.  I put 3 of them in the hot tub bed here.  Behind them is a purple Foxglove that is trying to rally some kind of protest by laying down.  I have no idea what to do with that one.  It was beautiful in the pot.

Liatris spicata 'Kobold' (Gayfeather) 

 Until the Arborvitaes grow together to create a privacy screen, I'm trying my hand at some fillers.  I bought 2 Canas to fill the gap.  I bought only 2 because I know when you dig the bulbs up in the fall, they multiply.  If that's true I should have 6-8 for next year.  Again - I'm super stingy.

Canna 'Blueberry Sparkler'

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Clematis.  The trouble is, how many can one girl grow?  This one will be my 3rd acquisition (at this house) .  I hope it fills this obelisk.  This is Nelly Moser.  It was blooming HUGE when i bought it, which was early.  I love buying them in bloom because then I KNOW what color I am getting, but the negative side to that is,  the bloom quickly fades after I plant it, then nothing until next year.  If I wasn't already  looking at another clematis on my fence in it's prime, I would not be so confident.  

This flower is pretty with white trim and a pink strip down the middle.  The blooms are very large, but it's the name that I love.  Do you ever buy a plant just because of it's name?

Backstory:  The only Nelly I've ever known was from Little House on the Prairie, and we all know, she was not nice.  One year, while a group of families were camping in the extreme heat, I noticed my best friend's hair going into curls like we see on Nelly.  She said her hair does that when it's dirty and nappy.  So, her nickname became Nappy Nelly.  For whatever reason, this story, that whole trip has so many laughable moments….thus, I was attracted to the name of this flower.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser'

What do I do about this droopy foxglove. Is it true they only live for 2 years?

 I've never seen one of these in bloom, so I bought it by the picture.  I researched it and chose it because of the size and colors.  I'll be able to see it over the hot tub, it will throw different shades of pink, and it will be my specimen plant in this area of the bed.  This hydrangea should reach 6 feet!
But when?

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea

 I know.  This sight makes a girl want to cry.  Why is this little one so sad?  Because the droopy foxglove got to it?  This is my Black Eyed Susan.  I planted 3 of them last year in front of my mailbox, they came back with a vengeance this spring.  I thought I'd share the love and add some yellow to the hot tub bed.  But this did not transplant well.  It literally went from hole to hole.  I know their roots can dry out super fast, but I didn't think it would be THAT fast.
Maybe I did this in the heat of the day, instead of the morning.
Maybe I should have watered the mother plant really well the night before.
Maybe I should have done this earlier in the season.
Maybe this is just what they do.  I hope I still get a few blooms from it anyway.  I know it will come back next year, but who wants to wait?

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-Eyed Susan)

 Ok.  This is another one that I'm really excited about.  I've only ever seen this full size one other place.  It was Tam's house last summer.  It's been on my list ever since.  I planted the Agastache far apart which is very hard for me to do.  I don't like empty space.  Not at all.  But, this is the back of the hot tub, and we don't really see it unless we are on the patio, and, I'm trying to create more waves of color instead of a bunch of different things in a tight space (which is my default mode of operation).  These two are so tiny, it's hard to imagine that they can fill this whole space.  They have been there a month and not done a thing - except live - which is good, but I'm looking for growth here!!  Wonder if I'll see flowers this year.
When (and if) they reach maturity, their light green will look dazzling below the evergreens.

Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' (Anise Hyssop)

 I bought these two daisies the same day from the same place and planted them the same day.  So, why oh why are they growing at such different speeds?  Strange.  They are not more than 1 1/2 from one another.
My hope is that these do well, and I remember where they are, because I've had to buy daisies every year, because they look like weeds!

Shasta Daisy 'Becky'

A view from a few steps back.  We are now getting close to the Fence Bed.  Two plants who have not been mentioned that are behind the Shasta Daisy is another Dwarf Foutnain Grass and a single stalk of Zebra grass (mail order)

I bought Ajuga at my old house and loved the name, then the look of it.  It took me 2 seasons before I realized it puts out small purple/blue flowers in the Spring.   Made me love it even more.  I had to transplant it in the midst of the flower show, and it did not recover very well.  But we are set for next year.

I love the way it hugs the corners of the patio.  It might be happy with this running the length of the patio edge…but there are so many other beautiful border plants to try.  I've not made up my mind yet.  So, I put this here and will allow it to spread to it's heart content.

Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' (Bugleweed)

Hostas. Clematis. Astilbes. Hydrangeas. Heucheras.  These are a few of my favorite things!

My list of this plant alone is pretty long.  I grow these for the foliage alone, although the flowers are an added bonus.  I can never decide whether or not to put multiple plants together to create a wave of color, or spread the love around the beds and let their colors work off it's neighbors to add texture and interest.  All these decisions.  I have two of these, and I separated them.  I know they are very movable and seem to always recover quickly, so I'm not afraid of changing my mind.

Heuchera 'Creme Brûlée' (Coral Bells) with Dwarf  Fountain Grass behind

As of the end of May, and I guess the end of Spring, this is my hot tub bed!  I'm proud of it.  I enjoy it.  I'll do more later!