Continuing on with the garden re-design of this courtyard, the plan was to tackle it in bite-size changes, according to the defined areas. In Stage 1 of the re-design, an outline plan was drawn, the garden cleared of clutter and the boundaries considered in terms of an evergreen, fragrant climber. For this the large-flowered jasmine (J. officinale f. affine) was ideal.
Cutting corners on a shady lawn: At the top of the garden, a rectangular, shady lawn area was an unsatisfactory mix of turf, weed, moss and thin stony soil. The usual design advice for such an area is to grub it up and pave, since the likelihood of it ever becoming a ‘green carpet’ is nil. However, I decided instead to consider the cheaper, greener alternative of regarding it as the kind of areas you find on the edges of woodland.
‘Going with the flow’ meant cutting round the two top, almost bare, corners and turning them into shade bed extensions. Thus a rectangle was converted into a semi-circle creating a more open, spacious feel to the area. With a weed, feed and seed for shady lawns, the grass began to green up whilst the bareness of the extended soil was somewhat hastily planted up with foxgloves, ferns, hostas, Pieris and last but not least Sarcococcas.
Plant #2: Like many of our easy-going garden plants, the flesh-berried Sarcococcas oblige in the most unpromising of areas and were it not for their sweetest of winter fragrances I fear they would be disregarded as nothing other than full-shade garden fillers. As it is there are several varieties of these Sweet Box, each with their own unique features and one of the most attractive is S. hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’
Growing to just over 1 metre in height and width, this glossy shrub has been slow to fill out and sucker into a respectable looking bush. The tips of its upright stems and narrow lanceolate leaf axes are tinged red-purple. More late-winter blooming than some other Sarcococcas, it is only this month showing the tiny tentacled flowers in a pretty mix of creamy-white sepals, sitting in shell-pink buds. Both male and female flowers are carried on the same plant though their diminutive size makes it difficult for anyone other than a botanist to discern. What this means however, is that there will be a later additional attraction of berries, ripening as shiny, jet-black spheres.
L to R clockwise: S.hookeriana flowers; red berries of S. ruscifolia; ladybird on lanceolate leaf; sarcococcas and ferns in shade bed; red-purple stems and leaves of S hookeriana;
The harlequin ladybird has correctly identified the Sarcococca ‘Purple Stem’ as native to its asian homeland but here it is equally at home in a London courtyard garden. With winter scent trapped between four walls, the upright evergreen brings constant colour and form to the bleakest of North facing, shade corners. Common as Sweet Box might be, it is a deserving signature plant for this month’s ‘ Dozen for Diana’ meme.
Coming Next:
It doesn’t hurt to be optimistic. You can always cry later.
~Lucimar Santos de Lima
The plan was to do the same corner cutting of the side lawn, bring both areas into continuity but before I could say Stage 3, Soleirolia soleirolii had moved in, requiring a totally different strategy…
I’m thoroughly enjoying your “dozen” and the way you are relating it. Makes it very interesting.
Christine @ The Gardening Blog read my post..Growing Lotus Blossom from Seed
London courtyard garden where the scent is trapped – sounds enticing. Glad you still have a space to garden in.
Elephant’s Eye read my post..Wildflower Wednesday as February turns to Autumn
Lovely ideas, Laura except for the Pieris. It’s planted in very second garden up here. So perhaps it depends on which one it is! Fascinating to see the garde evolving.
I love the garden gate view…so lovely and I also love how you are enticing us into your dozen….
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Purple Passion Natives
I like the design of your garden. I too always question Pieris. They have such specific requirements and sulk very easily if the requirements are not met. Here, it is mostly soil conditions, but they also like to remain moist.
Donna read my post..Month in Tens – Garden Whites
I like the idea of the curved lawn and I love pieris, it looks great all year round. Just wondering what the sarcococca smells like ?
b-a-g read my post..Crocus (17 FEB 2012)
a touch sweeter than Jasmine though not as strong
I love your garden plan – may I ask how you did it? Look forward to seeing pictures of the end result.
elaine rickett read my post..Greenhouse – Mission Accomplished
used rather old Serif desktop publishing software but it suits me!
It’s lovely to be planning a new garden, isn’t it? Enjoy!
RobinL read my post..Sweet Surprises
How handy—I was looking for the name of that sarcococca because I had a photo to label. Your redesign is looking great.
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens read my post..A Wonder of Nature
glad to be of some timely help here
Hi Laura,
I note others have questioned pieris…..
I have found it the perfect plant, I have one in the front garden and it is stunning.
I also have three in the woodland walk but they are grown in very large oak barrels. They also have done extremely well.
It is fun designing a garden and watching it grow
I like the way the garden is evolving.
- not as interesting as your Lotus, Christine
- yes Diana, space to still dig a bit of earth
- Donna, garden gate view has my rose sharing the space here too
- yes Robin, my friend and neighbour is so trusting too!
and for Pieris commenters….
- I agree Pieris is overdone Janet though bees like it so that is a good reason for me to tolerate it. And 1 was already here so just addded more
- like you Donna find Pieris somewhat fussy re its locale. Needs more pampering than I really want to give
- I’m sure you have the magic touch with plants Cheryl. Would have assumed Kent soil was too chalky for Pieris.
Laura I love reading how you are thinking this through and your replies re fitting in with the clients needs and wishes, have to say I jumped at the harlequin ladybird as I have been hearing how they are devouring our native ladybirds, so sad, when I think of box I see all those little box hedges and think ugh but you have made me think I should explore further, thanks, Frances
Island Threads read my post..the fruit and berry garden (well one day maybe)