Design Idea

Andropogon

Andropogon gerardii ( Big Bluestem )
An upright, clumping grass, reaching up to 12 x 7 ( rarely over 8 ) feet, that is native to the tall grass prairie ecosystem from Canada to northern Mexico. Big Bluestem looks great planted in groups as an accent. Typical of prairie plants, it is deep rooted, up to 10 feet deep.
The foliage , up to 7 feet high, is silvery blue-green, turning to orange-red in autumn the to bronze lasting into early winter. The graceful blades of grass wave in the summer breezes.
The purplish flower spikes are borne late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun. Tolerant of wet soil, clay and dry sand, preferring a soil PH from 6 to 7.5. Big Bluestem is deer resistant and is very drought and moderately salt tolerant.

* photo of unknown internet source


* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database


Bulls Eye
Reaches up to 7 x 3.5 feet, with green foliage that turns deep orange and purple during autumn.
The purple flower plumes are borne late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 9.

Indian Warrior
Reaches up to 6 x 3.2 feet, with luxuriant deep green foliage that turns reddish-purple to purple-bronze during autumn.
The dark purple flower plumes are borne late summer lasting into autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 9.

Lord Snowdon
Reaches up to 7.5 x 5.3 feet, with silvery-blue foliage that turns to orange and red during autumn.
The pink flowers plumes are borne during autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 9.

Mega Blue
Strongly upright in habit, reaching up to 7 x 3 feet.
The foliage is silvery-blue, turning to deep dusky-purple during autumn.
The flower spikes, reaching up to 7.5 feet high, are bronze-purple.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

Red Bull
Reaches up to 7.5 x 4 feet, with foliage that is green, turning to orange, red and purple during autumn.
The purple plumes are borne late summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 9.

Red October
Reaches up to 6 x 3 feet.
The deep green foliage tipped in deep red turns entirely burgundy red during early autumn then finally to intense scarlet-red after the first fall frost.
The bronze-red stems bear reddish-purple flower plumes.
Hardy zones 3 to 9.

Andropogon glomeratus ( Bushy Beardgrass )
Reaches up to 4 feet in height.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun to partial shade, tolerant of wet sites.

* photo of unknown internet source


Andropogon ternarius ( Split Beard Bluestem )
A perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 2 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native to sandy, dry sites in the eastern U.S. ( Kansas to Illinois to New Jersey; south to easterm Texas to Florida ). It is generally used for erosion control however is very attractive.
The deciduous foliage is blue-green, turning to purplish-red during autumn.
The attractive fluffy, white plumes appear late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( midwest seed source may be zone 5 hardy ) in full sun.

Andropogon virginicus ( Broom Sedge )
A warm-season, non-rhizomatous, perennial grass reaching up to 5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet in height, that is native to eastern North America ( from Iowa to New York & CT; south to Texas to Florida...Michigan and Ontario populations are most likely not native ).
Excellent for use along the ocean shore and in large plantings.
The bright green to purplish-green foliage turns showy orange during autumn then coppery through winter. Unlike some other native grasses, the foliage is not useful for grazing cattle.
The seed heads are silvery. The seeds are an excellent food source for birds during the winter.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on sandy soil that is not deeply mulched. Tolerant of salt spray, rocky, dry soil and clay tolerant. Extremely drought tolerant. Broom Sedge is generally not eaten by deer. It is fire tolerant regenerating rapidly after, in fact it is dependent on fire in moister parts of its range to prevent tree/shrub competition. Fire ( or late winter mowing ) prevents buildup of litter that may eventually smother the plant. The decaying foliage of Broom Sedge releases a natural herbicide that supresses growth of surrounding plants of other species. Broom Sedge produces seed prolifically and has a high germination rate.

* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park

* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 @ Hampton National Historic Site, Towson, MD

Blechnum

Blechnum brasiliense
A fast growing, large fern, that eventually forms a trunk up to 3 feet high, with leaves up to 36 x 15 inches. It is native to Peru and Brazil.
Hardy zones 9 to 12.

* photo of unknown internet source


Blechnum chilense
A fast growing to invasive fern, reaching up to 6 feet in height, eventually spreading to form extensive colonies.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Blechnum discolor
A very ornamental fern that eventually forms a trunk up to 1 foot in height producing a plant with a 3 foot total height. This fern eventually spreads to produce large colonies of rosettes.
The bright green radiating fronds are up to 36 x 6 inches in size.
It thrives in partial to full shade ( even full sun if soil is continually very moist )

Blechnum fluviatile
A fern native to New Zealand and southern Australia, that spreads to eventually form extensive colonies of rosettes. The fronds are up to 28 inches in length.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 in full shade.

* photo of unknown internet source


Blechnum gibbum
A fern native to Fiji, that eventually forms a trunk up to 2 feet high.
The leaves are up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy zones 10 to 12

* photo of unknown internet source


Blechnum nudum
A vigorous spreading fern, that is native to southeastern Australia.
The fronds are up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy zones 9 to 10

Blechnum orientale
A vigorous fern, forming a trunk up to 3 feet in height, that is native to the Himalayas, China and southeast Asia.
The 1-pinnate leaves, up to 5 x 3 feet, are divided into leaflets up to 8 inches in length.

Blechnum penna-marina ( Dwarf Hard Fern )
A fast growing fern native to southern South America, New Zealand and southern Australia, that eventually forms extensive mats due to its creeping rhizomes. It makes an excellent groundcover and thrives in coastal British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and milder parts of western Europe. The Dwarf Hard Fern reaches a maximum height of only 1 foot.
The narrow fronds, up to 8 inches in length, are deep green.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Blechnum spicant ( Deer Fern )
A compact, evergreen fern, reaching up to 20 x inches x 3.3 feet ( very rarely 3 feet in height ), that is native to the northwest U.S. from Alaska to northern California and also in Eurasia. It makes a very attractive landscape plant that looks especially good planted with large boulder.
The sturdy, narrow, lance-shaped leathery fronds, up to 42 x 6 ( usually half that ) are glossy deep green.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( only hardiest seed source hardy north of zone 5 ) in partial to full shade on humus-rich, moist, acidic, well drained soil. The Deer Fern will tolerate some sun if the soil is consistently moist. It is not eaten by deer. This Fern is very low maintenance but old tired fronds can be removed during spring when the new fronds appear to give the plant a fresher appearance.

Serratum
Densely arranged, deeply-toothed leaflets.

Blechnum tabulare
A fern, reaching up to 3 x 4 feet.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

* photo of unknown internet source


RELATED PLANTS

Asplenium

Asplenium antiquum
A very attractive large Fern that is native to Okinawa in Japan where it is endangered with extinction. It is very similar in appearance to A. nidus.
It makes a great landscape plant for subtropical climates.
The leathery non-divided, oblanceolate fronds are up to 40 x 4 inches in size.
Hardy zones 9 to 10.

Asplenium nidus ( Birds Nest Fern )
A large Fern with non-divided oblanceolate fronds, up to 5 feet x 8 inches. The foliage is glossy bright green. It is native to subtropical and tropical southeast Asia as well as northern Queensland in Australia. It is often grown in cooler regions as an indoor plant.
Hardy zones 10 to 12 in partial to full shade in humid warm climates.
It will often grow on the trunks of trees.

Asplenium scopulendnum ( Harts-tongue Fern )
Also called Phyllitis scolopendrium. A very attractive, rhizomatous, evergreen fern, up to 3 feet across, that is native to North America ( Ontario, Michigan and New York State ) where it is endangered.
The erect, leathery, oblanceolate fronds, up to 24 x 3 inches, are bright green.

Giganteum
Moderate growing, with larger fronds, up to 36 x 4 inches in size.

Asplenium serratum ( Caribbean Nest Fern )
A very attractive tropical Fern that is native to south Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico to South America.
The leaves are up to 30 x 3 inches in size.

Backyard Landscaping Designs

Wood and steel bench made for indoors and outdoors.
This bench can be custom tailored to compliment your interior or exterior space.
The price depends on final dimensions and materials

Benches below in 3 variations
69 1/2" L x 18" H x 13" W
$850
Made in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

The challenges of small or city gardens, take quite some thought to maximise the space.

One of the best ways to make the most of your space, is to use whats not in it... Confused?

A principle called the borrowed landscape is one of the small gardens best friends. What are the views, plants, trees around your property, that you can use to improve your garden?

One of the simplest ways is to take something, a tree for instance, and repeat some aspect of it (whether foliage, colour, texture or shape) in your garden. This creates the illusion that your garden is bigger than it actually is.
A common example of this would be the infinity or negative edge pool which is gaining popularity at the moment. This takes the views of the ocean, and blends it into your garden (in this case your pool) and instantaneously makes the garden seem bigger.

It is also sometimes helpful to use your next door neighbours tree for views or shade, rather than planting your own tree that might take up too much space in a small garden. The negative side to this is that if your neighbour decides to remove your shady canopy, theres not much you can do about it.

First sights trip on a wet thursday.

Departing embankment pier at 11.15am our vessel proceeded westwards, in contrary to expectations.
On reaching the houses of parliament, the captain announced a change in direction setting us on route eastward to Greenwich.
There were a series of brief stops at waterloo and at another pier which i forget to allow others to board the ship. The second pier bought with it the blessing of a change in compere as the original gentleman seemed to have derived his repetoire from the opinion pages of the daily mail.
Although the the weather did not improve, spirits were enlivened by the informative history lesson granted by the new compere. Most of the area’s (wapping, limehouse etc.) history revolved around prisoners, pubs and drowning pirates.
The area was largely made up of wharfs (warehouses at river front), industrial buildings and newly developed apartments ( on the south side and pubs and residential bulidings on the northern side.

We arrived at Greenwich, ate and caught the tube east to Custom House, we proceeded to visit the Thames Barrier Park, a very interesting space in a somewhat desolate but very interesting environment made up of roads, new housing and run down factories .

The Drakensburg is a spectacular range of mountains that creates quite a scenic border to the South West of Kwazulu Natal. It has quite an extreme climate compared to what were used to on the coast - with hot days and cold nights, sudden extreme thunderstorms which bring heavy rain and sometimes hail.

I read a comment the other day that stated quite matter of factly that using wild grasses in your garden is no longer fashionable...what? When did wild grasses ever reach any kind of recognition that puts them in the fashionable bracket? I havent checked recently, but I dont think they want to be fashionable anyway. If anything, I dont think weve even begun to explore the beauty and the practicalities of using bunch type grasses.


Heres a few reasons why I think you should find a corner of your garden to plant some indigenous grasses:

1. Grasslands need to be protected...Most people are surprised to know that grasslands are the most threatened biome in South Africa, but even more surprising is the fact that the biodiversity of our grasslands is second only to the species richness of our world famous fynbos.


2. Birds and butterflies and other creatures love grasses...Now Im not suggesting that by planting wild grasses in your garden, it comes anywhere near to making up for the destruction to this sensitive vegetation type. But by planting grasses, you will definitely attract birds and insects that would normally skip over your garden in search of more hospitable habitats.


3. Wild Grasses look amazing...From an aesthetic point of view, there is not much that beats the sound and look of tall grasses being blown in the wind, or the early morning dew that sparkles on cobwebs and leaf blades.


4. Veld Grasses are easy to maintain...There is also not much to maintaining a good sized area of wild grasses. If you consider that once established, you need only cut it back once a year to let the new green growth take over from the old bronzed foliage.


5. Bunch Grasses are a great way of retaining soil...The roots of most grasses go down fairly deep, and therefore help anchor the soil. So that even in times of heavy rainfall, you can relax knowing that your precious topsoil is not going to be washed out to sea.


6. Native Grasses conserve water...you need very little water to keep indigenous grass looking good - in fact, you shouldnt really have to water them at all once they are established.
   

Wherever you are, and whatever you call Veld Grass (Steppes in Russia, Pusztas in Hungary, Pampas in South America, or Prairies in North America), there are a wide selection of plants to choose from that will add an incredible amount of beauty to your garden. I will provide a selection of great indigenous grasses that you can use in your garden in a post soon.

If you still need convincing look at the some of the masters of using wild grass in the garden - Dan Pearson and Oehme & Van Sweden.

Now that I think about it, dont just find a corner to plant some grasses, why not plant your entire garden just using grasses.

Cerastium

Cerastium alpinum ssp lanatum
A low, spreading perennial, reaching up to 8 x 16 inches.
The flat leaves are gray and woolly.
The starry white flowers are borne during summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in full sun. It requires a climate that is cool in summer.

Cerastium biebersteinii ( Taurus Cerastium )
A spreading, mat-forming, evergreen perennial, reaching up to 16 inches x 2 feet, that is native to Asia Minor. The very attractive, lance-shaped leaves, up to 2 x 0.3 inches, are intensely silvery-gray.
The white flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne during late spring to mid-summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in full sun.

Cerastium purpurescens
A low-growing perennial, reaching up to 1 foot in height, that is native to high mountains in Turkey, northwestern Iran and the Caucasus.
The narrow leaves are mid-green.
The white flowers are borne during spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 in full sun on well drained soil.

Cerastium tomentosum ( Snow-in-the-Summer )

A fast growing to invasive, rhizomatous, spreading, mat-forming, groundcover perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 5 feet, that is native to mountainous parts of Europe. Some records include: first year - width of 3 feet.
On ideal sites it can spread so rampantly that there isnt much other than pavement that will contain it. It can be used as a lawn substitute on large areas, looking good in all seasons.
The foliage is silvery-gray.
The abundant, tiny, pure white flowers are borne from early to mid summer.
It should be clipped back after blooming to prevent the seedpods which can contribute to invasive spread.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in full sun on light, well drained soil. Drought tolerant and tolerates dry sandy soil, poor soil, drought, fire and deer. It may be prone to pests and diseases in regions with very hot humid summers. Deer resistant.
Shear back after flowering to maintain vigor and dense habit. Propagation is from division during autumn and early spring.

* photo taken on Aug 3 2011 @ Hyde Park, NY

* photo taken on May 14 2012 in Columbia, MD

Jumbo Form
More vigorous with larger leaves making it an excellent substitute for turf grass.
Discovered in Santa Fe, New Mexico by High Country Gardens.