Thanks to a bit of time-lapse photography (and remembering to snap occasional photos of our backyard), here’s a concise look at how our patio planting progressed over the past few months.
In February the space was essentially a blank canvas. The year before we filled it with annuals for a backyard wedding, but this time we wanted lower-maintenance plantings: a mix of evergreens for year-round structure and hardy perennials that return season after season for layered color and texture.
In early March we brought in several evergreen varieties that keep their foliage through winter, plus a selection of hardy perennials that provide interest across spring, summer, and fall. If all goes well, the perennials will reappear each growing season while the evergreens will prevent the beds from looking bare during colder months.
Right after planting many of the new shrubs and perennials looked a little droopy as they adjusted to their new home…
…but by late April, with regular spring showers, they began to thrive. The variety of textures, shapes, and colors — and even fragrances like the minty scent from the purple-flowering Catmint — made the digging and mulching completely worthwhile. We also swapped the red seat cushions on the patio chairs for neutral ones to help the planting palette feel more natural and cohesive.
A few of our favorite evergreens planted in the beds include Variegated Dwarf Gardenia, Firepower Heavenly Bamboo, and Dwarf Cavatine Pieris (center in the photo). Among the perennials we’re enjoying most are Catmint (left), French Lavender, and Sunny Border Blue Veronica (right). We deliberately limited the flower colors to whites and pale purples to keep the overall feel calm rather than wildly busy.
The beds will continue to thicken in the seasons ahead. By next year we expect several of the evergreens to gain more presence so the garden feels fuller even in winter.
In the meantime, our small, cat-sized dog has taken a liking to the Catmint — not eating it, but lounging in it and enjoying the minty scent.
It’s nice to have a pet who appreciates the landscaping progress as much as we do.