The front yard in May

It’s been a while since I did an overview of the front yard. This is a good time because everything is actively growing.

The patio is home to many potted succulents. I’m trying to consolidate—and not replace the ones that died during the winter—but it’s getting crowded. Still, I like the multi-layered look you get from having plants here and there and everywhere.

Covered patio

Potted plants have also popped up along the walkway that leads to the front door. The gap you see is just wide enough for the lawnmower :-).

Succulent bed next to front door

The view you see as you enter the front yard from the driveway

Removing five large maiden grasses (Miscanthus sinensis) last fall—three inside the fence, two outside—left large gaps which haven’t filled in yet. Just last weekend I put over a dozen 4-inch plants in the ground. You can see them on the left in the next panorama. Hopefully they will grow quickly to hide the fence.

Planting strip inside the fence

Outside the fence things are growing in leaps and bounds. The spring bloomers (like the Jerusalem sage in the next couple of photos) are done for the year but the summer bloomers (like the lavenders) are about to start.

Agave ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’, purchased at the recent Ruth Bancroft Garden plant sale, planted in front of Lavandula × intermedia 'Grosso'

The large plant on the right is a Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa)

Euphorbia × martinii ‘Tiny Tim’ growing in front of Bambusa oldhamii

Looking back at Bambusa oldhamii

Karley Rose fountain grass (Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’). It looks a bit droopy because we had an unexpected downpour a couple of days ago. It’ll perk up as soon as it is completely dry.

One of the tower-of-jewels (Echium wildpretii) with Karley Rose fountain grass (Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’)

The other two towers-of-jewels (Echium wildpretii), with Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), threadleaf agastache (Agastache rupestris) and gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink') just starting to bloom

Tower-of-jewels (Echium wildpretii) with Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) and Hot Lips sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips')

More perennials

Recent additions: Leucadendron ‘Jester’ and Verbascum bombyciferum ‘Arctic Summer’ behind Agastache rupestris

Tapestry of textures (the plant on the right is a restio, Chondropetalum elephantinum)

Emerald bamboo (Bambusa textilis ‘Mutabilis’)

Rock purslane (Calandrinia spectabilis) adding color to this corner

Contrasting textures from globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus), Grevillea 'Austraflora Fanfare' and Black Lace elderberry (Sambucus ‘Black Lace’)

Black Lace elderberry (Sambucus ‘Black Lace’)

The front yard typically looks best in June and July when the echinaceas, rudbeckias and salvias are in full bloom. We’ll check back then.