pictures

http://gallery.me.com/hlynn1#100022

After looking at what you already have going on in your yard, I would suggest irises. Giant irises would block the "ugly" driveway you don't want to see and white or yellow irises would like nice in the yard. Both are very easy to maintain.

I would also plant some nice holly. I know it's not a popular choice, but I want something that stays green all year and won't take a hit when it gets cold.

How about some additional citrus trees? You have nice space for them, and they'd give you some height and fruit.

What does well in your neighbor's yards? That is always the best guide.

I love your house, it's absolutely charming, and it's crying out for roses!

Carol B. Sarasota

link to photos

Here is a link that might be useful: photos

Hi Miss Holly,

I love your yard. You really have all the bones there, in my eyes you just need color. Your hardscape, edging and evergreen plants give you a nice framework. Maybe another evergreen or two as suggested above would be sufficient.

If it were my yard in your situation (not a lot of regular time to spend), I would plant some natives and colorful Florida friendly stuff. For example, in picture 2, I would plant maybe the evergreen closest to your neighbor (for privacy), then maybe plant 3 firebushes for a mass of summer color and butterflies. Maybe a beautyberry toward another edge of the property. Then I would fill in with large groupings of perennials or long-lasting annuals. Ideas are tall pentas, salvias, lantana. If you need another focal point, consider a dioon spinulosum. They take up a lot of space and are spiny, but are carefree and gorgeous evergreen plants. I like that you have a pot here and there also. Have fun!

Anna

thank you so much for the great suggestions! Yes, I'd like to add some color for sure, and butterfly plants would be lovely to have - I have just recently seen some very happy firebushes at a neighbor's so I think they'd work well. I'll do a little research on some of the other plants as I'm not familiar with all of them, and update you when I can.

Thanks too for the link to the photos... just figuring out how this all works here.

Cheers and thanks again!

Here's the latest... I'm thinking a row of knock out roses along the left side of the yard (facing house.) Then maybe in front of them a row of dusty miller. I'm tempted to plant the meyer lemon that is in a big pot on the right side, where there is just dead grass right now. That's as far as I've gotten.... I love ornamental cabbage but I don't think that will grow in the summer. I think I need some purple or blue somewhere, maybe mexican petunias or pentas? Any suggestions?

Here is a link that might be useful: front yard 'before'

If you're looking for purple/blue, I love my heliotrope and salvia in these planter boxes. Cold hardy and constant bloomers.
You have so much to choose from! Have fun,
Hester

I'm thinking a row of knock out roses along the left side of the yard (facing house.)

Excellent! You could make some nice and relatively easy to make post and wire trellis system. I'm not much of a rose person, but I have learned to love OGR - Old Garden Roses. Something like Louis Phillipe or Mutablis would be awesome along there, and very low maintenance.

~dianne

Hi!

I finally settled on: some knockout roses, pink pentas, caladiums, mexican petunias, a little purple queen, a little yellow lantana, some pineapples, a firebush (which doesn't seem happy in the full sun spot I chose....), a meyer lemon tree, and some pink crown of thorns. I think I need a couple of other clumps of color or something to balance... theres a spot that needs some white or orange. For white I've thought of maybe vinca (?) but I thought maybe someone else might have a better suggestion... and I am not so fond of them but I know they are drought tolerant and perennial. I think I could also use something with a little height in addition, not necessarily a white or orange flower.

The photos don't really do it justice, and it had been so dry I was holding off a little on spending more on plants to fill in, but now that the rain has started I'm ready. And now what I've planted will fill in too, although I am wishing it would hurry up a bit! :-)

thanks for any suggestions!

Here is a link that might be useful: june gallery

Hi, Miss Holly. Your link is to the me.com sign in page.

Here's a working link:

Here is a link that might be useful: June 14, 2011

thank you for posting the good link. Almost a year later and the yard looks good... surprisingly some lantana isn't doing so well, but the roses, mexican petunia, Purple Queen, meyer lemon and crown of thorns look great and were good choices for the spots they are in. Thanks again!!