Backyard Circle Garden - In Bloom with Stella d' Oro Daylilies & "Oranges and Lemons" Gaillardias

it DOES seem to be in an odd spot and really disrupt the flow of grass cutting… but what a shame to remove a flower bed – and now you have created a focal point that will make you smile every day.
Awesome team work!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Oh I can see this garden now when it blooms

I know it will look lovely

That is a nice garden BTW. I”d have a hard time getting rid of that one

Its looking very nice

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Thanks girls for the nice comments … it is an odd little bed that is for sure. The previous owners were a little strange (she says that in the nicest way) with paint colors and landscaping. Our garden is VERY GREEN right now, but once the Stellas begin to bloom and the grass gets it’s white plums, it will look substantially different. I may go this weekend and purchase some flowering ground cover for in-between the Stellas. It’s a good start and I am very pleased with the transformation.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Very nice Grandma T and how kind of Democles to pass along the goodies. My your grass is green and plants so far ahead of ours to the north. We have a long holiday weekend – you do as well but calling for a rain-out here. Thank you again for sharing.

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

Somebody took advantage of the nice weather today, and was quite industrious!!

It looks great, G’maT, and I’m only too happy you were able to give my extra plants a home!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

”D” ... yah, I was outside. After you graciously delivered those plants last night; they were just “calling my name” bright and early this morning. Dirt is so easy to work in now—had fun. Again, thank you for those lovely plants. I am excited to watch “your babies” come to life in the coming weeks. I’ll take good care of them … :-)

Blooz .. our long weekend is next weekend and our youngest turns 28. Where does the time go??? Anywho, with all the rain we have gotten of late, everything is green here and coming up so nicely. Just waiting now for perennials to start actually blooming, green is good, but a bit of color is even nicer. You can “almost” see the color now as you plant those green perennials … ;-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I think you could make much better use of those blocks. I would recreate a new flower bed elsewhere and perhaps a more “organic” shape. :)

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

I never quite understood why some folks put a circle right smack dab in the middle of the lawn. I’ve also never quite understood why so many like _ straight lines. I do understand the practicallity and cost relationships of straight vs curved but in my head, curves are nicer. I have to say the same thing, what a PITA to cut the grass around it.

If it were mine and had the both the time and energy I would move it to a corner and that type of block is easy to transform into a winding curve somewhere else.

leaving it there…..........I would be inclined to put a water feature…..........like a fountain in the middle.

Cheers

-- Central northish Ontario

It’s gonna look real nice when they bloom GrandmaT.It’s so nice to be able to trade plants with friends.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I love old things and old planting areas are no exception
What a nice spot. I could imagine herbs or all sorts of things in such a spot. especially so close to the house.
When we bought this home the south end has a planting area lined with old railroad ties that are way past their prime and honestly at the end of their usefulness. The voids in and around and through them are a haven for lizards and the occassional slithery beast. I filled most of them with cement this spring but ya do what ya can do, right? LOML wants to redo it with stack blocks but with the cost of them – sheesh! It’ll be a while. Maybe that is why gardening seems to be a non-ending verb

That will be so nice as it blooms~ And so much better that the plants are shared!! One can buy anything from anywhere but sharing is caring.

sometimes a hard call between ‘focal point’ and obstacle its all perspective…

-- Flowers aren't manly? Then why do so many women like them.....

Thank you for all your kind and constructive comments. I really appreciated them.

Hubby and I had been talking about all these suggestions. But to be honest, there were a couple of things we had rolling in our heads. One, we don’t plan on retiring here like originally planned. With our children/grandchildren in Arizona, we want to relocate out there; so how much more work do we want to put into the yard/house?? Second, well heck, we are still here, so geez, do we want to move the darn thing or not. I have so little grass in the backyard, so to move it accomplishes really nothing, other than the PITA mowing situation would be alleviated. There just is no place else to create another garden in my yard (front or back). (Part of the downsizing reason for me … I can’t garden physically like I used to.)

Sooooo, would I have placed this garden in the middle of my backyard, NO ... but I was given some beautiful plants from my gardening friend. The view from my patio swing is quite nice of this odd little garden; and when I look out on it, I think of Damocles and his family. So for now … it will stay and I will watch it bloom throughout the summer.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

GranT
As said before, it is an awkward spot for a flower bed. The people who were there before you did not have much imagination or “flow sense”!
I think you made the best possible choice given the circumstances, and, lucky you to have a gardening friend so close who gave you all the plants.
When you sit in your “birthday swing”, you will be able to enjoy a beautiful scenery full of friendship!
Should be a “warm” spot for the summer!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

isn’t it fun to look out at the yard and imagine …. “what if …” ?? :)
So many possibilities. Gotta love it! :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I would put a big huge statue of a naked guy, the kind you see where it looks like they chopped his arms off at the shoulder or maybe a woman, or both. Then a dash of that moss and butter milk. get the neighbors talking…...........kidding aside…............the plants deserve some kinda statue, another focal point within the focal point…..........if that makes sense?

I love “what if”s

-- Central northish Ontario

Yah, I hear ya Greenthum … it does need something else … to be honest with you … if we were staying here like we originally thought, I (okay hubby) would be tearing ALL the grass up in the backyard and then create some sort of winding path. Then would be planting all sorts of beautiful plants throughout that space, maybe a seating area, possibly a statue or water fountain. It would have been quite beautiful … and I can really see it. I love “what if’s” too … ;-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Well here is that odd placed, little circle garden we inherited when we moved in … now in bloom with the Stella’s Damocles so graciously gave me. I am enjoying the color … Thanks again “D”!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Hey, G’ma, they look great! Too bad the grass died (I moved the remaining clump to another part of the yard, and it is hanging on, but is weak), but the stellas in your bed found a happy home!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

I think its a perfect spot Gran T and nobody will miss viewing it. Gran T has a wonderful water feature that I’d almost give an arm and leg for. You are doing wonderful with all of your plantings … each day something different. We are slow up here with the rain, lost seeds, lost perennials ….. bad year so far. However, things will only improve. Planters look so pathetic …. will have to replace many if I can locate after this late date. Congrats Gran ….. you run circles around me …....

blooze

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

What a transformation! Looks fantastic!
Must be nice to look out in your yard from your new swing! Enjoy!!:-)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

The stellas look great GramT.Sure sets that little garden right off.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Thanks everyone for your kind comments!! Today I planted a GIANT “Oranges and Lemon” Gaillardia in the middle of all those Stella’s … Once it takes off, I’ll get pics of that too. Who would have thought that little circle bed would be putting such a huge smile on my face this summer.

Hang in there Blooz … I know you took a beating with those storms and your gardens/baskets/seeds. Now though stores/nurseries are beginning to run some really good plant sales. So you might get some deals on baskets and some perennials. Wish ya luck … :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Thank you Gran T …. i must go a’looing … maybe some good deals and they are always the best. Thanks for the suggestion. Showers have moved into the area once again ….. keeps the birdbath full.

blooz

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

Still no pictures eh. Hmmmmmm

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Here ya go “B” ... finally took some photos of the Gaillardia I planted in the center of those Stellas. They have taken quite nicely and I already have lots of new blooms. Guess this little garden has turned into my happy “yellow” themed garden. It does grab your eye when you first enter the backyard. :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Your very own spot of sunshine, even on a gray rainy day!

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

Nice description Dini!
GranT, it does look beautiful!
Who would have thought when you were mowing around it that pile of dirt, wondering at the last owner’s sanity, that it would bring a ray of sunshine in your backyard!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

The gaillardia look great with your stellas GramT.Nice choice of plants.I agree with Dini and Eklectic it really is a ray of sunshine.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Thanks everyone … I like that description from Dini too … my little garden of sunshine. I should make a plaque!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Or get hubby to make one out of wood!
I have the feeling that it would describe you very well!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a