We had a sneak attack snowfall in Rochester today. A lot of us are upset about it. In an effort to keep our spirits up let’s brainstorm some of the plants that we’ll be planting this summer around IBB.
Purple Coneflower
Black-eyed Susan
Hosta
Purple Clematis
White Roses
Bleeding Hart
Lilac
Coleus
Japanese Maple
Shademaster Locust
The theme here is woodland cottage. Many of the plants that I have identified here are plants that were in my garden at home so I have a lot history with them. I’ll bed them down with the darkest much that I can find and add some lighting. I’ll have to plant a tree in both the back and the front of the house in order to provide some shade in the future, as well as find some space for a vegetable garden and a compost bin. The back of the house is crying for a patio, here is an inspiration photo:
Something like this…but on a patio instead of a deck (that’s cheaper). I’d paint the pergola white and use old porch columns to support it instead of those simple posts. The patio would be brick paver or stone, with moss growing in between before tapering off into the lawn in an organic manner instead of just ending. No fire pit, especially that close to the house. However, I do like the lighting that they chose. I think I’d like something that could give this sort of effect:
oh, iust kidding about the firepit, I want one of these:
Ittybittybungalow 
Sounds lovely. Instead of moss between your pavers, consider something like creeping thyme. It doesn’t get slippery the way moss does and it smells heavenly when you step on it. Are you going to add a water feature? We saw some abfab ones at a home and garden show last weekend.
Ohh… thyme is a great idea! I love getting everybody’s input, it helps me to get even better ideas! I would like to add a water garden… maybe with some Koi fish in it, but I think it will need to be in the more long term plans.I think they can be a lot of upkeep and can be costly. I can’t wait to get my hands into the earth again. I missed it so much in the apartments.
Lowe’s has black mulch.