Zach turned a patch of grass into a garden where perennials meld into a harmonious palette of color and structure.
One of the perks of working at a garden center is that you have access to a huge selection of plants (at a discounted price, no less). It transforms underutilized areas of your yard into tempting future planting beds. Last year, Zach eyed up a patch of lawn begging to be planted up with a curated selection of herbaceous perennials.
While Zach planned the garden out, he said the result felt like a series of happy accidents. The simplified color palette of soft yellows and varying intensities of purples and pinks allowed each plant to really stand out by shape and structure. The yellow flat tops of the yarrow tie into the yellow and purple blooms of the ‘Lemon Meringue’ baptisia, which Zach has kept tamer by adding a peony cage around the bottom. The dark foliage of the Husker Red penstemon highlights the importance of off-season foliage. His choice of ‘Caradonna’ salvia balances the dark foliage with dark stems and flowers to play off the yellows.
As the season progresses, the yarrow carries the weight of the yellow, streaking horizontally across the backdrop, their form echoed in the seed heads of gamma grass. The pastel purple spires of penstemon are echoed in the bursts of Globemaster allium. The rosy buds of butterfly weed forecast a summer of pollinators. The thick foliage of sedum adds texture while promising late summer color. Every plant’s role evolves through the season, from background player to star of the show, and then back to supporting cast again.
While this can be achieved in amateur gardens, Zach’s planning kept a cohesive color palette and year-round seasonal color in mind to create a professional, intentional look. The backdrop of arborvitae in a nearby bed works to give the bed vertical structure and an evergreen backdrop. The addition of the crane statuary elevates the bed by adding delicate details that ground the ever-changing bed with something steady.
I think this garden plan highlights the ultimate joy of perennials–the slow motion evolution of color and form through the season. This is a bed that becomes part of your morning routine, seeing what’s blooming as you sip your morning coffee. It strikes at the heart of gardening for beauty, rather than just for function. If this sounds like you, consider Zach for your landscaping design needs.
About the Designer: Zach Yodis has been part of the Colonial Gardens team for over 10 years, rising through the ranks from a landscaping specialist to crew chief, to an experienced designer. Zach has a passion for incorporating native plants into designs while providing functional beauty for the homeowner. Make an appointment with Zach through our contact page.