The Bedroom Patio Garden

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Sometimes gardens just remain in flux until you get the look you are striving for. For me our Bedroom Patio Garden is one of those spaces. The design needs for the patio located just outside our ground floor bedroom focus on the need for some privacy and enclosure to the east while still allowing for a view past the gardens to the back of our property. Another consideration was to have fragrance in this garden. Over the past few years though the details keep changing, partly in response to what is happening in the garden and partly due to changes in my own style.

One of the features that has remained constant over the years is three dwarf Serbian spruce which provide privacy and enclosure on the east side. A flagstone walkway between the patio and spruce provides access to watering hoses. In front of the spruce, Zebra grass and Japanese Bloodgrass (Red Baron) have been replaced with less invasive and more easily maintained Hills Yew (for height) and Lady's Mantle (for groundcover). Behind the spruce are three Miss Kim Lilac which bring fragrance into the garden when in flower. Opposite this bed is also an Ivory Silk Lilac for further fragrance a few weeks later.

Pyracantha coccinea (Firethorn) trained to spiral up the butterfly post along with some ornamental grasses provides a sense of enclosure on the other side. The Pyracantha grew significantly larger than expected (as is often the case) and unfortunately suffers from severe dieback in winter. Rather than remove it I prune my Firethorn severely each spring, removing all horizontal branches right down to the core stem spiraling up the post. It grows back quickly, with glossy green tight foliage. It's pyramidal shape suits the area well. I have been asked many times what type of shrub it is since it has a very unique look this way.

Purple foliage from the Purple Sandcherry has given way to Weigela 'Wine and Roses'. Japanese Beetles are a major problem in our area and Purple Sandcherry are like candy to them. I have removed almost a dozen from our yard replacing them with other shrubs with purple foliage including several Ninebark and Weigela varieties.

Unfortunately fragrant shrub roses have also been removed (due to those same Japanese Beetles) and have been replaced with Hydrangea serrata. While not fragrant, the hydrangea provide summer colour as well as a great look in fall.

For a complete garden design plan and plant list see my Bedroom Patio Garden Design Plan.

Here are some more pictures from our Bedroom Patio Garden, both old and new.