A Grander Entrance
Gallery > Entrance Gardens
When we moved in, the front gardens were largely tall grasses and low groundcovers. I wanted something much more eye-catching from the road to show off the front of our property. A focus on colourful foliage, bright flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals provide a lot of intensity to our front yard gardens.
The entrance gardens and front walkway were some of the first gardens I planted at the house although they have changed a few times over the years and continue to evolve. Many of the beds have been expanded to better balance with the wide walkways. We have added a number of trees to the front yard including a Sassafras, Sweet Gum, Gingko, Canadian Redbud and River Beech in addition to the Tricolor Beech and Harlequin Maple that were in the front yard when we purchased the property.
For a complete garden design plan and plant list for all the front gardens see the Garden Plan section.
Here are some images our front yard.
The left entrance garden in 2006 after the grasses were removed and shrubs added.
The same garden in 2011. Perennials and Endless Summer Hydrangea provide cheerful, welcoming colour.
The Front Garden after it was expanded and after an addition on our home.
Several Weigela 'Red Prince' are spaced throughout the front gardens.
Pink petunias act as groundcover and provide a nice contrast to the few remaining Purple Sandcherries left in my yard.
The purple foliage of the Tricolor Beech is repeated along the front walkway in the Concorde Grape Barberry.
I love large trees planted very far apart so you can enjoy their natural shape and stature. I longed for Fagus sylvatica riversii or River Beech and was able to plant one in 2009.
Another tree on my wish list, Sassafras, was planted in the fall of 2007. Does anyone remember the glove & mittens leaves from their youth?
The left entrance garden in 2006 after the grasses were removed and shrubs added.