Finding Joy in the Garden

This carefully planned garden is filled with plants that deliver maximum impact with minimal maintenance.

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1❘ Wraparound garden A professionally installed retaining wall levels up a slight slope and creates this 30-foot-long bed curving around the front porch and softens the lines of the house. At about 12 inches, the ledge is wide enough for sitting or kneeling while working in the bed.

Easy Curb Appeal

As you walk up the sidewalk to Joyce and Dave Ludlow's Iowa front door, you know that you'll find a gardener here. This beautifully manicured zone 5 garden is filled with plants carefully chosen for their ease of maintenance and combined for long-lasting interest. As she adds plants and redesigns beds, Joyce's goal is to keep the garden manageable so she can continue to enjoy her beloved hobby for years to come.

FRONT PORCH SITTIN'

When the Ludlows moved in, the front yard contained only a grouping of 'Green Velvet' boxwoods. The couple had the retaining wall in photo 1 built to surround the front porch with a spacious border that would lend curb appeal to the house without obstructing the view of the street. Now they can sit on the porch with a cup of coffee and feel a part of the garden while still seeing passing neighbors. For several years, Joyce grew roses in this bed until chronic Japanese beetle infestations caused her to throw in the towel. She dug them out and planted panicle hydrangeas, birchleaf spirea and barberry, which are naturally globe shaped and need only a light trim every spring to maintain a compact habit. They form the structural base of a planting that includes reliable perennials, such as lamb's ear and three cultivars of allium, which can take this south-facing hot spot without complaint.