Help me decide please!

[Gone Disney]

I have just now gotten around to doing a little landscaping at our new house.
I went out a bought some pygmy palms and gardenias and now I have to decide exactly where to put them. I have lined up the gardenias along the front border beds and put one of the palms at the corner, which I'm ok with. The biggest problem is the area at the front entrance. I have 2 different ideas but not sure if one is better than the other. This is where I need help deciding.

See the images here. www.missliz.net/temp/plant.htm

Any suggestions or thoughts are appreciated. And if you have a completely different idea I'm up for that too.

Oh and that one pot in the center of the plants is just for reference. I am going to put a water feature there just as soon as I find the right pot for it.

TIA
Gone Disney

 

[Snowwark]

Welcome, to the F&G board, Gone Disney!

First, I'd like to congratulate you on your new house! You must be very excited about it!

Gone Disney, how tall (and wide) do pygmy plams grow? I'm asking because I'm wondering if they will block your view when sitting in a chair on your porch. I'm not lucky enough to be living in Florida, so I don't know anything about them.

Looking at your pics, I was thinking that it might be nice to have the water feature on the left, where you have the one gardenia in your first pic. Then, the 3 palms at the back, in a sort of cresent shaped spacing much like your second pic, but with the two on the outside, back a bit further. The gardenias at the front, although I would be tempted to get a third one. I tend to like things balanced, and that would be, but having the water feature at the side so everyone can see it when they go up the steps, gives it a little flare. Are you planning on having any lighting in the bed?

Kim

I'm curious to hear some more ideas! How about it, Buds?

 

[FroggyinArk]

try a semi circle layout of palms maybe use 4 instead of three, along the back, then anchor each front corner with gardenia, off set water feature to front of bed, maybe try a bit of annual color around the water feature, and would consider a taller water feature, maybe a bird bath size, with a cascade down into a recessed pond, something bulky that really centers the bed....... put lillys in the lower water pond, or some fish................. and get rid of the rock too much white in that area now,,,

 

[Gone Disney]

Thanks for the input. Both of you came up with some interesting views that I'll be trying out later today (hopefully).

Snowwark,

Here is a bit of info on the plants I have now.

Gardenia is a 'Veitchii' which grows 2-4 feet high and produces 1-1 1/2 inch diameter white flowers; blooms profusely from spring to fall;

Palm is a Pygmy Date Palm or miniature date palm
Height: 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 meters)
Spread: 6-10 feet (1.8-3.0 meters)
Leaf: 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
Range: Not native to North America. (USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 11- southern Florida, southern Arizona and southern coastal California.)

Froggyinark,

I do plan to put other plants, probably annuals that I can change out, around the other main plants. Although I do not have the exact water feature that will be in use there I am hoping for something that is definately noticeable. I want to see it and hear it as well. One thing I can tell you is the rocks will be staying.


I hope to hear more great ideas. Although I was talking to the husband last night and he says that 2 palms in that area is enough. So I'll have to keep that in mind too.

Thanks

 

[Snowwark]

Oh my, Gone Disney, I always thought Pygmies were under 5' tall!!

After reading that, I think I'm agreeing with your DH that 2 pygmy palms would be enough. The spread (eventually) could be 20' for 2 palms! How wide is your garden bed?

I think I'd still go for 3 gardenias.

You mentioned a pot for a water feature. Maybe something like the pic below? I thought I had a better picture of it, but I can't find it.