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13th STREET, COUNTRY WALK ISLANDS RENOVATED

Posted on Feb 15th, 2012

Country Walk

Previously, overgrown plants blocked the site line of cars pulling out from Woodcrest and Country Walk, so the new plantings are shorter. Existing plants, that were saved, will be kept trimmed shorter.

The original flowering quince on each end was cut back drastically to force it to rejuvenate. It will put out short foliage this year -- no blooms -- because this shrub blooms only on old wood. In following years, the shrubs will be kept trimmed low, but not to the base. This will allow blooms since there will be old wood for bud formation.

The two original purple ash trees were also kept and a new Royal Raindrops Crabapple was planted between the two. The Royal Raindrops, also placed on the 13th Street island, sport burgundy leaves and red spring blooms. It is one of the most disease- and pest-resistant crab apples for our area.

Duplicating the long "S" curve of boxwood along the length of the island will maintain continuity with the new 13th Steet entrance island. The boxwoods provide winter color and pockets to highlight masses of new Scarlet Carpet Roses. These roses are naturally short, but can be easily trimmed back, if necessary.

Pennisetum "Little Bunny" will add more winter interest next year. Right now, this cute little grass is cut to the ground and will grow quickly this summer. It remains short -- the key word to this island.

Blue Chip juniper adds more winter color and pockets from Lantana annuals promise loads of color to complement the continually blooming scarlet roses. Lantana was used througout Lakepoint last summer and did very well.

Boulders add contrast and texture.

13th Street

Limestone boulders anchor the plantings on this island as well.

One large Shademaster locust tree and two Royal Raindrop Crabapples give some much-needed height and shade to this island. The Royal Raindrop crabs have an unusual leaf shape for a crabapple -- they are maple leaf shaped. Also, a single Canaerti juniper on the south end will balance existing Canaeris

Boxwoods add winter color and the serpetine shape of the line of boxwoods also provides natural planting areas for the rest of the plantings, including Hamelin grass clumps. (Existing large clumps were divided to even distribution.) Red Carpet Roses add almost constant, easy-care color in the summer, along with spikey blue Walker's Low catmint; bright yellow "Tiger Eyes" staghorn sumac; and Blue Chip juniper.