I use Flashback Friday to show old events on Mark's Mews. So why not here as well?
I had built 2 landscaping boxes on either side of the front steps. Back in 2009, I had Caladiums on the left and fancy Hostas on the right. They were gorgeous.
OK, that year. Neighbors commented on them. Then the deer found them... Hostas are deer-candy. I have moved most to the backyard where the deer don't try to enter. They didn't like the Caladiums so much, but Caladiums aren't hardy here. If you don't dig them up and store the bulbs properly, they are gone. I didn't get around to that. I might buy more next Spring for planting elsewhere.
So I converted the Caladium bed to Snow-On-The-Mountain. I got some from my parents in New Hampshire and deer don't eat them. They multiplied rapidly and that was good.
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But some sprouts went all green and took over. I'm still fighting to pull those up and get the bed all the variegated type. But the green ones are hard to kill. I think I'll have to just dig up the variegated ones and pot them, pulling out any green sprouts. Then smother the bed over Winter and try to replant next Spring.
I'll put paper over the bed (that stuff used for packing in shipping boxes). I have a lot of it. I'll poke holes in it and set the variegated pots in those. Should give them a better chance to re-establish.
I have 3 dozen Nandina shrubs growing and need to decide where to plant them. Saved the seeds 3 years ago and they are a foot tall now. They takes months to germinate. Deer won't touch them, which is good, and they are evergreen with bright red berries in Winter.
Mine stay about 4' tall and 3' wide. I think the edge of the drainage easement would be a good place. They have strong deep roots (I tried to dig one up once) and would resist occasional drainage flooding. And since they are evergreen, they make a good yard border.
A lot of Nandina and Hollies would be interesting...
