Border Transformations
design & photo Maria von Brincken 2012
Before the Design Transformation
Many of us in the Northeast have views from our main rooms that look similar to this. A shrub–this one the much loved, Burning Bush, but very invasive and banned in Massachusetts — and raw woods. The lawn is ill defined and lacking a shape and missing the opportunity to create one side of an outdoor room. One shrub and a few miscellaneous perennials do little to make one want to look out the window.
However, it can be remedied. The homeowner wanted a rhododendron border. There were some in odd places in her front gardens obscuring possible shaped spaces there. They were candidates for transplanting. Rhododendrons have a relatively shallow root system and usually transplant well in the Northeast.
So the recipe becomes this. Transplant and add several new ones. Create a bold curve to the lawn/bed edge and importantly echo the bold curve in the plant arrangement. Add the truly lovely find of the astrolabe hidden in the woods edge and make it the focal point. I arranged the rhodies to frame it as a focal point by moving one back to form a niche.
Also, I created an order by repeating similar varieties on each side of the border so that the assemblage of miscellaneous plants look intended as a blooming tapestry.
Voila! A classic Rhododendron Border lovely to see from all the interior and exterior rooms. And, important in New England, in all seasons a view that merges forest and border into something special.
As a design note, I would suggest changing the color of the astrolabe–maybe red, orange, or blue. The current color may be too subtle.