You have probably guessed that the picture above is of my house. It was taken several years ago – long before I had even heard of the word “blog.” Today, my house looks like this:
Not really too much different at first glance. Take a closer look, however, and you will see the cone shaped bushes on either side of the door have grown taller and have become rather thin and brown around the bottom. Not pretty! The damage is not very noticeable from the street, but close up is another story. It seems they did not brave the winter well this year – victims of some hungry voles I have been told.
Being the type of person who would rather have “nothing” than live with something I don’t like, I decided they needed to go.
Fortunately, Mr. RDH didn’t need much convincing. So out came the shovels and down went the bushes.
It definitely is a much cleaner and simpler look – which I like. The problem is this – what should I replace them with?
A few ideas have come to mind – same type of bush as before, another boxwood, a bed of flowers, a different kind of bush (suggestions welcome), two urns, etc.
So what would you do? I am open to all suggestions and look forward to hearing your opinion. Thanks for your help.
I have two and they look just like yours. We are going to take ours out too as soon as the weather cools down a bit...I can not work in this weather. Dianntha
Have you ever seen "pencil stick hollies"? They grow pretty slow, but each year get some new leaves and about 5" of height. I'm not sure about you zone. I'm in SC. The lowest goes to about 18 degrees. But that's very rare. Mine survived that. I've had them in large pots too. Kelly
Urns would look very nice! I will also second Kelly's idea of pencil stick holly. I've had one and they are really, really neat. Very distinctive and clean looking. They grow to be about 6 ft tall. So cool.
I like the pencil stick holly idea. What about an Alberta Spruce topiary. I have two on either side of my gate and they are a lot of fun to shape into swirls. I feel like a gardener at Disney World! :) HTH!
I just did holly bushes on either side of my door {fairly small at the moment} and they have a Christmas tree shape to them. I like the idea of pencil stick hollies, too. Something thin that won't overtake the doorway or entry as they grow. What about something topiary, like a spiral?
I would say go for the pencil stick holly bushes or what about some crepe myrtle bushes perhaps white. There is a variety that grow in bush form and would add something a little different. I have a yopon holly that just up and died last week. Not sure why, but it has to go. Jackie
I would either go with two large, gorgeous urns which you can fill with seasonal flowers or even an evergreen topiary, or two Japanese Maples. I'm not sure what gardening zone you live in, but they are beautiful plants. I have several in my garden.
At our old home in CA we had waxed leaf privets...two of them...they were topiary shaped...two balls to each of them and we loved them. You might look into them. Joni
I'm not sure of your zone, either, but I've always been entranced by the weeping fig trees. My sister in MI had them and they always looked great. I'm a perennial girl, myself...how about some wonderful peony bushes?
I think nothing at all. It looks so nice and clean. Less is more? It probably just feels a little bit empty right now since you are used to seeing something.
Hi there! I would suggest something with "soft" lines- a smaller (as opposed to the huge!) hydrangea perhaps (think the lines of a large fern).... Because your house's architecture is very symetrical and your row of boxwoods is trimmed and the tree also gives a trimmed appearance I think some softness right there would be very inviting. Don't get me wrong, I love topiaries and trimmed boxwoods, I just think if "everything" is coiffured it starts to look too perfect and uptight. Look forward to seeing what you decide upon! joan
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I enjoy hearing from you! Unfortunately I will not longer be publishing comments with links. Thanks for understanding.
I think two large urns would be nice. Then if a plant dies it would be easy to switch it out with a new one.
ReplyDeleteI am partial to dwarf maples if you don't have pesky deer.
ReplyDeleteI have two and they look just like yours. We are going to take ours out too as soon as the weather cools down a bit...I can not work in this weather. Dianntha
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen "pencil stick hollies"? They grow pretty slow, but each year get some new leaves and about 5" of height. I'm not sure about you zone. I'm in SC. The lowest goes to about 18 degrees. But that's very rare. Mine survived that. I've had them in large pots too.
ReplyDeleteKelly
Urns would look very nice! I will also second Kelly's idea of pencil stick holly. I've had one and they are really, really neat. Very distinctive and clean looking. They grow to be about 6 ft tall. So cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking something softer, maybe flowering or nonflowering but not green. Which direction does it face?
ReplyDeleteI like the pencil stick holly idea. What about an Alberta Spruce topiary. I have two on either side of my gate and they are a lot of fun to shape into swirls. I feel like a gardener at Disney World! :) HTH!
ReplyDeleteI just did holly bushes on either side of my door {fairly small at the moment} and they have a Christmas tree shape to them. I like the idea of pencil stick hollies, too. Something thin that won't overtake the doorway or entry as they grow. What about something topiary, like a spiral?
ReplyDeleteI would say go for the pencil stick holly bushes or what about some crepe myrtle bushes perhaps white. There is a variety that grow in bush form and would add something a little different. I have a yopon holly that just up and died last week. Not sure why, but it has to go. Jackie
ReplyDeleteI would either go with two large, gorgeous urns which you can fill with seasonal flowers or even an evergreen topiary, or two Japanese Maples. I'm not sure what gardening zone you live in, but they are beautiful plants. I have several in my garden.
ReplyDeleteAt our old home in CA we had waxed leaf privets...two of them...they were topiary shaped...two balls to each of them and we loved them. You might look into them. Joni
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of your zone, either, but I've always been entranced by the weeping fig trees. My sister in MI had them and they always looked great. I'm a perennial girl, myself...how about some wonderful peony bushes?
ReplyDeleteWe tried those same plants for years and without fail as soon as they were pretty big the started to die.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Not sure what to suggest! But I have burford hollies and I love them! Have a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Hope you can get to Hawaii soon :-)
ReplyDeleteI think nothing at all. It looks so nice and clean. Less is more? It probably just feels a little bit empty right now since you are used to seeing something.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of two large urns! Not sure what I'd fill them with as my own are empty right now after my gorgeous ferns died.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the small tree in the left corner? I love it.
Urns with boxwood shaped topiaries are always beautiful and classic. Your home is gorgeous! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat about Ligustrom topiary. They are very hardy (not sure where your home is so maybe not?) but they can be shaped into a cone or a double ball.
ReplyDeleteHi there! I would suggest something with "soft" lines- a smaller (as opposed to the huge!) hydrangea perhaps (think the lines of a large fern).... Because your house's architecture is very symetrical and your row of boxwoods is trimmed and the tree also gives a trimmed appearance I think some softness right there would be very inviting. Don't get me wrong, I love topiaries and trimmed boxwoods, I just think if "everything" is coiffured it starts to look too perfect and uptight. Look forward to seeing what you decide upon!
ReplyDeletejoan
I'm a sucker for boxwood hedges - they're a classic and you can trim them to be neat and clean!
ReplyDelete