Much has happened at the corner of Ridge Road and Westway since I posted “Corner Make-over in Old Greenbelt” just three weeks ago – thanks to the removal of two massive trees there by Pepco.
I posted this “after” photo to the Greenbelters Facebook page and people were variously horrified and optimistic about whether the sedges would recover from the injury.
But like avid gardeners everywhere, I saw it as an opportunity to GET MORE PLANTS. Yes, those all-caps are called for because that’s kinda what we live for. That and finally seeing new plants start looking their best a couple of years down the road.
So I moved a couple of the now-awful-looking sedges to the rear, to survive or not in relative obscurity, and filled the now-sunnier bare spots with two of the best-performing, low-maintenance shrubs known to gardeners. One is this ‘Center Glow’ Ninebark above, which is a stand-out for its purple leaves more than its white blooms in the spring, and for being in my opinion the best-looking native shrub in our region. With its eventual height of 8-10 feet tall and spread of almost that much, it’ll grow quickly to provide a high-impact backdrop for the perennials in front.
The Ninebark shown above right is growing in the common area at 5 Ridge Road. Growing fast, I might add.
The other purchase is a ‘Sonic Bloom’ Red Weigela, which blooms in May and then reblooms until there’s a hard frost – November/December in our area. It’ll grow to 5′ tall and wide. I’ve grown several varieties of Weigela and recommend them all the time for their ability to grow quickly and look good with minimal care – watering regularly only at first, and then a bit of pruning after they’re full-grown. (Here are some excellent videos demonstrating the pruning of this and other spring-blooming shrubs.)
And today, Thanksgiving Day, I’m grateful to Behnke Nurseries for donating a gift card toward the purchase of these two shrubs, which were already on sale. So my out-of-pocket for this purchase and the daffodils I bought is still minimal.
Still to come are a few additions that are donations from Greenbelt gardens. Annie Shaw is donating a large ornamental grass like the one above (in my Takoma Park garden), and Katrina Boverman has offered some Black-Eyed Susans. They’re cheerful and our State Flower, so let’s have masses of them!
Finally, two local groups have expressed interest in using this makeover for its intended purpose already – as a Low-Maintenance Demonstration Garden. Jan Wolf, the Master Gardener who coordinates the monthly information table at the Farmers Market, tells me she looks forward to directing people to the spot to get great plant ideas and suggested some signage there to maximize the educational potential. So we’ll be exploring that.
And I heard from Candice Shipp, who asked for a “before” photo, explaining that her “Cub Scouts will be learning about community changes tomorrow night and I’d love to show them pictures.”
See why gardening in public places is soooo much fun? I can hardly wait ’til next year.
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