Question
QUESTION: Hello!

I am coming to you with a question from Alaska...as a person new to the area and a completely unexperienced gardener.  Due to our shorter growing season, I am hoping to start some of our flowers inside in a couple of weeks.  But, I would like some advise on which plants to pick.  We have some large raised flower beds running along the side of our house (in full sun) and am hoping to select flowers and plants that will not only look good year round...but that will add splashes of color during the summer.  Can you give me some suggestions?  Thanks so much!

ANSWER: Hi Becky,

Wow. What a great question. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I know enough about Alaska to answer it!

I can give it a try though...so here goes...

I came across this website which I think may be helpful to you. This place even has a nursery and gardens for you to visit (if you live near this area).
http://www.alaskahardy.com/

If you provide me your zip code I can find out what growing zone you're in and try to find suitable plants for you. Of course, what I will be looking for are native plants to your region because those would do the best and require the least maintenance.

Looking forward to hearing back from you...

Namaste,
Kathy


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Kathy, thanks for your response and the website!  I appreciate the help...even if you aren't an expert on Alaska-any info you have is more than I know!  My zip code is 99517--so in the Anchorage area.  And I'm looking for any plants, shrubs, flowers etc.  And perhaps some tips on spatial arrangement.  Which ones would look or do better in the back, etc.

Thanks again!

Becky

ANSWER: Hey Becky,

So I can help you with a layout for your plants what are the dimensions of the raised bed?

Sorry this took a couple of days, but, here are my picks. There is no guarantee that they sell these at your location. You may be able to mail order them. Also, ask your local nursery for similar and/or alternate suggestions (based on my descriptions of the plant).

I chose plants that could withstand Zone 2 or 3 climates - you are Zone 4 (coldest being 1 and warmest being 10).

Native, evergreen shrub suggestion:
Compact Inkberry Holly
This dwarf grower makes an excellent border plant. Blackberries in the winter. Slow-growing to 4 to 6 feet high and wide, can easily be held to 2 feet. Full to partial sun.

Native, deciduous shrub suggestion:
Diabolo Ninebark
Intense reddish-purple foliage on upright, arching branches. Provides excellent color contrast when used in the border. Creamy-white flowers June - July. Moderate grower to 8 to 10 feet tall and wide.

Flowering Perennial suggestions:
Lipstick Strawberry Plant
Blooms beautiful, bright, red showy flowers from early spring into fall. Extremely easy care ground cover. Thrives in most soils. Fast spreading 4 to 6 in. high, 12 to 20 in. wide.

Columbine
Masses of flowers - comes in many types and colors. Spring blooms. 12 to 16 inches tall, foliage clumps about 12 inches wide.

Oranges & Lemons Blanket Flower
A native wildflower with Daisy like blossoms - striped in tangerine, orange and yellow. Blooms summer through fall. Hardy and easy to care for. Compact grower 18 to 24 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide.


I hope this helps to get you started. Please get back to me on the dimensions so I can help you put your garden together :-)

Namaste,
Kathy






---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Kathy,

Thanks! Your suggestions sound great...and they'll definitely help me out in choosing flowers.  It is especially great to know about the Columbines because I liked how they looked and had already bought some seed, but had no idea if they would grow!

The dimensions of my flower bed are probably small according to an experienced gardener...but I wanted to start off with an easier project and perhaps expand.  The whole flower bed is approximately 25 (x direction) feet by 5 feet (y direction).  The only problem is that part of the flower bed is shaded by the deck above it.  So I'll try to describe it here since I can't draw it out.  The left part of the bed is full sun and is about a 7 (x direction) foot by 5 foot (y direction) section.  From there to the right is the remaining 18 (x direction) foot section.  However, this section has about half of it in the shaded part from the deck (deck is about 3 foot above this part).  thanks again for your help!

Becky

Answer
Hi Becky,

I found this garden club in Anchorage. It would be a great place to go and ask more questions. Who would know better what to grow in your area?  http://dir.gardenweb.com/directory/agc1/

As for design...

Where the corner of the deck is I would place a flowering shrub that grows beyond the deck. I don't know how high the deck is, but, if it is an additional 4 feet above the planting bed purchase a shrub that grows at least 7-9ft tall. My suggestion would be Ivory Halo Dogwood or even Variegated Dogwood. I checked out a nursery in Anchorage (so maybe you could actually get the plants I'm suggesting!) and I saw these there. Here is the web address: http://www.faltzlandscaping.com/trees.html

Since your bed is 5 feet wide I would stay with 2 rows of plants - taller in the back and shorter in the front. If you want - and have room - you can randomly squeeze in smaller, colorful bulbs or annuals for interest, but, keep them around 4-6" tall. Make sure that when planting you don't plant in a perfectly straight row. Instead, stagger them a bit so they have a more natural line.

I like to make the back row a mixture of evergreens and deciduous (but with attractive twig color in fall and winter). Groups of 3-5 work well. When the season is over you wouldn't want sporadic, individual plants. Keep with groupings and it will always look neat and balanced.

Hanging baskets off your deck would look wonderful, too. I hear fuchsias do well in hanging baskets in Anchorage. This would add color and balance to the bed and the deck.

If you have any questions on the above information just let me know and good luck!

Namaste,
Kathy