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Perennials
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 Island
beds are gardens situated in the midst of a lawn or, in some cases (especially
in arid regions), an area of crushed stone. Island beds are ideal for
new gardeners because they are set at a distance from the house, so there's
no need to worry about the drainage, eaves, etc. Also, you may feel freer
to experiment with a new island bed, rather than modifying an existing
foundation planting. And perhaps most importantly, you can carefully select
the site for adequate sunlight.
The risk with island beds is that they can look out of place if they’re set in the middle of a large expanse of lawn. Observe the island beds in neighbors’ yards and at botanical gardens. You’ll probably see that the most effective island beds follow the natural contours of the land. They may mimic the shape of a hedge or other border, or cover a gentle slope. Or they may surround a natural outcropping of rock. If your yard is square and flat, you may want to begin your gardens at the borders and expand them inward, rather than plopping a bed smack dab in the middle. When designing your island bed, consider whether you’ll be viewing it from all sides, or whether you’ll usually look at it from one direction -- say, the kitchen window. You won’t want to plant low-growing flowers where they’ll be hidden from view by their taller neighbors. Sample Garden Plans Sunny Island I
Sunny Island II
Copyright 2002,
National Gardening Association. All Rights Reserved.
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viewing
direction
