What used to be a dusty patch of crab grass not two years ago, is now one of the most lush and colorful parts of the entire yard. The area had trees shading it, which had to be removed. Since, it's been hard to grow anything. There were some bushes that never did that well. Attempts at remediating the soil never took. Grass seed had trouble starting. Then, after we made the patio next to this area, it seemed logical to extend a pathway from the patio to the back of the yard.
Then, we needed a pathway to get to the left side, and a way to fill the bird feeders. Now there are several growing areas, each with its own lighting conditions. I recently removed a branch from a neighbor's tree that was shading one side. Some things liked it, others didn't. Such is life. We added a healthy layer of mulch this year, and had a lot of self-seeders come back from last year. Four O'Clocks, yellow alyssum, Rose Campion, and Nicotiana all came back with a vengeance. (Wait, that's how you spell vengeance!?) Anyway, among the perennials, of Foxglove, Poppies, Heuchera, Veronica, Delphinium, and others, there are also a bunch of Canna Lillies. These we keep in the basement all winter, and plant in pots, and in parts of the garden where they will add height, texture, and a rich bronze color that complements the Coleus and Ligularia. If you don't know that last one, look it up! I love the foliage.
So, let me know what you think. How is your garden doing? What do you do with difficult spots in your yard?