Before and After: Easy-Care Color for a Sunny Bed

Betty Norlander's 15-by-40-foot flower bed in Los Altos, California, was a shapeless struggle — plants failed in heavy soil, weeds were rampant, and the view from her living room window was uninspiring. Garden designer Gay Bonorden Gray reshaped the space with graceful curves, amended soil with compost, and installed drip irrigation.

Together they selected plants for year-round color, low maintenance, and drought tolerance. Hot pink 'Flower Carpet' roses anchor the border alongside blue hibiscus, bougainvillea, violet butterfly bush, and Mexican sage for spring-through-fall bloom. Dahlias and gladiolus accent late spring and summer. In winter, nandina and variegated flax provide striking foliage.

Most plants need only late-winter cutting back or occasional dividing. Norlander now simply relaxes and enjoys the view.

DESIGNER STRATEGIES

• Remove harsh angles. Replace straight edges with soft curves for a meandering effect.
• Layer plants by height. Shortest in front, tallest in back.
• Limit the color palette. Gray mainly used two flower colors: vivid pink roses lead the eye, while butterfly bush, Mexican sage, and penstemon add soft purple bursts. Silvery gray foliage knits the composition together.
• Add accent plants. Single specimens of blue hibiscus, bougainvillea, and multicolored phormium punctuate color sweeps.
• Choose plants that look good all year. Evergreen foliage plants provide winter structure.
• Include surprises. Dahlias and gladiolus hidden belowground pop up in late spring and summer.