Naming My New Border … We Have A Winner!
Back in early May I launched a contest to name the new border I have planted in the parkway where a maple recently died, creating a new sunny spot. Well, I am pleased to announce that we have a winner … the Lamppost Border, submitted by Sunil of Sunil’s Garden.
Congratulations, Sunil! As promised, you will receive the thanks of a grateful nation. Details are still being worked out as to which nation exactly it will be, but early indications point to either Lichtenstein or Krgyzstan.
Honorable mention goes to Prairie Parkway, submitted by Jackie Totsch, and Stumpy (because there’s a stump), submitted by Jeff Park Mom. They will receive the thanks of a grateful township or municipality, to be selected in a reasonably timely manner. I should also mention that Karen Boutall got very close with Lamppost Garden.
So, why the Lamppost Border? Well, I like names that are distinct and easy to remember, and this is the only border planted around a lamppost.
As to the border itself, here’s how it was looking in mid-June. Almost all the plants are settling in nicely. Though all the perennials were planted this spring, I have hopes that many will bloom their first year. In fact, the Blanket Flower ‘Arizona Sun’ (Gaillardia aristata) is already blooming.
What, you say? Blanket Flower wasn’t on my original plant list? Well, they were left on my doorstep wrapped in a blanket (get it?) and what was I to do? I had to give them a home.
The one disappointment has been the Prairie Baby’s Breath (Euphorbia corollata). I waited a long time for it to emerge, and then suddenly – it was gone. The Demon Bunnies of Mordor are suspected.
‘Disco Red’ Marigolds (Tagetes patula) and ‘Profusion Fire’ Zinnias are filling in the space between the new perennials.
A flowering container deals with the stump issue, I feel, satisfactorily.
I have started to remove the strip of grass that ran down the middle of the border, following advice from Donna of Garden Walk, Garden Talk and Christina of My Hesperides Garden. I am, however, leaving a square of grass around the gas main cover and the strip along the street.
Now it so happens that I have come into possession of a couple of Little Bluestem ‘Carousel’ and ‘Jazz’ (Schizachyrium scoparium). (I really have to stop these strangers from leaving plants on my doorstep.) These I intend to plant in a little drift in the newly opened up space, because I really have no other place to put them. Will that look weird? I hope not.
Because this is a vignette of sorts, I am linking to the Wednesday Vignette meme at Flutter and Hum. Take a look, as this is a blog that always has something interesting to say.
gardeninacity 
I hate demon bunnies. I saw a firecracker plant at the garden center today and thought of you. :o) It’s amazing that you have plants just show up on your doorstep. Usually when that happens to me, it’s because I had too much to carry and left them there before I dropped them. Your plants look happy and healthy. It will be beautiful when it all fills in.
I never said the plants on my doorstep weren’t accompanied by an invoice.
Oh, I like that name… Lamppost Border. It feels good to say. I think I’m like you – I always feel the need to rescue plants that are given to me, but lately, I have started to give plants away too. It’s nice when you know they go to a good home! As for the voting, I am SO with you. Good grief – when are we going to deal with better access to mental health care, gun laws, racial profiling and the like…? Every time something like this happens, I hope it’s the last time, and every time I’m wrong. So sad for their pain. I seriously think if we raised a nation of gardeners, we would be a much more peaceful people. Maybe that’s what we need to do? Make it mandatory to care for something living from early years, on. Might not be a bad idea…
It’s understandable but unfortunate when people feel helpless or frustrated and as a result pull back from participation. When this happens, though, all the bad things tend to get worse.
So true. Like Albert Einstein said: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
A good choice of name Jason, and I am also glad that the grass is partly being removed…. room for more plants! Love the container on the stump – great idea!
Thanks. Wish I could remember who suggested it.
It looks lovely but I’m picturing you on your hands and knees with a sharp pair of scissors to trim those lush small sections of grass. 🙂
Not me! I’ve got my trusty battery-powered weed wacker!
Rabbits are rampant here too. Lots of young hippity hopping around the garden. I like the idea of having a grass in the garden. The new name suits it too.
I wonder how long it will take for predators or something to bring an end to the bunny population boom.
Looking good. Pot on old stump works nicely.
Thanks, I think so too.
Perhaps it was that evil, mythical Jackalope that you have encountered? Gaillardia is one of my favorite perennials. It grows wild in my home state…Texas. You can see whole fields of Indian blacket. Just beautiful! The little bluestem are going to look great once it all fills in. Wish I had a plant fairy who left me plants on my front step! ~Julie
I would love to see those fields of Indian Blanket. Do they bloom after the Bluebonnets?
It looks great! 🙂 ” Demon Bunnies of Mordor”… hehehehe (though I know it’s not funny, but still…) 😉
As for the bunnies, I just have to laugh through my tears.
I love the new name! It is coming along beautifully, a curse on those bunnies from Mordor!!! I would love people to leave me plants like that!xxx
I need Gandalf the Bunny Slayer.
Thanks for the shout out and looking to “kill” that strip. All the more places to plant is your motto, no? Using a container on the stump is an idea they use a lot here, but I’ll give you another cool idea. Drill some large bit holes and scoop out planting pockets for plants like sedum. They grow great. I have stumps in my garden with them. If you are extra ambitious, bore out the center of the stump and plant some perennials. It looks really cool when done and growing . WP does not allow me to pop in photos or I would show how profession the stump looks when completed. The problem with containers is the tree service or city forester, whoever made your tree go away, never makes a level cut – unless you are like my neighbors who are out directing every cut of the blade.
The stump was a little slanted, it’s true. I used a piece of tile to shim it and make it more level, not perfectly though. The holes in the stump idea does sound pretty cool.
Congratulations to the christening of your new border. It already looks great and I love the colors and plants you chose.
Strangers leave plants on my doorstep, but there’s usually a packing list and invoice accompanying them!
I never said there wasn’t an invoice.
Great name for the new garden bed. I really like the idea of planting around that lamppost and it is going to look stunning when it has all filled out. Your streetlights are so much more decorative than ours. We just have old tree trunks and the council has this terrible habit of using long-lasting herbicides and gravel at the base meaning it is almost impossible to get anything to grow near it.
The streetlights are pretty decorative, though rather scarce in most parts of town.
I’m wondering how long it’s going to take before it reaches that driveway back there in that last shot!
Actually I want to leave a strip of grass so that careless motorists don’t kill my flowers!
I like the name and the border. It will be fun to follow along and see your progress over time!
I’ll keep posting updates.
Very nice but why stop there? There’ s plenty more grass to dig up.
Don’t tempt me.
I like the new name, and the border is filling in nicely. I was partial to the suggestions for Prairie Parkway, but maybe you can use that if you decide to dig up another area nearby. The demon bunnies are getting so bad here,too, I may have to call in an exorcist.
Good idea, I never thought of an exorcist. I will definitely hold Prairie Parkway in reserve.
A perfect name and I love the plant choices.
Thanks!
Congratulations on your new name, Jason. I planted Blanket flower last season and it bloomed like crazy. In fact, I think it bloomed itself into exhaustion as it did not return.
Oh, no! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that my blanket flower won’t end up an annual.
Great name! Kudos to Sunil for thinking of it and to you for recognizing brilliance when you saw it. And I’m sure the citizens of either Lichtenstein or Krgyzstan will be more than happy to be included. 🙂
Lichtenstein is almost beside itself with anticipation.
The bed looks fantastic Jason! And the name is perfect for that bed! I look forward to seeing more of this space….and I like the container on the stump!!! Happy weekend..here is to less rain hopefully! Nicole
Today was beautiful, wasn’t it, and tomorrow is also supposed to be good. Hope you get some quality time in the garden.
Great name! It reminds me a bit of Narnia …
Ah, yes. Perhaps I should get a small statue of a lion to put next to it.
perfect! I like simple + the easy name to remember…must be an age thing-LOL
Yes, my ability to remember names has definitely deteriorated.
My goodness! I’ve never won anything in my life and so it’s amazing that I won the “Name that Border” competition with what I thought was a very standard and lacklustre entry. Thank you very much, Jason!
Congratulations and well done!