Here’s Stan, the gardening man, gesturing at his creation and declaring it to be out of control.

Quite the contrary, I see a lot of control in the juxtaposition of plants of varying heights, colors and textures…and then there are the blooms!

First thing you see, driving up to the house, are two of these variegated dogwoods in a parking strip that is otherwise quite restrained, with the use of gravel and a few well-placed large rocks.

After which, let the wild rumpus begin.

Sprinkled throughout the tapestry of plants, Sisyrinchium striatum ties the whole thing together and puts my lone specimen to shame. I am told, though, that if you have one, you will soon have many. Yay!

Here it is again, cozying up to its pal, Dusty Miller…

playing peek-a-boo with the greater garden behind…

and introducing us to the steps leading to the front door.

At ground level, little vignettes like this one keep it interesting. That little patch of bare earth is one of only a very few that I spotted.

I like the way the color palette of the plants compliments the house.

Here’s one last shot before I join the group on the deck for book club…

with just a glimpse of the back garden The Bookies are admiring from above. It is very different than the front garden, but every bit as interesting…a subject for another day. Oh, and once the dahlias begin blooming (there are lots of them) the front garden will have put on it’s party dress and be ready to wow us all over again.