Before I describe the Desolation of Clif, I need to provide a bit of backstory for readers.
Item one: crappy siding
Our house was built in 1969, and in an extreme effort to pinch a nickel until the buffalo screamed, the builders put a kind of paper/cardboard siding on our home. (We, of course, did not buy the home in 1969. I was twelve, and my husband was eighteen. We came together in 1977 and bought the house in 1984.)
Considering the siding’s material, it held up reasonably well for quite a while. But about ten years ago, it started peeling and rotting. Because we are a family of modest means, new siding for the whole house was not within our budget. So Clif, being handy, removed the worst of the old siding, replaced it with sturdier material, and painted it to match the original siding. All around the house, he has worked with little trouble until he came to the front.
Item two: yew hedges
In the U.S. in the 1970s, it was all the rage to put yew hedges along the front of the house, and so it is with our home on the edge of the woods. American readers of a certain age will know just what I mean. While it might be fair to describe the hedges as “common,” it also must be pointed out that the hedges are as tough as a bag of hammers. Over the years, those hedges grew until there was the narrowest of passages between house and hedge.
Here’s a picture of our home with the yew hedges in all their glory.
Now we come to the crux of the matter. The front of the house needs to be patched and painted. Clif maintained he could not work with those hedges so close to the house. While I’m not a huge fan of the hedges, I built my gardens around them, and they provide the backdrop. Not the smartest move, perhaps, but we really couldn’t afford to have a landscaper come in and make everything right.
Clif, though, was undeterred. He had a chainsaw. He said he could take the hedges down all by himself and thus work on the house. I didn’t doubt this, but I knew what the front garden would look like if he hacked the hedges down.
I was not wrong.
The Desolution of Clif
The first time I saw the damage, I could hardly breathe. It looked as though all the back teeth of the garden had been knocked out, and the bed is twice as large as it was before the hedges were cruelly taken down. Now, this bed is a problem bed, and I have lost many plants that were put in with the naive optimism of a new gardener. What the heck was I going to do with more space?
I might have snarkily obeserved commented that it is easier to destroy than it is to create. Clif made no reply. I might have made some other rude observations. In the end, I calmed down and considered what I could do next spring to repair the damage.
Clif’s suggestion: Put in some ferns and let them fill in the way they have out back.
Not the worst idea.
I love ferns. They are low-maintenance and elegant. But do I really want that bed to be half ferns? I’m not sure.
Then I had another idea. When I dug up the lawn, all those years ago, to make a bed, I did it with the sublime ignorance of the novice gardener. I didn’t consider how hard it would be to work in such a big bed, how I would have to trample the dirt to add plants, compost, and fertilizer. Instead, what if we, Clif, removed all the plants, put in walkways, added a nice but not hugely expensive focal point, and replanted what had been removed: black-eyed Susans, phlox, evening primroses? Maybe add something else that I haven’t thought of.
Clif wisely did not object to this scheme.
So, readers who garden, I turn this over to you.
Any suggestions?
Notes From the Hinterland 
Holy smokes!!!
Right? He would not take no for an answer. Perhaps it was necessary, but what a heartbreak for me to see that damage.
Have you had evening primrose before? (That’s the yellow blossom, right?) I have some, it spreads everywhere and FAST, so unless you want a LOT of it, be careful.I guess if it spreads out into the yard you can just mow it. It IS pretty!
I have had evening primrose for years and years. Yes, it spreads quickly but it is also easily removed. When you have a yard like mine, you can’t be too picky. 😉
Just kidding 😊
Canna Lilies ❗
Lovely but not in Maine.;)
Does this mean that Clif is going to lose his snow guage gig? Or are you just going to leave him out in the snow? 😉
Tee-hee! Clif will keep his snow-gauge gig.
An opportunity!! 😉 My thoughts are to add some stepping stones or cement pavers to make access easier, then refresh soil with amendments and take divisions of what you already have growing in the front bed. It will fill in in no time and look like its always been that way.
Excellent advice! And that’s the direction in which I am heading.
Chuckling at your strike-throughs! My goal: to think them without saying them out loud. Then, gradually not think them.
What I’m hearing through all of this is the grief. It’s really hard to see the starkness; especially when you weren’t entirely on board.
I live Eliza’s scheme.
We are working on nurturing plants indigenous to Kansas, which end up being great pollinator plants. We are going to have to help the native Goldenrod and Brown-Eyed Susans not crowd out and dominate our garden beds. It’s taken several years for the Echinacea to get sturdy, but they are holding their own nicely. Their faded flower heads are great, natural bird feeders in the winter. But I have no idea what’s indigenous in Maine!
Yes, very good to read Eliza’s advice. She is an accomplished gardener who has been at it for many years. Loved hearing what you are doing in your garden, too. As for the strike-throughs… I felt honesty was important. 😉
Yes, honesty is so relatable!
You didn’t mention your age, but as I aged my body fell apart . . . Suddenly I couldn’t do much. Consider since you staying in the house, how long and will you continue to want to care for a big garden?
Good questions! When that time comes, I will hire a landscaping company to do the heavy work. I would cut back my budget in other ways to keep my gardens.
Our house was built in 1974 and came with the required giant yew bushes on either side of the front door when we moved here in 2002. We keep them trimmed and rather like them so just pruned back a portion from the house when we replaced our porch two years ago.
Since you have low growing plants in the front of the bed I’d recommend a few taller shrubs as anchors in the back. White rhododendrons might be pretty with your red siding.
Thanks, Rivergirl! White rhododendrons would be pretty.
Oh, you made me smile with this post, Laurie! We took out our yews in front of the house, and put it rhodes. Nice, except we have to keep trimming them, or they would get bigger than the house. Some years, we cut them so severely, that we miss blooming the next spring.
I’m for your plant list of things to put back. Also, what about hosta, (large or small) Autumn Joy sedum, or those smaller yellow blooming supposedly forever lilies? At least in my yard, you can’t kill any of them. ;-0
Thanks, Julie! Have lots of hosta in other beds and one even in that bed. I am feeling more optimistic about the project now.
This is indeed an opportunity and I love Eliza’s advice. It will keep access easy if you need any further maintenance to your house as well 💚 xxx
Yes, yes!
I have one long bed where I basically divided it into thirds and put in two simple paver walkways so I could get in and out to work easier.
If you like the layout except for the back, I don’t know if I’d dig everything up. Maybe move what would be in the way for the walkway(s) and anything tall that would work in the back.
I have a couple of plants potted up for our next luncheon. Maybe I need to pot up some more. 🙂
Great advice! Only dig what needs to be dug. Thanks for thinking about me.
I am wondering about the other side of the door. We see the hedges and plants there. Do you have the old siding in the other side as well? Will it be removed in the near future?
Yes, yes! Those shrubs are doomed too. But it’s a much more narrow bed, and ferns would be perfect there.
Oh! I have no suggestions but what an upheaval!
As your Maine climate does differ from mine here Down Under I am just sending tons of imagination and energy – you have quite a few good local ideas methinks . . . take one small area at a time and good luck 🙂 !
Not being a gardener, or a resident of the Far North, I have no gardening advice. I do have to comment: When I read “In the end, I calmed down and considered what I could do next spring to repair the damage.” I fully expected that sentence to end with “what I could do to save my marriage.” So glad I was wrong! I’m sure it will all turn out beautifully.
Tee-hee! Not quite at that point. But it was a blow to see all that damage.
Oh! My heart!!!
Welp, not knowing your microclimate, I’d say to plant something that will do well and make your heart *very happy as it grows and fills out the space.
I’m so sorry this was so jarring, and I completely understand.
Rosemary. Not sure how it will do in your climate but it had always done OK for us. Close to a house it can be drier than you think, so the Mediterranean heritage will come in handy. Lovely flowers, good coverage, easy to maintain, smells good, can be used in cooking. https://cultivatingflora.com/how-to-grow-rosemary-in-maine/
Lavender is good too and you can collect the flowers for lavender bags or biscuits. However, you do have to be on top of the pruning to stop it getting leggy. https://cultivatingflora.com/how-to-grow-lavender-in-maine/
Those are great ideas! Kind of bush-like and so lovely. They are perennials here in NJ, not sure if they are in Maine.
No, not in Maine. But the thyme is.
They have always served us well but we do have a milder climate than maine. 🙂
Ah, good to know.
No suggestions, but you’ve made a good story out of it!
There’s that at least.
There is a great variety of ferns of all shapes and sizes. Jackie suggests a few bulbs for the spring while the ferns are think about emerging. Hostas would be good. An arch with Jasmine.
Great ideas, Derrick and Jackie. Bulbs are a great idea! Alliums get really tall. And an arch would be a lovely focal point to make a little path to.
An arch would indeed be lovely!
Thank you so much from each of us, Jodie
Thank Jackie for the wonderful suggestions! I especially like the idea of an arch.
“Done”, said Jackie as I was typing the word
I love (and recognise!) the dynamics of your partnership with Clif. It’s all good fun, I’m sure, and between the two of you I’m certain you’ll find a creative way to conclude the project.
Your use of the word “siding” made me chuckle. Over here, we call it “cladding”, while a siding is a place to park up railway (that’s “railroad” to you! 😊) engines and rolling stock when their not in use. A perfect example of two societies divided by a common language!
Well, eventually it became good fun but not so much at the beginning when I felt as though I could hardly breathe. 😉
I love the differences in our common language. Always a source of fascination to me.
All the suggestions you made yourself black-eyed Susans, phlox, evening primroses are great ones for your garden. Some varieties of thyme would be suitable for a garden with lots of shade. They are low maintenance, attract pollinators, covers lots of ground, look great and taste good. If it was my house I would not have any plants super close to the house, I would fill up the area closest to the house with gravel/rocks. I believe in you!
Yes, thyme! Also, filling up the area closest to the house with rocks is a great idea. Thanks so much for the suggestions.
First of all, your strike-outs were fabulous. Shannon’s reaction was funny too.
A meandering, rough, flat stone path looks lovely in a big garden, but you need it to go to something to make sense. A birdfeeder or bird bath? A jasmine covered arch, like Derick suggested. We have one that goes to an electrical outlet, which is not lovely but practical.
Yes, a path needs to go somewhere to make sense. Glad you enjoyed the humor, which I must admit did not come to me until a day or two after the event. 😉
LOL
Sadly, I’m not a gardener and am unable to offer any practical advice, but I hope you get some great suggestions form others here. Fingers crossed… 🙂
Thanks so much, Jacqui!
We’ve got a large trellis attached to the front of our house with two different types of clematis vines growing on it. It’s the focal point – and also the backdrop for the plants in front of it. I know that you can also get freestanding trellises that do not need to be attached to the house. Just a thought…
A trellis is moving to the top of my list! Yes, we would get a freestanding one. And maybe a bird bath to go underneath. Thanks for the suggestion.
You’re welcome!
I am a fan of bulbs and ferns myself, and have learned not to plant things too close to buildings, as it makes maintenance difficult. The thyme suggestion sounds like a good one. I’ve tried arches of various sorts, but they can be maintenance too.
The thyme does sound like a good suggestion. I will keep what you said about arches in mind.
A lot of interesting suggestions here, Laurie. What I’m not seeing mentioned at all is the evergreen (winter interest) characteristic of the yews. Does this matter to you at all, or is the area deep in snow in winter so it doesn’t matter? Was wondering if some small varieties of evergreens might work, something that won’t exceed 3′ or so and would give you a good background. Just a thought…
What USDA planting zone are you?
You bring up a good point. Yes, the area is deep with snow in the winter, and there is added snow from the roof when Clif scrapes it. Still, I like the idea of small varieties of evergreens and will give it some thought.
I have no practical suggestions, Laurie, just three cheers for your engaging, poignant and — yes — hilarious post. Thank you for telling this story of woe and possibility. And I salute Clif, too, for being so handy. I am eager to hear & see what you come up with!
Stay tuned!
When I first read the title of this post, I was worried about Clif’s desolation. I’m sure there was/is some of that too after realizing how dejected you were.
I hope you will be happy with the new look once you decide how to proceed and a little time has passed.
Thanks, Tanja! The title is a play on words borrowed from Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Now that you mention it . . . 😊
That is a radical change to your garden! But I like the suggestion of seeing it as an opportunity if you can to create better access and then save money by dividing (or taking cuttings) the plants you already have which grow well there.
A very radical change. But now that I’m over the shock, it doesn’t seem as bad, and I think I can keep the cost down by using plants I already have.