I need help planning a flower garden this spring!?

The way my porch is set up makes it hard for me to plan a flower garden. Instead of being higher off the ground, it is almost level to my yard. The concrete is about 2 inches higher than the yard, and there is a sidewalk going to it. Anybody have any ideas for a flower garden that would make it look awesome??? Thanks!

I need help planning a flower garden this spring!?
Oh boy you are in trouble. You need soil retainers to hold 18'' of soil and holes punches into the concrete for drainage. Just use containers.
Reply:yes.





you can add soil to the areas that dont make it to the patio. also try adding large plants and vines. also flowering bushes should help.


rased flowering beds can work for the annual you decide to use.


here are a few plants that would look nice in a garden





hydraneas.


they are cold hardy to -30. endless summer is my fav. because it has maxinum blooms





bananas


musa basjoo,


is the most cold hardy banana in the world. it is cold hardy to -4 F and although will not bloom, it will look great near some blooming plants.





cannas


they have tropical foliage and large flowers that rise about 2 feet above the leaves. there are many colors from red to orange and yellow, as well as white, pink, and even muilticolors.


here is a photo of canna lucfier. this is cold hardy to 0 degress and is a perennial. it has red and yellow flowers


http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...





also try camellias


mast camellias are cold hardy to 5 f, but some are cold hardy to 0 or even -5. they are evegreen, and bloom during the spring and some also bloom in the fall.





gardenias


they bloom in the 70s. perfers shade if in a warm summer climate like high 80s and 90s. will bloom in the spring in warm climate. in califorina it will bloom all year.


the most cold hardy is kliems hardy gardines. it is cold hardy to 0. others are cold hardy to 5





pink moon vine


a pink flowering vine that is fragrant and tropical looking. cold hardy to 0





jackmans clematis


another flowering vine. cold hardy to -20. the flowers are very large





vincas


a large genus of many flowering plants. some are cold hardy to -20, and some are cold hardy to 20. be careful when chosing





WARMER CLIMATES


if you live in a warm climate, these are for you





mandevilla.


this is really beautiful. it is only cold hardy to 30 f , but really is nice and comes in many colors.


here is a photo of one called red riding hood


http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...





bougainvilla


sharp thorns, but great flowers.


cold hardy to 30 f





birds of paradise


banana like plant, has flowers that look like a bird called birds of paradise.


cold hardy to 27





hibiscus


these evegreens come in many colors and are a sybol of the tropics particuarly hawaii


cold hardy to 32











GOOD luck.......................................
Reply:Retainer wall w/pavestone, called a raised flowerbed.