Our first meeting with this Bedford client took place in January 2024, followed by three more planning meetings to slowly and thoughtfully choose the best plants for the site. In total, nearly 400 plants were selected to transform both the front and backyard gardens.

We officially broke ground in mid-May.

The front foundation bed was very sandy, so we dug it down 10 inches and replaced everything with specialty mixed garden soil. Getting material to the backyard was no small task—the Dingo had to move 20 yards of soil up a steep hill, which required building a custom dirt ramp just to make it work.

The backyard? A full-on sand pit. We spread 8 inches of fresh garden soil to give plants a fighting chance. The client chose 30 Lady Ferns to line the shaded cement foundation, creating a soft, woodland feel. To fill the rest of the space, I made a bold call: a field planting of 300 pink- and white-blooming Lamium, featuring white and white-and-green foliage.

I’ll admit—it was a bit of a gamble. A monoculture with a soft-stem plant can be risky. But sometimes you have to roll the dice. We mulched everything in, and within a month the Lamium filled in beautifully, forming one lush, connected bed.

Then… uh oh.

Some of the Lamium developed a fungus and disappeared in patches. After a month of experimenting with different fungicides, the issue finally stopped spreading. The following spring, wide areas of healthy Lamium returned strong—yes!

With the remaining open areas ready for planting, we introduced new shade-loving stars:

• Three varieties of Columbine (blue, red, and white)
• Relocated Lady Ferns
• Three purple-leaf Coral Bells
• Four varieties of Hellebores

And just like that—magic. The garden came alive with color, texture, and contrast. The clients were thrilled, and the Lamium seemed to get the message too: adapt or be replaced. They powered up and continue to thrive.

We’re excited to see the Columbines and Hellebores put on a full show this May. This garden has been a journey—and one worth every step.