By Kimberly Toscano
Your entryway gardens perform around the clock, calling for stylish plants that are always on duty. With evergreen foliage and season-long blooms, Encore®Azaleas never quit. This design carries color from street side to doorway for an unforgettable first impression.
Ramp-Up Curb Appeal
The first view visitors catch of the landscape as they approach our homes are the street side plantings. Take advantage of high profile areas to set the tone and greet visitors. Offer a glimpse of the garden’s (and homeowner’s) character and send an invitation to enter.
In this garden, a double layer of Encore Azaleas makes a bold statement. The fiery red blooms of Autumn Bonfire® provide eye-catching color, while an edging of Autumn Lily® reflects the home’s linear forms. Depending on the layout of your landscape, you might create a colorful connection to the street by lining sidewalks and walkways with low-growing varieties like Autumn Bonfire®.
Entryway Charm
Porch side plantings repeat the formality and pattern of the driveway beds, but with the softer pink hue of Autumn Sundance®. Containers flowing with ferns and ‘Spider’s Web’ Fatsia from the Southern Living® Plant Collection establish an air of Southern hospitality as they carry visitors onto the porch. The dwarf form of Autumn Sundance softly frames the space without inhibiting views.
For a cohesive look, try repeating colors in containers lining the porch. Here, the lush blooms of Ember’s Wish™ Salvia echo the pink tones of Autumn Sundance. In gentle contrast, EverColor® ‘Everillo’ Carex brightens the doorway with vibrant golden foliage. Both plants are from the Southern Living Plant Collection.