The Gull River Garden Rooms

What we did

28

native species

3

planting areas

September 26, 2025

installed

About 390 plants across 21 species installed in late September 2025. Each of the three sites was prepared differently: at the dock, existing vegetation was removed except for one hosta and the ground was improved with topsoil and shredded pine bark mulch. The rock wall garden required removing established periwinkle, which left a severe soil deficit made up with topsoil and mulch. The front entrance was cleared of all existing vegetation, topsoil was added in considerable quantity, and the whole area was mulched before planting.

Planting areas: Waterfront Seating Area · Rock Wall Linear Garden · Front Entrance Garden

Three Rooms, Three Plant Communities

Each of the three focus areas was designed as its own plant community, matched to its specific conditions.

The waterfront seating area called for stress-tolerating species. This site is small and prominent; slower to establish, but once settled they form a stable community that does not require much active management. A matrix of Plantain-leaved Pussytoes and Wild Strawberry anchors the planting, with a seasonal layer of Prairie Smoke, Ohio Spiderwort, Black-eyed Susan, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Anise Hyssop, Azure Aster and Gray Goldenrod providing succession bloom from spring through fall. Virginia Creeper will be trained up the dead cedar to become a vertical feature in red come autumn.

The rock wall linear garden called for competitive plants — because of the existing periwinkle, which will keep returning, the selection needed to hold its own. Graceful Sedge forms the groundcover; Wintergreen was tucked into the rock crevices. A seasonal layer of Early Meadowrue, Zig-Zag Goldenrod, Azure Aster, Canada Violet and Wild Blue Phlox provides interest through the year, with Christmas Fern adding evergreen structure. An Alternate-leaved Dogwood is planned for behind the rock wall in spring, when we can source one.

The front entrance garden is the largest and most visible room, and the design reflects that. A tapestry of Graceful Sedge and Rosy Sedge forms the groundcover matrix, interwoven with Common Blue Violet. Wintergreen fills the rock wall front. The seasonal layer — Early Meadowrue, Zig-Zag Goldenrod, Canadian Columbine, Poke Milkweed — provides bloom from spring through fall. Bunchberry and Christmas Fern add woodland texture. Wild Blue Phlox will be added in spring when it becomes available from nurseries.