Since we are a little stalled on our Northwest Territory makeover while we wait for concrete, my mind has been turning to the next project I see shaping up: a moss garden in our front yard.
Our modest, mid-century home is on a corner, with mature deciduous trees on the front lawn and west parking strip. These trees shade a large portion of our front yard in summer, and the lawn deteriorates every year due to the shade and our complete lack of commitment to lawns in general. We have focused on creating our backyard private spaces for the most part, but the time is coming to address our miserable excuse for a front lawn. While I would love to grow an Edible Front Yard, a la Ivette Soler, that's pretty far-fetched considering the lack of sun on our front yard in summer.
But we could grow (and already do grow) moss!
I first thought of a moss garden for Longview Ranch when I was in Seattle this past February for the Northwest Flower and Garden show. Friends and I did an architectural walking tour in the FREEZING cold, and among the sights was this delightful little courtyard of moss.
I got pretty excited about the possibility because we definitely have moss that already wants to grow, so our conditions must be favorable.
It gets greener and greener all winter. About this time of year, some people with this '"lawn" would be researching moss killer.
Not me. I'm a little more interested in grass killer, although I'm sure we'll remove the grass mechanically when the time comes. How can I argue with moss? It flourishes in my garden (with absolutely no care) and looks so beautiful doing it.
What clinched it for me was the April issue of Garden Design with a feature on Japanese temple moss gardens.
Of course there are thousands of kinds of moss, I read. You can even order different ones online.
Our modest, mid-century home is on a corner, with mature deciduous trees on the front lawn and west parking strip. These trees shade a large portion of our front yard in summer, and the lawn deteriorates every year due to the shade and our complete lack of commitment to lawns in general. We have focused on creating our backyard private spaces for the most part, but the time is coming to address our miserable excuse for a front lawn. While I would love to grow an Edible Front Yard, a la Ivette Soler, that's pretty far-fetched considering the lack of sun on our front yard in summer.
But we could grow (and already do grow) moss!
What clinched it for me was the April issue of Garden Design with a feature on Japanese temple moss gardens.
Although we can probably grow our own (we seem to have at least three kinds already) this gorgeous inspiration (above, credited to Ben Young Landscape Architects) on the Moss Acres site, shows what you can do with purchased moss.
It'll definitely take a while before we get to this project: I see a busy summer ahead keeping the rejuvenated Northwest Territory hydrated through its first summer, and I want to get the rest of the lawn out of the south Mediterranean backyard area before starting in on the front yard.
Meanwhile, maybe I'll experiment by trying out some moss in a terrarium to keep my moss garden dream quietly growing.
I absolutely love the idea of a moss garden, I want to use moss as living mulch in my back native area, where it is very shady. Great inspiration photos!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it'll be great!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to watch this project take form!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm out walking and I come across a nice big hunk of moss that the squirrels knocked out of a tree or off a fence I always bring it home...if anyone is watching me they probably think I'm a little cuckoo
whenever someone calls or writes into the Ciscoe Morris show about what to do with moss in their lawn he says: "rip out the grass!". If the lawn is full of moss, it's probably getting too much shade he explains. I love the mossy look too. That last photo, the moss mosaic, looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely! It reminds me strongly of the Portland Japanese Garden...they have a large hilly area covered in moss which is at its best right about now...and again in the fall...so very lovely and peaceful. Good luck if you decide to try it, it could be really stunning!
ReplyDeleteHooray for Moss!!! A few years ago when we were thinking about selling our house, Hubby power washed all our sidewalks, removing tons of embedded moss. It was sad for me to see it go. Now it's all back with a spongy, chartreuse vengeance! Love the stuff.
ReplyDeletethose pics look like my of my lawn and brick work. What about our long dry months . My moss dies back .I guess if you're in mostly shade it will stay more mossy, which will be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful moss. We don't see much of it here in hot Austin, Texas, except in winter. But I did admire a beautiful moss garden in Madison, WI, last fall in the garden of my friends Linda and Mark, of Each Little World blog. It fit perfectly with their Japanese garden.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about moss. I don't know if its the texture or the subtle coloration. I think it has to do with the fact that they're not angiosperms; they're primitive. I don't know but I like them a lot too.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on this! One of my fondest memories is of a garden in Nelscot on the Oregon Coast that was all moss...like a jewel, and so soft and sensuous under bare feet.
ReplyDeleteYes, cultivate those mosses! Great illustrations for your ideas there - inspiring and fun. I find graveyards to be some of the most amazing places to see a true diversity of moss and lichen. Illegal to collect, though...
ReplyDeleteWorking with nature instead of against it: it totally makes sense, doesn't it? Loving this.
ReplyDeleteHere in Kenai Alaska, we have moss everywhere. It is the first thing you see when the snow disapears. My wife and I have just transplanted TONS of moss onto our hillsides of a double terrace back yard. Easy to do and sooo beautiful. Fun stuff to work with.
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