by David Salman

Easy Garden Design with our Summer Showstopper Pre-Planned Garden — The Summer Showstopper Pre-Planned Garden is easy-care and drought resistant.

Easy Garden Design With The Summer Showstopper Pre-Planned Garden

As a kid, I loved to buy the paint-by-numbers watercolor painting kits. I wasn’t a very talented artist but my canvases turned out pretty nicely and I was happy and encouraged to do more. So many years ago, when I first thought about offering our High Country customers a way to plant a professionally designed perennial garden, the paint-by-numbers concept came back to me. I introduced our pre-planned gardens which come with planting diagrams that show you exactly where and how to space the plants to re-create the layout. It’s easy garden design, and the results are superb.

The inspiration for our newest garden came from a planting at a local college where they redesigned and replanted their front entrance.

I liked the designer’s core choice of plants and the fact that they planted the “inferno strip” between the street and sidewalk and the center median with colorful, waterwise perennials.

So working with the general design, I refined it with an expanded palette of plants so that the garden would bloom from late spring through fall and attract more pollinators.

I also decided to create two designs so the ‘Summer Showstopper’ could be used as a 3 ft by 16 ft. “inferno strip” or in a wider 6 ft. by 8 ft. rectangular bed to give more flexibility as to where it can be planted.

Easy Garden Design: Advantages Of Planting The Summer Showstopper Pre-Planned Garden

The plants used in the ‘Summer Showstopper’ are all:

Recommended as easy-to-grow for beginning gardeners
Waterwise (xeric) in areas with 30 inches or less of precipitation
Pollinator friendly, natural nectar sources to attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies
Long blooming or repeat blooming (come back into flower when the faded flowers are removed)
Bloom with bright, bold colors combinations of blue, yellow, red and scarlet
Thrive in a wide range of soil types including rocky, sandy, garden loam and dry clay
Resistant to browsing rabbits and deer.

All of High Country Gardens' Pre-Planned Gardens come with planting maps and maintenance guides to help answer questions about the care of the individual plants, as well as the gardens as a whole.

Easy Garden Design Wtih: The Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden — An alternative to the Summer Showstopper is the Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden, our most popular garden of all time.

The Summer Dreams Pre-Planned Garden is another popular Summer-Blooming Pre-Planned Garden, perfect for small spaces.

Our Butterfly Paradise Pre-Planned Garden offers bold blooms from spring to late summer. Planting masses of nectar-rich perennials magnifies their visual impact and helps draw butter...
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Butterfly Paradise Pre-Planned Cottage Garden Butterfly Paradise Pre-Planned Cottage Garden
As low as $158.84 Sale $142.96
Per Garden of 16 Plants

Our Butterfly Paradise Pre-Planned Garden offers bold blooms from spring to late summer. Planting masses of nectar-rich perennials magnifies their visual impact and helps draw butterflies to your garden. Flowers will multiple and spread year after year in this cottage-style garden. Available in two sizes: Large garden includes 30 plants, covering an area of 8 ft x 12 ft (90 sq ft); Small garden includes 16 plants, covering an area of 8 ft x 5 ft (40 sq ft).
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When the rest of your garden is taking a late summer snooze, the August Afternoons perennial garden will wake you up with its engaging display of pinks and blues. By combining a plea...
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August Afternoons Pre-Planned Garden August Afternoons Pre-Planned Garden
$176.83
Per Garden of 17 Plants

When the rest of your garden is taking a late summer snooze, the August Afternoons perennial garden will wake you up with its engaging display of pinks and blues. By combining a pleasing mixture of grasses, flower forms, and colors, this hummingbird and butterfly-attracting garden comes into bloom in August and continues through September. These easy-care plants thrive in most parts of the US and grow well in ordinary garden soil with full sun. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).
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A High Country Gardens Exclusive, our drought resistant jumbo Waterwise pre-planned garden will allow you to grow more flowers while using less water with this arresting combination ...
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Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden
As low as $169.32 Sale $160.85
Per Garden of 18 Plants

A High Country Gardens Exclusive, our drought resistant jumbo Waterwise pre-planned garden will allow you to grow more flowers while using less water with this arresting combination of long-blooming, easy-care perennials. Their bright, clear colors are a delight to your eye, but their inedible foliage will keep the rabbits and deer at bay. Perfect for that hot, sunny spot in your yard. Available in two sizes, 18 or 27 plants. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric). Save $20 off the single plant price!
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The Under-A-Tree Pre-Planned Garden offers a quick solution to that shady, bare area typically found under a tree. This garden is a collection of two colorful, easy-to-grow groundcov...
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Under-A-Tree Pre-Planned Garden For Shade Under-A-Tree Pre-Planned Garden For Shade

Sale Price I Save 10%
$122.85 Sale $110.57
Per Garden of 15 Plants

The Under-A-Tree Pre-Planned Garden offers a quick solution to that shady, bare area typically found under a tree. This garden is a collection of two colorful, easy-to-grow groundcovers and a shade-tolerant ornamental grass that will add texture. This garden comes with an expertly designed garden planting map and planting and care instructions, assuring your success. Save $15 off the single plant price of $137.85!
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Text and Photos by David Salman

Easy Gardening: Paint By Numbers, The Garden Version

By David Salman, High Country Gardens Founder and Chief Horticulturist

As a kid, I loved to buy the paint-by-numbers watercolor painting kits. I wasn’t a very talented artist but my canvases turned out pretty nicely and I was happy and encouraged to do more. So many years ago, when I first thought about offering our High Country customers a way to plant a professionally designed perennial garden, the paint-by-numbers concept came back to me.

I introduced our Pre-Planned Gardens, which come with Garden Maps that show you exactly where and how to space the plants to re-create the layout. It’s easy garden design, and the results are superb.

Designing A Summer Showstopper

The inspiration for our Summer Showtopper Pre-Planned Garden came from a planting at a local college where they redesigned and replanted their front entrance. I liked the designer’s core choice of plants and the fact that they planted the “inferno strip” between the street and sidewalk and the center median with colorful, waterwise perennials.

Working with the general design, I refined it with an expanded palette of plants so that the garden would bloom from late spring through fall and attract more pollinators.

The plants used in the Summer Showstopper Pre-Planned Garden are all:

Recommended as easy-to-grow for beginning gardeners
Waterwise (xeric) in areas with 30 inches or less of precipitation
Pollinator-friendly, offering natural nectar sources to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
Long blooming or repeat blooming, so they will come back into flower when the faded flowers are removed
Brightly colorful, with bold color combinations of blue, yellow, red, and scarlet
Resilient, thriving in a wide range of soil types including rocky, sandy, garden loam, and dry clay
Resistant to browsing rabbits and deer

An alternative to the Summer Showstopper is the Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden, our most popular garden of all time.

The Summer Dreams Pre-Planned Garden is another popular Summer-Blooming Pre-Planned Garden, perfect for small spaces.

Watch: How To Plant A Pre-Planned Garden

Learn More: How To Plant Your High Country Gardens Pre-Planned Garden

We Plan, You Plant!

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