This bed contained some irises at the start, but definition was needed between the bed’s edge and the lawn next door. The irises were also being drowned out by more competitive plants. Additionally, cobblestones had been found all over the property, many incidentally dug up while installing other plants. The driveway was narrow, and people were regularly driving over part of the bed.

The irises were carefully dug out, the bed was cleaned out, the edge was defined with the cobblestones. Other hexagonal blocks that had also been dug up around the property were placed along the driveway in a pattern to extend the driving area; they almost covered the length needed. A few more were purchased to cover the required area.

Irises were planted back in, spread out over the length of the bed knowing they would fill in over the next year. Blue-eyed grass, also in the iris family, was planted between the irises and the newly installed driveway pavers. The bed filled in beautifully and is a spectacle of royal and light blue in late spring.

Blue-eyed grass and a few concrete blocks ended up being the only purchased resources for the entire bed. The irises are dense and work well against any turf grass that slips through the cobblestones and hold well against weed pressure.