MultiHub Forum

I've been tasked with creating a small, permanent memorial garden in a neglected corner of our city's oldest public park, with a budget under $800 and a completion deadline of six weeks. The space is about 15x20 feet, partially shaded by a large, aging oak, and the soil is compacted clay. My main dilemma is selecting plants that are not only native and low-maintenance for our zone 6b climate but also symbolically resonant for a memorial, while staying within budget and ensuring they can establish themselves before the first frost. I'm leaning toward a mix of ferns, hellebores, and maybe some winterberry holly, but I'm worried about the clay drainage and the limited sunlight under the tree canopy.

Plan a small raised-bed ring around the oak’s drip line to fix drainage in the clay. Amend with compost (2–4 in) and a touch of coarse sand, then mulch. Plant native, shade-tolerant species: Christmas fern or other Dryopteris, hellebores for winter bloom, and a couple winterberry hollies for color where sun pockets exist. 6–8 plants total; budget under $800; water deeply first season and mulch.