To Party or Knot?
sam bevington
Posts: 130
I'm finally getting around to my Spring project (after three years of thinking about it) and attacking the parterre! We have 8 bays bordered by box that are 5m x 4.5m; the soil has been covered in a black membrane for three years. For cost reasons I decided to divide the bays into sections with more box so I'd have smaller sections to plant up. However this has proved expensive in box and to be honest they look tiny in comparison to the established hedge.
So, back to the scribble pad! Now plan to do the first two bays the same with the box pattern, second pair with just a circle in the middle - large shrub? - third pair with obelisks and final pair with an ornamental tree in the middle.
Top picture is my planting plan - I have over 1200 plants/plugs/bulbs in the greenhouse - I hope my other half doesn't see this as I've been secretly clicking away and quickly stashing the brown boxes as they arrive (BTW, great tip about Longacres' website - cheap as chips!).
I've started on bay No 1 with the box and planted 3 David Austin 'Olivia' roses in the circle and have another 3 for bay 2. I've come up with a series of shapes/drifts on paper, numbered them and tried to make a plan with the plants I've got. Am I on the right track? Any ideas/inspiration will be greatly appreciated!
Posts
That's some project !
I like the combination of formal lines and informal planting, always looks good, and the whole thing will be stunning when finished
Are you having an overall colour scheme or is it going to change from one paiir of bays to the next? Could look good perhaps if it gradually got lighter in tone the further away from the house you got, and would accentuate the perspective. Gertrude Jekyll used to do that with colours I believe.
Yes - it's been three years in my head and the first thing I see when I open the bedroom curtains !
Thought dark purples/pinks/blacks for first two bays - forgot to say the first two areas as you enter via a picket gate are ear marked for a patio on the right and gravel garden with water feature on left (more work!) and I love to look at swaying flowers! Next two vibrant reds then, as I run out of plants/cash, seed with wild flowers?
I'm not sure I can add much to this, you seem fairly clear in your mind about what it is you want!
Something like an Olive tree can make a nice centre piece and they don't grow very fast so won't need constant pruning.
My only thought really, was that there doesn't seem to be anywhere to sit any enjoy it
At least you're not advertising your d**n products this time.....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm a novice with a beautiful plan in my head. I was inspired at the sad funeral of a colleague with the lyrics of a lovely song, Snow Patrol " a garden bursting into life". That's my aim, I've spent a fortune in both time and cash on this dream; unlike a lot of women I collect plants rather than shoes - at least my hard earned efforts will leave an imprint on this planet!
Have two acres with not a flower in sight when we got here nearly three years ago. Made loads of progress but am determined to please my eye when opening the morning curtains.
Have got the 1200 plants, anal spreadsheet in hand and an daily changing plan in my scribble pad. Will post some pics of last weekend's toil; 6 beautiful David Austin roses planted, Aliums and more box. Whit week booked on holiday to attempt the planting - any helpers greatly appreciated ST21! Refreshments and spare plants to all! Alan Titchmarsh and team most welcome xxx