Planting an Art-Deco Raised Bed

Just looks stunning, I love it. I agree with Val re the cover.

 

Hello Folks,
After the rain...
A drop of rain certainly brings the colours to life on this bed.


Some more planting...
Went to visit Woottens in Wenhaston today, well weather was dull and I needed cheering up - does that sound like a good enough reason? Very helpful lady, I could have emptied my bank account! Anyway, I stayed focussed yet still came away with no change out of £30. So the planting, even in the small areas I do have available has worked out to not far short of a ton...


A couple of Echinops Compositae Vietch's Blue


A single Verbena Bonariensis surrounded by a couple of Luzula Nivea and a couple of Festuca glauca Elijah Blue for the front. The Verbena was sold on its bee and butterfly friendliness and its general see-through habit.

Many thanks for the kind comments people. The plant pot saucer is an idea that I'll probably pursue tomorrow. The groundworks guy can't come for another fortnight or so, which means I've gotta be a tad patient...

Regards,
Steve

 

Very clever and unique....I love it!

 

stick a few huechera georgia peach inbetween to give a bit of red
http://www.terranovanurseries.com/gardeners/heucherageorgiapeach-p-131.html



and a few huecherella solar power for a bit of yellow
http://www.terranovanurseries.com/gardeners/heucherellasolarpower-p-267.html



both are hardy when established, do well in full sun or semi shade, and give interest for 12 months of the year

 

Hi Dim,
Wow!!
Some fabulous plants, but, the RHS site says that Huechera don't like dry soil... Do I take the chance? I'll order some huecherellas though. When you say in between, which plants are you referring to?

Regards,
Steve

 

georgia peach huechera do ok if you water them well once a week during the dry season .... these are one of my favourite plants, and fared the best out of all the huechera during winter (of the ones I planted) .... they are growing very well right now ... loads of new growth and should look stunning in a month or two

buy one or two, try them this year, and if you are happy, buy more next year

 

Val's idea for the water meter cap is fine,
Myself I would do more or less the same only, get an old saucer, or plastic lid, and Araldite the shale on top, let it set, then just lift it up when access needed, or as an enhancement, you could get one of these small birds,realistic ornamental, araldite it on top of the assembly and use it as a handle

Jack McH

 

Hi Folks,

The problem with that being that I may lose them if they aren't watered. I have enough of a water carrying commitment with just 5 hanging baskets.

What I've done is to order some plugs of Heucherella 'Yellowstone Falls' and Heucherella 'Redstone Falls' which give me the yellow / red colourways. I've made a note of those varieties you've mentioned and will look out for them on visits to various nurseries. I'm not fond of paying out the cost of two good plants on P+P.

This was more or less what I'd intended, though I was going to just stick a short skewer through as a handle.

Regards,
Steve

 

Phase 2 Completed
Hello Folks,
Well, the next stage of the planned ground-works has been completed and there's been a bit more planting. Top that with some rather snazzy solar lights and we're getting close to the desired effect. Two of the planned four window boxes are now installed, so all we need now is some fine growing weather...












Some more red (scarlet) geraniums have been ordered and hopefully should arrive early next week. So, I guess that it'll be a month or two before it all comes together in all its planned glory. At some point I'll try and take some photos of the garden with its solar lights lit...

Enjoy!

Regards,
Steve

 

Hi

So pleased you've posted your pics, I've been keeping an eye on this thread hoping to see an update. All I can say is WOW, you must enjoy it every time you pass or look out of the window. Keep on posting.
best wishes

 

THAT is brilliant! I love it! you've really captured the spirit

 

very nice!

what palms are those?

 

The big'un is Chamaerops humilis - don't know about the other two, I bought them as quite small plants in Morrisons during 2010 where they initially grew at the end of the ramp to my back door.

 

That is a very beautiful front garden. V.jelous

 

the humilis should be fine .... if the temp drops to below -15 degrees C, you may need to wrap them

the other 2 dont look like winter hardy ones to me, so you may need to protect them over winter (I may be wrong though)