I want to plant a memorial.

Me again. Sorry. My brain must be working overtime today. At the moment we have this.



It was just a makeshift until we could find something more permanent. I am toying with the idea of buying a small bird feeding table or similar and using it much in the same way. I'm wondering if it would be possible to grow something small and bushy at the bottom of the table. The little cat would then have something natural looking to curl up on. I would be happy to cut a hole in the base if that's what it needed. I don't have any dimensions at this stage because it's only a theory. I would say the cat is no more than 5/6" long if that.

G.

 

It seems the Range stocks this at £5.99. It's 25cm square and 20cm high.

G.

 

Alstroemeria 'Summer Breeze'..............
Alstroemeria x hybrida by longk48, on Flickr

Looks pretty much identical to 'Indian Summer' to my eyes. Needs full sun and pretty free draining soil.

I can't say much about Euonymus as I loathe them but what about a Fuchsia magellanica. Easy to gat hold of, totally hardy and really good doers..............
Fuchsia magellanica by longk48, on Flickr

Fuchsia magellanica 'David' is smaller................
Fuchsia magellanica "David" by longk48, on Flickr

Fuchsia magellanica 'Hawkshead' is a stunner...............
Fuchsia "Hawkshead" by longk48, on Flickr

 

This is my existing fuscia. I bought it either last year or the year before. It's not looking that great at the moment.

G.

 

I'd be tempted to install a simple arch, and plant something to grow up it.

Metal rose arches are quite cheap - but I'd go for a wooden one - as I found that the metal ones corrode fairly rapidly.

I've planted an evergreen honeysuckle called 'Copper Beauty' - it has lovely orangey (perhaps ginger?) coloured flowers.

It also grows very fast - I had to cut mine back to about 6" from the ground last year (wind damage) - it's now covering the replacement arch.

 

Yeah, not F.magellanica.
@clanless has a point. Check Freegle out - I found a tall wrought iron gate on there which I plan to use as support for a honeysuckle in the land which I've just bought at the back of the house.

 

Hi Jack, any chance of a close up of the flowers please, I may be able to help you with it's care etc if I know which it is.

 

Hi @KFF I'll try to get a picture tomorrow. Thanks for the offer.

G.

 

@KFF

 

My wife likes the idea of an archway instead of the gate. The front of my house is totally exposed to any wind or weather that happens to come along. Are there climbers out there that could withstand that kind of barrage?

G.

 

For my reference only I am calling this bed my memorial garden. The roses have always been rather spindly but of late they seem to have revived. They are growing rather tall also. I have deadheaded them at times and I have cut away dead stems. I have never cut them back properly. How far can I cut these down so that they can grow back next year bigger and beefier? I am thinking of planting a display of alliums there and want to give them enough room to show properly. I am looking at.

Purple sensation
Violet beauty
Graceful beauty.

3 different heights and a gradual fading from all purple to mostly white with hints of purple.

There will also be some smaller bulbs at the front ie snowdrops etc.



Or this sort of thing.

While I was out today I saw Primula Noverna Deep Blue. I was wondering if one or two of those could live at the front of that border. They would give the wispy, wild flower meadow look that I would like to achieve.

G

 

It s funny how things have a habit of coming around. Before writing my last post I checked back through my previous posts to make sure I wasn't repeating myself. Earlier @Verdun suggested Mango Popsicle to add the touch of orange I was looking for. At the time I didn't like the idea. I now, just by chance, am in possession of a mango Popsicle. As I'm not entirely convinced I like it where I put it, I have the option of moving it.

When I first came here I stood a half barrel either side of the gate with a cordilyne in each. That eventually grew out of control. I could plant half a Popsicle each side. That might look ok.

Then if I want to add a touch of orange in the back garden to complement the coreopsis etc, I could plant a yarrow or an achillea. Something with a different shape and texture. Room allowing of course.



G

 

I like the arch idea Gary.....honeysuckle? If so we can suggest some; some are very vigorous, some susceptible to mildew, etc. but there are some to fit in

Yes, for sure, you can hard prune those roses......I would prune by half now and then do the hard prune in spring. Get plenty of good mulch down too

Purple Sensation is, well sensational. Think of the space you have there though.....be wary of making it "bitty" using too many different plants. A group or two, 3 or 5 in each around the roses would look good. They will flower when roses are just putting on foliage. For white, how about snowdrops?

I like achilleas....some of them. Moonshine is great.....here bright yellow flowers all summer on soft grey green foliage. If you cut them back in August more flowers, albeit shorter stemmed, will form and last well into autumn. And you can easily divide them.

Re Mango Popsickle, can I suggest you don't plant two there to form "bookends". They will look odd and contrived. One there and one in the back where you want another splash of orange colour...?? Have you considered orange foliage? Heucheras like Marmalade have orange foliage; so too have the heucherallas like Golden Zebra. They are evergreen too. A nice contrast to Rozanne you recently purchased

 

I have looked at heuchera Paris. At least I think that was it. It had lovely variegated green leaves and pinky/purple flowers. I thought it might contrast with the Rozanne but in reality the Rozanne alone will fill the space I have earmarked for it.

G.

 

My grandma has a memorial for her cat mitzy who died aged 20! Bless her-I was only little when she died and I remember crying so much. Mitzy is buried under a patch of cat mint-maybe that would be nice?