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Landscape and Garden Design On A Budget: You Can Make It HappenRead the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only". « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next » » CarolWallace - Barbara, A mix of blues and silvers would be fine. I had alrea Barbara, A mix of blues and silvers would be fine. I had already considered moving some of my lavender, but had forgotten about santolina. (If only it didn't have those little yellow button flowers!)I would love to use Powis Castle, but tried it once in a garden with excellent drainage and lost it. Perhaps it likes a leaner soil than I gave it. How about 'Valerie Finnis"? Has anyone grown that, and is it invasive? I've ordered a few heuchera in silver with a purple veining, which should be just tall enough to go inback of the lambs ears. And I have considered Miscanthus gracillimus 'Morning Light', and perhaps a blue grass (but once again, I get mixed up on the blues. Fescue is too short, but which is the invasive blue, Lyme grass or Oat grass? And what good purple foliaged plants might I use here? Since the location of this bed demands that I use almost a xeriscape apporach, I've thought about Vera Jamieson sedum, and of course there's the heuchera. Gay -- are the verbascum you mention silver-foliaged, or are they the green-leafed ones? The apricot sounds perfect if it's grey-leafed. Carol -- posted by CarolWallace » CarolWallace - Barbara, there are a few daylilies now in brown tones. And I hav Barbara, there are a few daylilies now in brown tones. And I have some brown bearded iris. Are you counting mahoganies, like some of the sunflowers and gaillarda have? Carol virtually gardening-- posted by CarolWallace » Deb_TT - Just coming in from the garden I spied Ajuga 'Metallica Crispa' Just coming in from the garden I spied Ajuga 'Metallica Crispa' and thought this clump forming perennial might fit into this thread also. It is evergreen here although in colder climes it might not be. A wonderfull little perennial that stole my heart with it's beautiful blue, brown and purple metallic foliage.Debra Teachout-Teashon -- posted by Deb_TT » Cottage_Garden - Debra, metallica crispa may be evergreen here too - under the sn Debra, metallica crispa may be evergreen here too - under the snow it's hard to tell! But yes, it would probably fit. Carol, I don't know about the burgundies -- but I suspect they would add to much gold highlight and those particular plants aren't very subtle. Although I am quite forn of them both! And they might make a good start for a burgundy and gold garden! An orange garden is another fun scheme to think about, but I think deciding where to grow an all orange garden might be quite a dilemma. Barbara Martin -- posted by Cottage_Garden » Cottage_Garden - Carol, a possibility for your burgundy foliage might be the dwar Carol, a possibility for your burgundy foliage might be the dwarf red leafed barberry -- it is clippable if need be to stay short enough.... There is also a dwarf nandina with lovely red foliage in fall. For groundcovery things, there is a very short sedum with red button-sized leaves (it has a German name and I can't remember it at the moment but it has been available for a few years). You might also consider the small, multicolored ajuga -- silver, soft green and burgundy blushed....wimpy, but just in your color range and very pretty under the shady side of shrubs.To jump back to the silvers again, you might also try some of the ultra short junipers -- procumbens nana is really pretty and spreads very slowly. Barbara Martin -- posted by Cottage_Garden » brettj - Barbara, The Evergreen Huckleberry has a fine texture similar Barbara,The Evergreen Huckleberry has a fine texture similar to but distinct from the boxwoods. You have probably seen it in Florists arrangements, as it has become quite popular, to the point that wild collecting had to be stopped. The pinkish brown new growth comes on mostly in spring, but would be terrific with the flowers you are talking about. Another favorite of mine, though wanting more sun, is the Knautia macedonica. I planted one behind a clump of the electric silver blue Helictotrichon sempervirens (strictly clumping)so that the flowers tumbled through and over the grass. It makes for a stunning combination! Another good red leaved plant for semi-shade, and with brilliant yellow flowers, is the Lysimachia ciliata purpurea. In more sun and dry areas it will go somewhat dormant in warm weather here, but it comes back fine. I have it under the Rosa rubrifolia glauca, another plant that supposedly does OK in semi-shade, and certainly has beautiful flowers. In the Huecheras, 'Pewter Veil" I think has some of the more stunning silvery colors, but for purple tones try 'Chocolate Ruffles' with its stunning bright marroon red reverse. It also does better in shade than the Pewter Moon types. One of my favorite silver leaved plants is Convulvuls cneorum, if you have a sunnier spot with good drainage. The leaves are not so much silver green as pale green with a metalic overlay that shimmers in the sun. The little flowers hide in the branch tips, and are a silvery pink. I also happen to really like a native with silver leaves- Anaphalis margaritaceae or Pearly everlastings. The white flowers are nice too, and Painted Lady butterflies seem to prefer it over other host plants in my yard. It actually grows fairly well in dry shade here, though it is most often found in sunny wastes. Well, hope that gives a few ideas! brett johnson -- posted by brettj » Deb_TT - Barb, Raintree nursery carries the Evergreen Huckleberry, I know Barb, Raintree nursery carries the Evergreen Huckleberry, I know because I put in three of them last year. Seemed funny to plant them since they grow everywhere around this neighborhood in the woods. You can request their catalog At: RAINTREENURSERY@JUNO.COM if you are interested in finding out about this PNW native plant. Only problem is it's only hardy to zone 7, but it would be a beautiful container plant to winter over in a conservatory.A silver plant that I would like to recommend as a low growing beauty is Penstemon rupicola. I am growing the one in top photo. I purchased one plant last year and it grew well in a raised bed and I stole quite a few cuttings from it. They will be ready to join momma this spring. Very easy to root from cuttings since most of the stems have little roots trying to find ground. It is not invasive though. It is evergray Debra Teachout-Teashon -- posted by Deb_TT » Cottage_Garden - PNW gardening must be a lot of fun -- no wonder you have so many PNW gardening must be a lot of fun -- no wonder you have so many great nurseries out your way! WOnder how acid is acid enough for that little penstemon -- looks gorgeous!Well, I'm still thinking about this daggone stock tank garden -- these wild colors are not exactly part of the serene picture I have in mind for it....but they sure sound wonderful! Barbara Martin -- posted by Cottage_Garden » NancyR_5 - Nancy Remmers I am looking for a substitute for boxwood. The Nancy RemmersI am looking for a substitute for boxwood. The area gets full sun all day long (in Virginia) -- I was hoping to find something that was a little more interesting than boxwood -- these will be planted on either side of a sidewalk which approaches the front of the house. Thus, the plant cannot get too tall and should require little maintenance. Boxwoods are a little more formal than I would like -- Thank you -- -- posted by NancyR_5 » Cottage_Garden - Hi Nancy! First off, let me stress there is really no such t Hi Nancy!First off, let me stress there is really no such thing as a no maintenance plant, and lower maintenance comes by selecting a plant well suited to your specidfic growing conditions. It is also a result of generous soil preparation, careful planting and correct spacing for ultimate size, good follow-up care after planting and finally a good routine maintenance regimen such as regular mulching and so on. So these are all suggestions on a blank page, so to speak. At least I have selected "informal" types of plants! Depending on your soil and exposure, you might be able to grow lavendar as an informal billowing hedge, or perhaps some of the small pink flowered spireas. Another possibility would be a smaller form of ornamental grass, such as "Hameln" or one of my favorite small shrubs, the relatively tiny and naturally compact and tidy Viburnum opulus "Nanum"; you might also consider the relatively new "Eskimo" viburnum, or a hedge of small carefree type everblooming roses (if you are willing to spray for Japanese beetles). A colorful foliage effect can be had with the dwarf red and or gold barberries which can be sheared or left to grow naturally.... For an evergreen you might consider some of the smaller and more relaxed of the dwarf conifers or perhaps some of the low growing euonymous varieties or even a cotoneaster. Evergreens tend to be somewhat formal in any case. It is their role in life! One final "fun" idea is a low fence with apple trees espaliered horizontally along it a la Williamsburg. Kinda formal but kinda not. Hope this gives you some ideas! Barbara Martin -- posted by Cottage_Garden « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next » Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion. |
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