Just been looking at your lovely photos @Perki they really lift the spirits at this time of year. I did the same as you many years ago with my front garden the best thing I have ever done, I have never missed the lawn either. My garden gets very hot so I grow more grasses. What I love about your garden is the lovely colour combinations. Every plant has to earn it's keep in a small space and it needs a lot of skill and thought when it comes to editing some plants. That is part of the fun!
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thanks @GardenerSuze Yes every plant has to earn its keep particularly longevity in the season .I have a weakness for orange in the garden which I am trying to avoid in this bed. I try and match the each plant next to its neighbour or pick the same structure / colour up nearby for example ( 3rd pic down ) Yellow / lime green foliage of the Eryngium is picked up in the Pittosporum new leaves - euphorbia black pearl green flowers also the iris picks up the foliage of the pittosporum and the euphorbia has black centres . Same with the Eupatorium snowball - selinum wallichanium same shape structure and colour not next to each over but close enough to see the resemblance. I used to be keen on art when I was younger , I don't do much drawing and that anymore I've kind of transferred it into the garden instead.
@Perki I think your last comment is the give away. I have two friends that draw and paint they both have an eye for planting schemes If I have a space in a border I try to work out what type of plant will fit and go to a garden centre or nursery with that in mind. I may be thinking of a colour combination but more often than not the leaf colour, shape and texture is my first thought. I do believe if you plant with an artistic mind it is far more successful than buying and planting because it looks good at the GC. Thankyou for sharing your lovely photos so much pleasure can be found in a small space.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@Perki wow, that is gorgeous!! Totally agree with swapping one of the salvias for a white one, it will be even better this year!! Those alliums really packed a punch, I love that it looks like a different garden in each picture!
Thank you for the photos through the seasons. What a success that has been! When I saw the first photos I liked the lawn but I hadn't really taken in how small it was. The area is much better filled with flowers.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Thanks it were a bit of a pain in the neck to mow I'd catch the lawnmower and the pots move the bin etc to mow it all in 20 seconds if that . I have alliums everywhere bit of a obsession with them, I am a notorious allium murderer though every time I dig one gets the chop so I have to buy more then .
I do have a feeling the cold weather may of killed off the pennisetums fairy tails, wait and see .
This was great to read and see what you have done, it looks amazing! I am planning something very similar - remove front lawn, replace with pollinator friendly plants flowering in purple, white and pink. I love alliums too. However my front garden is 7.2 x 6.5m so I am putting shrubs in as well. It was really useful to see yours and get more ideas, see how plants can go together etc. All the before and after photos are very useful and inspiring to see.
Posts
I try and match the each plant next to its neighbour or pick the same structure / colour up nearby for example ( 3rd pic down ) Yellow / lime green foliage of the Eryngium is picked up in the Pittosporum new leaves - euphorbia black pearl green flowers also the iris picks up the foliage of the pittosporum and the euphorbia has black centres . Same with the Eupatorium snowball - selinum wallichanium same shape structure and colour not next to each over but close enough to see the resemblance. I used to be keen on art when I was younger , I don't do much drawing and that anymore I've kind of transferred it into the garden instead.
If I have a space in a border I try to work out what type of plant will fit and go to a garden centre or nursery with that in mind. I may be thinking of a colour combination but more often than not the leaf colour, shape and texture is my first thought. I do believe if you plant with an artistic mind it is far more successful than buying and planting because it looks good at the GC. Thankyou for sharing your lovely photos so much pleasure can be found in a small space.
I do have a feeling the cold weather may of killed off the pennisetums fairy tails, wait and see .