Can't really get away with cyclamen. I know they seem universally popular but they just don't look right to me, like the flowers and foliage don't go or something.
I like most colours and most plants, but I don't like grasses, to me they look like weeds. I've said that before on this forum too.
@Busy-Lizzie, I'll join you on the "down with grasses" bench. I love the desert... spent my very early childhood on the edge of one, in fact... and think tussock looks terrific in that sort of environment, and so jarring in a nice flower garden. You won't catch me buying one of Monty Don's beloved stipa tenuissimas. They make my eye twitch! 😁
100% grasses bed. (marram grass looks good at the seaside) Piet Oudolf border done on a budget unweeded Prairie bed Mollusc ravaged Hostas, Lupins, anything 1950s style: Soildago, purple lupins, montbretia, pale mauve Michealmas daisies, too tall shastra daisies, marigolds (still seeding), spanish bluebells, Most variegations Double flowers when the single has individuality: narcissi, snap-dragons, (exception when extra scent is produced) Privet hedge Shear-trimmed laurel hedge Bare soil (except in a veggie plot) weedy barish soil Thorny rose stumps Currant bun effect. Common with rhodies and camellias Any dead plants in baskets or pots left overwinter. Uncleared perennial stalks left over winter. They look great for 30min after rime. Plants grown for sentimental rather than gardening reasons. Especially if bought for the name. (Cuisee de Nymphe Emue is excused, that's rather fun.) ...
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I can't bear the vast majority of Forsythias. I would also never plant a Buddleja, not because I don't like them when in flower, but because for 11/12ths of the year they look awful. Also not keen on spotty Aucuba though the plain-leaved forms are great. Last of all, Viburnum tinus is a waste of space--many more and nicer evergreen shrubs about...
Our future summers may be very dry, water may not be available straight from the tap. We will need plants that can cope with these situations and grasses will be one of them.
Piet Oudolf's garden at Trentham has a lot of grasses but they are used to break up the late perennial planting and used like a veil on corners to lead you throught the garden.
In a small domestic garden I can see the necessity to add colour. Especially if the garden is viewed all at once.
Grasses have been planted en masse in parks in Germany, a haven for wildlife, no need to mow or treat with chemicals.
I would happily plant a shocking pink woody Salvia with a vibrant red one. The tonal colours of these beautiful plants can all be mixed and matched very sucessfully.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
@Busy-Lizzie, I'll join you on the "down with grasses" bench. I love the desert... spent my very early childhood on the edge of one, in fact... and think tussock looks terrific in that sort of environment, and so jarring in a nice flower garden. You won't catch me buying one of Monty Don's beloved stipa tenuissimas. They make my eye twitch! 😁
Mind you, green interspersed amongst the colours has a moderating effect.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Piet Oudolf border done on a budget
unweeded Prairie bed
Mollusc ravaged Hostas, Lupins, anything
1950s style: Soildago, purple lupins, montbretia, pale mauve Michealmas daisies, too tall shastra daisies, marigolds (still seeding), spanish bluebells,
Most variegations
Double flowers when the single has individuality: narcissi, snap-dragons, (exception when extra scent is produced)
Privet hedge
Shear-trimmed laurel hedge
Bare soil (except in a veggie plot)
weedy barish soil
Thorny rose stumps
Currant bun effect. Common with rhodies and camellias
Any dead plants in baskets or pots left overwinter.
Uncleared perennial stalks left over winter. They look great for 30min after rime.
Plants grown for sentimental rather than gardening reasons. Especially if bought for the name. (Cuisee de Nymphe Emue is excused, that's rather fun.)
...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
We will need plants that can cope with these situations and grasses will be one of them.
Piet Oudolf's garden at Trentham has a lot of grasses but they are used to break up the late perennial planting and used like a veil on corners to lead you throught the garden.
In a small domestic garden I can see the necessity to add colour. Especially if the garden is viewed all at once.
Grasses have been planted en masse in parks in Germany, a haven for wildlife, no need to mow or treat with chemicals.
I would happily plant a shocking pink woody Salvia with a vibrant red one. The tonal colours of these beautiful plants can all be mixed and matched very sucessfully.