So would growing typical "cottagey" plants like pestemon, catmint, scabiosa etc be out of the question even though it would recieve sun in summer? Or will i be limited to shady plants
I get very little sun in the winter but lots of sun in the summer when the sun is high. All manner of perennials grow in my garden - it has never crossed my mind that they would be slower to get going in the spring. The fact I live in Scotland and am about 3 weeks behind the south is a bigger factor. So you could say that despite living in Scotland and despite having a north facing garden, I still manage to successfully grow lots of cottage garden perennials. I do have good soil though!
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Hopefully Jo!! the wall was actually part of a grain pit, which was what it said on the tin, a pit to store grains for the animals. We just extended it to reach other end near the garden shed
If you're worried about the borders being a bit bare once the perennials etc die back for winter, it might be worth considering some structure for your plot, especially nearest the house. You can repeat shrubs along the borders and those will give it a lift during autumn and winter. If you choose carefully, you'll get flowers and autumn colour from them as well. Some late winter/spring bulbs will lift things until the more cottagey stuff gets going and flowers. If you plant them with the perennials, the dying foliage will be hidden by the emerging perennials too
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Mirrors in gardens present a real danger to birds who crash into them injuring or killing themselves - they are unable to distinguish between a reflection and the open sky
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Don't forget foxgloves - they'll be very happy there
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
So would growing typical "cottagey" plants like pestemon, catmint, scabiosa etc be out of the question even though it would recieve sun in summer? Or will i be limited to shady plants
id like to recreate something like the first photo
but struggling to decide which plants would cope in my situation
(Looking north, can see that the sun doesnt even touch the beds during winter)
Hopefully Jo!! the wall was actually part of a grain pit, which was what it said on the tin, a pit to store grains for the animals. We just extended it to reach other end near the garden shed
how do they compare with plants grown in direct sun?
If you're worried about the borders being a bit bare once the perennials etc die back for winter, it might be worth considering some structure for your plot, especially nearest the house. You can repeat shrubs along the borders and those will give it a lift during autumn and winter. If you choose carefully, you'll get flowers and autumn colour from them as well. Some late winter/spring bulbs will lift things until the more cottagey stuff gets going and flowers. If you plant them with the perennials, the dying foliage will be hidden by the emerging perennials too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And the mirrors are something to consider
Mirrors in gardens present a real danger to birds who crash into them injuring or killing themselves - they are unable to distinguish between a reflection and the open sky
http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/expert/previous/mirror.aspx
Painting walls a light colour will increase the amount of reflected light in the garden, without using mirrors.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.