Arches over gates - or anywhere in the garden for that matter are most appealing. I had my favourite rose trained over one. The Albertine in climber species. I know it has a moderately limited season but has a lovely perfume too. One could always train a Clematis from the other side. I trained runner beans up an arch once! Good luck with your choice.
My garden is coming along slowly. I bought some shrubs the other day with bees and butterflies in mind. now planted and adding a bit of colour and texture at last. I shall buy a couple of fruit trees too for height. The nettles reappearing will be treated as and when.
Good luck with your vegetable plot, always so satisfying to have home grown produce on the table isn't it. Sally
I plan to put the sweet peas on cheap metal gardman obelisks in between the lavender plants. Do the obelisks require netting to grow on or will they be fine on the metal structure?
I also bought a collection of 15 different varieties of perennial seeds from T&M (varieties copied below):
I am not quite sure how to arrange them in the border. I still like the idea of cottage style garden but I am happy to work with a plan with these seeds. Does anyone have ideas on how to plant them? Around the bases I plan to plant aubrieta that will hopefully spread out slightly over the path.
As for the corner nearest the front door I bought two bulbs of "Bleeding Heart" plants and thought they might go in there. I am open to having a shrub type plant there though.
Bear in mind that biennial flowers won't flower this year and perennials from seed can take a bit of time to get going, may not flower this year and won't be a decent size for 2 or 3 years. Much cheaper than buying as a big plant but needs patience. I prefer to buy small plants from the garden centre and pot them on until a reasonable size to plant out. Otherwise slugs and insects may get them or they may just disappear.
Meconopsis can be tricky, needs acid, damp soil in a shady place.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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My garden is coming along slowly. I bought some shrubs the other day with bees and butterflies in mind. now planted and adding a bit of colour and texture at last. I shall buy a couple of fruit trees too for height. The nettles reappearing will be treated as and when.
Good luck with your vegetable plot, always so satisfying to have home grown produce on the table isn't it. Sally
What about a Malvern Hills rambling rose? It repeat flowers and is slightly scented. I have one, it doesn't grow as huge as some ramblers.
http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/malvern-hills-rambling-rose
It has been over a month and I have been getting together seeds and starting to plant in the greenhouse. Good to get started at last.
So far I have the following in the greenhouse intended for the front garden:
Perrenial Cornflower
Aquilegia - McKana
Sweet Peas (3 varieties)
Delphinium
I plan to put the sweet peas on cheap metal gardman obelisks in between the lavender plants. Do the obelisks require netting to grow on or will they be fine on the metal structure?
I also bought a collection of 15 different varieties of perennial seeds from T&M (varieties copied below):
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-seeds/perennial-and-biennial-seeds/perennial-mix/t55870pTM
I am not quite sure how to arrange them in the border. I still like the idea of cottage style garden but I am happy to work with a plan with these seeds. Does anyone have ideas on how to plant them? Around the bases I plan to plant aubrieta that will hopefully spread out slightly over the path.
As for the corner nearest the front door I bought two bulbs of "Bleeding Heart" plants and thought they might go in there. I am open to having a shrub type plant there though.
Tall Perennials
Mid-height Perennials
Short Perennials
Bear in mind that biennial flowers won't flower this year and perennials from seed can take a bit of time to get going, may not flower this year and won't be a decent size for 2 or 3 years. Much cheaper than buying as a big plant but needs patience. I prefer to buy small plants from the garden centre and pot them on until a reasonable size to plant out. Otherwise slugs and insects may get them or they may just disappear.
Meconopsis can be tricky, needs acid, damp soil in a shady place.