I took a corner of my yard and dug it out. This will be my new space for flowers. Though I have flowers around the edge of the house and the edge of the fencing, I wanted just a space where I could put in flowers. I really haven't decided how to go about this space. Do I make it into a theme? Though I do want all different kinds of flowers. I may move my Hycinth in the fall and put in there. I also have hostas (to move in the fall) and hollyhocks. I have some rock cover perennial flowers going in the front there to cover the rocks. I also have shasta daisy. I could put in some annuals just for a starter and some color. Hmmm, maybe I could put in some bulbs in the fall that'll come up next year. So many things I can do-what to do, what to do......HELP.
Petunia, I prefer a mixture of plants as opposed to a theme. I would, of course, put taller plants in the back and work forward. I love a lot of color, so I would have a mixture of plants and color. That's my little opinion!! It looks like a very nice area. Will it get sun/shade or both?
KG: there are trees and acouple of pines in back of that fence. so this area gets some shade in the morning going into sun in the afternoon.
Aren't you the lucky one! A whole new, absolutely blank flower space to fill in... If you're in doubt, put annuals there and spend some time planning what goes where. (This comes from someone who's planted first and thought afterwards all her life ) I like to try and balance my borders in such a way that something is always attractive, and I don't like to work too hard to make the border habitable for plants that need very different conditions from what I can offer them. That said, I'm fortunate to live in a place where hostas and other acidic-lovers thrive, because that's what I really like to grow here. Good luck!
Something tells me that this is just the first of the new flower beds for you, afterall there is nothing that says they have to be only next to the house or fence. Those things you have in mind to do in the fall, put them down on paper or in your blog as a reminder of what they are and where they would need to go in that new space...i.e. hollyhocks coming out from the back corner, etc. Plant a combination of annuals and perennials there for now, with the annuals acting as 'place holders' for the plants that will be moved in the fall. Themes are sometimes fun but some themes take a few years to get the result you want. If you like all colors you could do a 'paint box' theme, try to find blooming plants in all the colors found in a box of watercolors...don't forget to add black and white too. Be sure to take progress pictures so we can watch the bed grow and bloom. Blank slates are both fun to have and scary when it comes to actually deciding what to plant in them. But remember that what doesn't work there this season can be moved somewhere else for next season.
Petunia that is a great looking bed.I would have a dukes mixture out there but its your chose.I would put early blooming bulbs and then go from there.
Oh I'm jealous! I want a new flower bed for my birthday! You can do anything you want!! Have you thought about a bird bath or statues? I would put a hollyhock or two in the back and maybe a climbing or rambling rose on the fence. Wow! the possibilities are endless :-D Lucky Lucky girl Deanna :-D
New space is always fun. I usually just see what happens. My spaces never turn out exactly as I plan so I just leave room for adjustment and go from there. I too love color so I always pick stuff that is not the same color. Good luck and be sure to show us how it turns out.
Along the back (for instance on the left) you could plant some tall things like delphineums, hollyhocks sunflowers or other heliniums. On the right side I think I see some wire fence there and you could plant some 2-3 Clematises of different colours and let them fan-ourt left and right. In front of this lower things coming up to say, 1½-2 feet tall and in fronnt low things such as the white or purple Alyssums or Dianthus deltoides or Mesembrianthemum Criniflorum...or possible some low foilege. Some plots that I have planted I have planted deep spring bulbs and then less deeply I have sown annuals or planted perinneals. The spring bulb flowers die back and then the summer plants come up right after...soi there is continual activity. These are alot of words, but Toni's advice is sound and a good guide for you, I believe. Developing a new plot is such an exciting thing to dop. You'll be alright, I am sure of that. Shucks, if you just plant things that you like this first year, who cares what it is--as long as you like the plants. You just need to get that plot going and think about any changes over the fall and winter (as Toni says).
Hollyhocks and sunflowers will work great in the back. I have moonflowers, morninglories and nasturiums that could go on the fence. Down in front I might try marigolds, Dianthuses (pink, red, white, purple ones). As soon as we ever get finished with our frost here, I will get it together and post pict this summer. I will put a little of all your imputs into this-thanks for the help.
Im glad i live in a climate where plants bloom nearly all year you are way up there my lil flowers would freeze burrr beautiful spot you have in the foto I like the sunflower idea get the really large ones and tie them to the fence for support?
flowerbed What a great project. I'd suggest drawing it out on graph paper -- with a pencil -- so you can see how it all will look and erase, erase, erase on paper (insted of moving, moving, moving plants!)There are also a lot of book that will show you examples of flowerbeds -- then tweak it to your needs. Might want to consider adding a few small evergreens to give it structure. Boxwood are great and don't get too big.
