Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Autumn perennials - COLOUR in April

Wow it HAS been a while since I have posted - shows how busy I have been!! Met some wonderful people, and designed lots of exciting spaces in the last few months, so now just waiting for them to be created. I love that element of my job. Meeting people passionate about creating great spaces. Bring it on!

For now, though - some photos I took in my own garden at home on the weekend. My garden is large, and I have it divided into quite separate spaces with different colour schemes in each. Gives me a chance to experiment, but also to indulge my passion for colour combos, and growing things.....

The stand out colour is absolutely the dahlias - they are in full blast flower until the frosts arrive. Have a look for yourself:

REDS.......................

Dahlias in all shades of red, at the front door. 


Alstromeria
Salvia 


And around the corner.....ORANGE AND PURPLE


Old fashioned Alstromeria
Salvia Black and Blue - really valuable in the perennial garden
Geranium Johnsons Blue or Rozanne - not sure which.
Helenium 
Orange dahlia - Salvia behind
Verbena bonariense

Then beside the pool ......
THE PINK SHADES

This is the main player in the pink garden at the mo - low growing, forming a colour mass at
 the base of the other perennials that have kept growing upwards. Just gorgeous. If you
want  to know the variety ask me in the comments section and I will look it up.
The Echinacea have finally faded from their strong hue earlier in the season. The other
perennials are still getting taller around them, and won't cease until the first frosts.
Toad Lily - (Tricyrtis hirta).  Great edging shrub gardens.
Euphorbia Chameleon
Penstemon 'Garnet'

OTHER VALUABLE PLANTS FOR LATE FLOWERING OR BERRIES....

Woodland Anemone
Quince - fabulous tree for blossom and fruit
Rose hips on climbing rose
Viburnum Trilobum
There - just a wander around the garden on a Sunday afternoon. If you want late season colour in your garden, (and you have the space) there are no excuses. Especially with the array of dahlias on the market these days. Most of my reds have self-sown from an original 3 different sorts, which is half the fun. You never know what you are going to get. Just have fun with the colours - experiment!