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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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 Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 1:33 am Post subject: Rainbow flower border |
 
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One of the first things that we'll be starting in the new field is a sensory garden and I really want to make a rainbow flower border, if anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.
It will have a wide wheelchair accessible path right up against it, along the length of it, so that Willow can be pushed right alongside but also turned to face it.
I'm thinking a lavender at the front on varying heights working back to tall red flowers at the back of the border. The whole thing will be in an almost semi-circle so it surrounds you from the centre.
So first up, tall red flowers! I think a variety will work well rather than all the same. Then working through the rainbow down to wheelchair height at the front.
The heavier the scent the better! |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 6:38 am Post subject: |
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I think dahlias will feature in the reds at least, 1m ones |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 9959
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 7:09 am Post subject: |
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It doesn't smell, but lobelia can be found in blue, mauve and white for a low front to the garden if you need those colours. You might manage some cannas which are a rich red, montbretia which is orange through red, hollyhocks can be a range of colours. Perhaps some herbs for a range of greens. |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Ooh good idea on the herbs for green! I'll have to draw a plan of heights, I think. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 9959
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 7:12 am Post subject: |
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Sorry the others don't smell, but they are good colours and some are quite sculptural. |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 14962
Location: East Midlands
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 10:43 am Post subject: |
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Have you looked at Sarah Raven’s plant catalogues? She has a ton of vibrant colours, and likes scent. There are some fabulous orange/yellow poppies and she does meadow flower mixes (I have a lovely blue one, with salvias and cornflowers etc) |
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Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 5264
Location: New England (In the US of A)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 11:22 am Post subject: |
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You may be looking more for perennials, but there are some fantastically red sunflowers that you could find in whatever height you want. |
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frewen
Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 11405
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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How about nigella for looks and self seeding, some bright lights chard for colourful stems and eating.
Some chives and nasturtium? closer to the front
Stocks and lemonbalm for smell?
L ambs ears for softness?  |
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Snowball
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 6190
Location: swindon
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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I also vote for red sun flowers.
Also stocks.
Maybe lupins?
I particularly love my corn flowers from the wild flower mix I used last year. |
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Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 5264
Location: New England (In the US of A)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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There are some lovely red rudebeckias and red yarrow as well
Red hollyhocks are tall |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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I hadn't though about red sunflowers!
Some great ideas! |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| wellington womble wrote: |
| Have you looked at Sarah Raven’s plant catalogues? She has a ton of vibrant colours, and likes scent. There are some fabulous orange/yellow poppies and she does meadow flower mixes (I have a lovely blue one, with salvias and cornflowers etc) |
i got her cut flower journal for my birthday (actually, I bought it for myself for my birthday, I think you might have recommended her cut flower book, thought the journal might be nice for our first year in the new place). Also had a quick slick through her website. |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Slim wrote: |
| There are some lovely red rudebeckias and red yarrow as well |
I love rudebeckias so they're a definite! |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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Looking at the red sunflowers, they're usually quite a dark red aren't they?
I'd like them to be as bright as can be  |
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Fee
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15902
Location: Surrey Heath
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 18 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, looking at this, perhaps a mixed border of all the colours of the rainbow rather than lines from back to front. Like this a lot and it would be more doable/maneagable.
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