Agapanthus africanus August 2008
Acanthus hungaricus June 2009
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus June 2009
Kniphofia thompsonii thompsonii June 2009
Eryngium amethystinum August 2008
The mixed border is 5 feet wide x 38 feet long. It began in 1993 with plants that had blue (gray) foliage, or blue or yellow flowers. Eventually I felt that lacked depth. Purple & orange flowers added richness. The mixed border runs along house for half its length, then past the deck, across a path, & along the south edge of the vegetable garden. It borders a brick walk (also 5 feet wide) leading to the front porch & door. The paving pattern is a series of squares within squares. The bricks are set in a bed of sand flanked by railroad ties. A mixed border is a long, narrow bed planted with both shrubs & perennials.
Early in January Euphorbia rigida blooms yellow against blue foliage. The effect is repeated by Euphorbia myrsinites & Narcissus some weeks later. In June Hypericum 'Hidcote' shows bright yellow flowers against the thick & fluffy blue blossoms of Ceanothus, with dark purple Geranium phaeum behind. In summer blue Agapanthus, orange Crocosmia, yellow Hemerocallis & yellow + orange = bicolor Kniphofia bloom together. All are tempered & enriched by the ever-blue foliage of Eucalyptus moorei, Hebe, Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’. A blot of red Lobelia tupa gives a modern art effect in late summer. In the small section fronting the vegetable garden, decorative vegetables grow (Chinese Lanterns, Leeks, Rhubard, Sea Kale) along with Narcissus & Tulipa.
Blue & Yellow Mixed Border Plant List
Trees
Shrubs
Ceanothus ‘Victoria’ (California Lilac)
Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ (St John’s Wort)
Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’ (Blue Point Juniper)
Juniperus squamata ‘Loden’
Perennials
Agapanthus ‘Storm Cloud’ (Lily of the Nile)
Allium porrum (Leek)
Crambe maritima (Sea Kale)
Crocosmia ‘Emberglow’ (Flaming Iris)
Digitalis trojana (Trojan Foxglove)
Eryngium amethystinum (Sea Holly)
Geranium phaeum (Mourning Widow)
Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion’ (Daylily)
Lobelia tupa (Tupa)
Narcissus (Daffodil)
Rheum x cultorum (Rhubarb)
Tulipa ‘Little Princess’ (Tulip)
Groundcovers
Euphorbia myrsinites (Myrtle Spurge)
Pratia pedunculata (Blue Star Creeper)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment