Before
New mixed shrub and herbaceous planting was required for this large neglected bed. It used to grow vegetables but now no longer required for this it was decided to turn it into a colourful boarder. The colours of the mixed planting needed to be seen from the house which is some distance away and also to fit in with the the local vernacular of the grey stone, terracotta tiles and lichens growing on the wall.
After
The soil was in good condition as it had been worked for vegetables for many years but a little manure was added some weeks before the new planting was put in situ. Bold colours were chosen to stand out from the grey of the stone and to enable the owners to see it clearly from the house. But subtlety was also needed so when the bed is visited on foot it has a pleasing depth to the colouring, this was added with plants that toned in with the stone and with the yellow lichens.
Some shrubs were planted to keep some structure during the winter months with the herbaceous planting bringing drama during the warmer months. This starts in the spring with Hellebores, Crown Imperial Fritillaries and Tulips, following through the summer with Crocosmia, Achillea, Oriental Poppies for example, until late autumn with Dahlia, Rudbeckia and Helianthus to name a few.