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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 24, 2007 18:38:34 GMT
Like many of you I have been drooling over the seed catalogues (despite having a tin full of perfectly viable seeds already) I've found myself ordering a lot of blue/purple/orange coloured flowers...now is this because it's quite a lovely combination or is it because it's fashionable? is it subliminal programming by the seed companies? I started really liking the purple stuff last year (remember Chelsea?!) but this year orange is becoming increasingly attractive too!...oOoOooOoooOooOOooOooooOOOOo CPBxxx  |
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Post by Plocket on Jan 24, 2007 18:55:18 GMT
I think the colder blues and purples naturally work with hot oranges because they are opposite sides of the colour spectrum. Gardening colours do change regularly but I think the actual plants have an influence too. Look how popular Verbena Bonariensis has been for the last few years - whether it's fashionable or not though you can't deny it's a fabby plant.
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Post by andy on Jan 24, 2007 19:38:44 GMT
I once planted up a bed of snap dragons (antirrhinums) on Brighton seafront. One variety was pink and the other was yellow and it made one of the most stunning displays i've ever seen.
Blue, purple and orange will work well as long as the blues and purples are not too dark or similar to each other. Try adding some groups of silverdust to it as well and use the height of blue salvia victoria to break things up.
What exactly have you ordered CPB. I've spent years working with bedding designs and plants both for parks displays and commercially. I still design a few beds in the park opposite where i work.
Andy
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Post by isabella on Jan 24, 2007 19:53:17 GMT
Andy I would love to do that  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 20:00:34 GMT
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 24, 2007 20:04:45 GMT
oo oo today i've ordered :
Brachycome iberidifolia purple splendour
Commelina dainthiflora
Monopsis debilis regal purple
Heliotropium x hybrid marine
I've already got verbena bonariwotsit, phacelia cottage garden, veronica blue bouquet as well and loads of different marigolds from simba to mini-french jewel like ones....
I don't intend to plant everything...and understand that they won't necessarily go together...I tend to have a lot of pots bursting with flowers too..love putting mini sunflowers in pots with lobelia tenuior .....I've got cineraria silver dust as well.....WHERE am I going to stick me cosmos? (steady)
Andy, you've got to realise that I get stuff on impulse!...once I realise that everything I've bought is exactly the same shade of blue/yellow etc I swop with family members (several of them are keen gardeners) and it works out pretty well.... ;D...messy, but good fun. In my flower borders I go for the 'explosion in a paint factory look'.... ;D
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 24, 2007 20:07:28 GMT
OMG! GOT to have the calendula 'Indian Prince' now..... ;D
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Post by andy on Jan 24, 2007 20:17:55 GMT
That easily the best way to do it. I often order seeds on impulse after having a brainwave....trouble is, when it comes to planting them out, i've either forgotten what i'm doing or i've changed my mind.
Love the Heliotrope....absolutely devine heady scent but can be a swine to grow from seed....a bit hit and miss especially when it comes to correct watering.
Don't forget some nice californian poppies either !!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2007 13:20:01 GMT
CPB - orange and purple are just naturally lovely (Plocket's colour wheel explanation is probably right) - last year, by accident, I grew purple Triteleia (sp.) and orange agastache together and it looked spectacular, so this year am aiming for purple irises and orange Califormian poppies. The 'explosion in a paint factory look' generally works, I find, except that last year I had a pink rose in front of a yellow canary creeper ... that was slightly ... er ... garish ... cheers ...
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 25, 2007 13:31:51 GMT
With CPB starting this lovely Slave to Fashion thread on colours wondered if it might be worth while bumping the colour threads we all did last year back in, might inspire folk |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 25, 2007 14:15:39 GMT
I have Escholzia coming up everywhere! I think the seeds must have been in my compost  I look forward to the colour combinations chance has provided, Once the California Poppy is in your garden, you`ve got it forever, IMHO! Only downside is how floppy it gets..... but then you pull it up, and there are seedlings all around, which fill in the gap in no time. ;D |
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Post by Alicat on Jan 25, 2007 14:31:40 GMT
Hi CPB I love the colour combination of orange and blue I've used it in my garden for the last couple of years and I will be doing it again this year only hopefully I'll have more blue cause the slugs ate the Delphiniums last year  Gazanias are one of my favourite plants because they come in so many hues of orange, mixed with lobelia Crystal Palace.
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Post by Alicat on Jan 25, 2007 14:46:04 GMT
I have Escholzia coming up everywhere! I think the seeds must have been in my compost ;D I had that problem last year with Tomato seeds in my compost that I put round the garden - I must have pulled up about 200 seedlings.  ;D |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 25, 2007 15:58:53 GMT
Thanks everybody. I grew heliotrope cherry pie last year and loved it to bits. I'm planning on having a large planter stuffed with them, with a 'wall' of little french marigolds around the edge...next to the front door (OH will kick up a stink as he always thinks stuff's going to be pinched..) they germinated OK last year...
Desperately trying not to buy too many more seeds....as I'll have nowhere to plant owt ;D BUT I might have a bit of space in the veg patch...I've done 3 plans so far (veggie patch) they have to get past OH before I show you chaps.
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Post by andy on Jan 25, 2007 19:24:35 GMT
After mentioning it above, i'd like to sing the virtues of silver dust from the roof tops.
As a small group plant or randomly planted among other bedding plants, it will compliment or contrast with just about every other colour there is. It is striking with deep blues and purples, sets off scarlets, oranges, pinks and yellows superbly and can also be planted as an edge to a border.
Oh....don't forget it is fully hardy so leave it in the ground or pots and let it compliment your bulbs and winter/spring bedding
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2007 19:35:22 GMT
Im doing silver dust from seed this year, i agree with you andy they do add that little something to the garden.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 25, 2007 19:38:37 GMT
After mentioning it above, i'd like to sing the virtues of silver dust from the roof tops. As a small group plant or randomly planted among other bedding plants, it will compliment or contrast with just about every other colour there is. It is striking with deep blues and purples, sets off scarlets, oranges, pinks and yellows superbly and can also be planted as an edge to a border. Oh....don't forget it is fully hardy so leave it in the ground or pots and let it compliment your bulbs and winter/spring bedding  ...erm so it's fully hardy is it?....ooer...the NEXT lot of sowings will survive ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2007 19:41:41 GMT
Hi CPB ive never tried these before so i will find out.
I seem to go for pink and red, think i need to be more daring.
Karen ;D
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Post by andy on Jan 25, 2007 19:44:12 GMT
...erm so it's fully hardy is it?....ooer...the NEXT lot of sowings will survive ;D[/quote] Did yours die or did you just rip it out ?
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 25, 2007 19:47:49 GMT
I like pink and red too! I have 'Bishop of Llandaff' dahlias, 'Bishop's Children' dahlias and beautiful lovely cosmos 'Sensation 'in the garden every year....the dahlias will be in tubs this year tho....so I can bung them into spaces in the border as they appear... ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2007 20:00:38 GMT
I'm going to try and add more colour to my garden this year, I'm going to put things in and see what happens.
If it doesn't look good it can always be moved, my garden is very green with the odd bit of colour but i need more.
Ive also got lots of gaps that need filling.
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