|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Feb 24, 2008 9:47:33 GMT
I've been asked to 'keep an eye on' (ie, stock and maintain) a display at a neighbour's holiday cottage.
At the moment there's three old butler sinks (on the ground, so plughole probably plugged and non-draining - memo to self: must empty, raise on tiles) and two large plastic imitations of terracotta tubs flanking the door. All empty.
Ideally, I'd like something (can be the same in each)
quickly, cheerfully, colourful
vigorous
long season
prepared to accept OM's speciality, neglect, in the face of his non-speciality, 'ornamentals'.
The collective answer's probably in these threads somewhere, but help me out - we don't mind the same question being asked over again, do we?
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Feb 24, 2008 10:03:59 GMT
Oh how lovely OM - I love butler sinks  How about including Ophiopogon Planiscapus "Nigrescens" (Black Lily Turf); Geranium Sessiflorum "Nigricans"; Snow drops and dwarf Iris, and some little aquilegias perhaps with dark flowers to go with the dark theme. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2008 14:11:31 GMT
Hi OM - for one of the butler's sinks I'd plant perennial yellow alyssum (more or less evergreen leaves, flowers for ages, seedheads look nice) surrounded by Viola labradorica 'purpurea' ... purplish leaves, spreads obligingly, lovely flowers, looks good all year. They'll both put up with total neglect. For the imitation terracotta tubs flanking the door (I'm assuming you don't have to pay for this??), what about a couple of Pieris surrounded by trailing annuals for summer and dwarf bulbs for winter? I had Pieris in a pot for years at my last place - before I was into gardening, it suffered total neglect! ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by andy on Feb 24, 2008 14:26:41 GMT
Christ OM...do you want jam on it too ;D
Butler sinks = alpines....aubretia, saponaria, thrift, plus some dwarf conifers and maybe pinus mugo. Interplant with spring, summer and autumn bulbs and they'll be a winner.
Go for varigated aubretia and other stuff to provide foliage colour.
With the two terracotta tubs, i'd do seasonal bedding.....pansies, polys and silver dust in winter spring and in summer, it would be a mixed planting of marigolds, blue petunias (scented) and taller red geraniums
|
|
|
|
Post by isabella on Feb 24, 2008 15:24:18 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Feb 24, 2008 15:32:27 GMT
I agree with andy on the sinks - even some small grasses, dwarf holly....potentillla, pernettya, -not forgetting box
For the two by the door they have to be seasonal....I have one by the front door with a standard Euonymus in and for spring I have pansies, bulbs, bellis - often a small light leaved ivy or two to hang down and in autumn heathers.......gourds....tiny sunflowers...asters.
In summer.....hanging and standing geraniums, lavender, coreopsis, begonia semperflorens...hanging verbena and again perhaps a small box...so many things......no roses though...
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Feb 25, 2008 19:27:23 GMT
Well, thank you one and all - plenty to think about there... maybe I'll get some pics and do a before and after... next holidaymaker is due in at the end of March, so there's time to make a show of some sort.
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Mar 3, 2008 19:01:42 GMT
What about adding a miniature 'pink' OM. I've got one (of course, cant remember the name). It's a beautiful dark red and looks lovely during the summer - drapes itself over the side of the trough.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 3, 2008 19:09:54 GMT
What about adding a miniature 'pink' OM. I've got one (of course, cant remember the name). It's a beautiful dark red and looks lovely during the summer - drapes itself over the side of the trough. Blimey, great minds and all that, Shrub... at the same sale I bought the tray of bargain snowdrops (Ooooo I do like a Bargain) I bought a tray of... miniature pinks. I was going to use them here, but in the past 3 or 4 days the pheasants have grazed 3/4 of the blossom - they must be attracted to red! So, round to the cottage they go, no pheasants there... OM |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 4, 2008 11:12:29 GMT
So, round to the cottage they go, no pheasants there... OM a bit of a ps: safely, temporarily on the car, out of reach - but you see what I mean, they were a mass of red...  |
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Mar 4, 2008 16:37:50 GMT
Oh spooky! ;D Pheasant seem to be as damaging as sheep!!! (they 'wander' into my garden and lots of my plants suffer as a result too!  ) What a shame! Sure they'll bounce back quickly though OM. That lot'll gladden the heart once they get going |
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Mar 14, 2008 7:11:19 GMT
These are the little 'pinks' in one of my containers OM 'freestyle' approach i.e. left to do it's own thing as you can see ;D  |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 14, 2008 8:43:05 GMT
Inspiring - and shaming, ShrubbyOne... I really must get round there and do some planting - first holiday tenants arrive on the 22nd, and I'm a bit behind self-imposed schedule. What with the garden and a few 'overwinter' diy bits and pieces, I need to find a day to spend there really.
Pinks are still on the car bonnet.
OM
|
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Mar 14, 2008 19:17:13 GMT
Just bung 'em in OM. That's what I did and they'll find their feet! |
|
) What a shame! Sure they'll bounce back quickly though OM. That lot'll gladden the heart once they get going