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Rainbow flower border
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Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 1:33 am    Post subject: Rainbow flower border Reply with quote
    

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!

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think dahlias will feature in the reds at least, 1m ones

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 7:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ooh good idea on the herbs for green! I'll have to draw a plan of heights, I think.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 7:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sorry the others don't smell, but they are good colours and some are quite sculptural.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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)

Slim



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6533
Location: New England (In the US of A)
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 11:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You may be looking more for perennials, but there are some fantastically red sunflowers that you could find in whatever height you want.

frewen



Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 11405

PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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?

snowball
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 6240
Location: swindon
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

Slim



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6533
Location: New England (In the US of A)
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There are some lovely red rudebeckias and red yarrow as well

Red hollyhocks are tall

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hadn't though about red sunflowers!

Some great ideas!

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Slim wrote:
There are some lovely red rudebeckias and red yarrow as well


I love rudebeckias so they're a definite!

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 18 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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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