Some of the worlds most favourite gardens owe much of their successs to a specific colour scheme, such as the red border at Hidcote Manor and the white garden at Sissinghurst in England.
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As artists know, colour can be used to shape, direct the eye or invoke an atmosphere. Unrelated mixed colour can often be disturbing, while the planned use of complimentary hues offer a sense of calm and peace.
Blue is a colour that appeals to many. Gertrude Jekyll, a reknown English plantswoman, constantly extolled the virtues of blue flowered plants, incorporating clumps of delphiniums, salvia and the blue cape daisy between bushes of lavender in her famous herbaceaous borders.
The impact of colour is greatly increased when offset by one or two complimentary colours such as yellow and/or white. Informal drifts of blue and white with touches of yellow can form a memorable spring display.
White shasta daisies can be mixed in pots with blue cornflowers or ‘blue’ petunias, for summer; perhaps Michaelmas daisies and chrysanthemums for autumn.
Among the annuals, nigella and forget-me nots will continue to self-seed. Bulbs, such as muscari (grape hyacinths) will increase every year as will triteleia – the Star of Bethlehem. Blue Dutch iris will thrive in moist soil on sunny sites.
Growing plants in hanging baskets or pots can fulfill a variety of gardening needs. Where there is limited space on a balcony it’s sometime more practical to attach a hook to a wall. Those of us who are lucky to have travelled to a summer Europe will be familiar with colourful hanging baskets decorating every conceivable surface nook. However, growing a god hanging basket takes a time, patience and a certain amount of expertise.
Fill the basket with a premium quality potting mix with some added coco peat to increase the moisture holding capacity. Select plants with a mixed upright as well as pendulous habit plus an ability to grow quickly with regular feeding. Overplant rather than underplant initially. It is always easier to thin out than add fully mature plants. Finally never let the container dry out, watering everyday and even twice a day when required. Once a basket has been allowed to dry out, even for a brief period, complete immersion in a tub of water is the only way to revive it.
Perennial groundcovers, such as convolvulus and ivy-leaved pelargoniums can be useful as mixed plantings with annuals. Baskets should be treated as expendable gardens and enjoyed as such. The keen gardener can replant them when they are past their best.
If you would like to introduce some Australian native cottage plants into your garden, ‘Fairy Bells ’ in snow, mauve and two shades of pink (Tetratheca thymifolia) have pretty bell-shaped flowers starting in late winter, then spot flowering through spring and into autumn. Ideal for pots in sun or part shade, fairy bells are dry tolerant once established and fine bird attractants
