Memorial flower bed

[TPeers]

Hi,

This is going to sound a really daft question, I have grown my own veg for years, no probs but when ever I grow flowers something always goes wrong and I end up loosing 75% plus.

Recently a neighbour of mine died and I offered his wife and son (she has Altzimers and he is blind!) to plant up the flower bed in the front garden as my memorial to him.

I don't mind going to the garden centre to get the plants needed but would prefer to grow them myself - can anyone help with fool-proof flowers that will give a good display, need little maintenance and preferably have some scent!

I know I am asking the impossible, but any help here would be very gratefully received.

[nick the grief]

Hi TP,

Any of the Hardy Annuals are easy to look after and most are as tough as old boots but don't have much scent unfortunately. There is an annual wallflower 'Vivaldi' (I think) that you could sow now and it should flower about 12 weeks later I think it is. How about an obelisk and grow something like sweetpeas (but not Snadgers ) they smell nice and you could still sow some now and they'll flower a tad later.

Some iof the scented geraniums (pelargoniums) would be good not much to look at in the way of flowers but as you brushagainst them they will smell nice (attar of Roses is a good one)

Lavender is a tough old bird (bit like LJ) amd you could either grow this from seed or take cuttings or buy ome from one of the people who sell hedging in the gardening press.

Other smelly climbers - Rosa 'Zepherine Droughin' or its dark pink sport 'Katherin Harrop' as they are thornless so as your negibour is partially sighted there is less risk of her injuring herself on them.

Honeysuckle would be another good one for scent as well.

For winter it has to be the Witch hazels for scent or Daphnes then you could plant some Hyacynths in the sprind along with some of the "pheasants eye daffs" or some of the others with a scent

Hope that helps you.

[rustylady]

Perennials would be best for ease of maintenance, with spring bulbs which also come up year after. As for specific varieties - did your neighbour have any special favourites. Rosemary is a perennial herb which is supposed to signify remembrance, lavender is also good if the site is well drained. You could use annuals to fill in gaps.

[TPeers]

Thanks NTG,
I hadn't thought of sweetpeas, my mind was running endless circles on begonias! I'll dig the root trainers out at the weekend and start some off (a pack came free with the last set of root trainers so no prob there), and an obelisk is a wonderful idea.

I've never grown a daphne, what are they like?

Terry

[TPeers]

Hi Rustylady,

he usually planted out one flat mass of begonias, so I will incude some but his real pride was his back garden which is a fantasic place, always something making a show. Currently a magnolia he raised from a 6" whip.

A real plantsman - I'm not a patch!

[nick the grief]

Thanks NTG,
I hadn't thought of sweetpeas, my mind was running endless circles on begonias! I'll dig the root trainers out at the weekend and start some off (a pack came free with the last set of root trainers so no prob there), and an obelisk is a wonderful idea.

I've never grown a daphne, what are they like?

Terry

http://www.findmeplants.co.uk/newlis...species=Daphne

[TPeers]

Brill! Thanks NTG, the winter fowering one with the unpronouncable name (bholua) looks perfect. I've bookmarked the website and will order it later in the year to bring on and plant in the autumn.

[kirsty b]

Have you thought about stocks? They are annuals and have lovely scent. I've got night scented stocks to grow this year and according to the pack all you need to do is scatter the seed where you want them to grow.

Kirsty

[Birdie Wife]

I grew night scented stock last year with mignonette - a fairly inocuous (sp?) little plant but WHAT a scent, absolutely gorgeous. Evening primrose is also good for scent and will seed around if it likes your soil. I love honeysuckle too.

Shrubs for structure, I'd vote for flowering quince, lilacs and buddelia (the white one that looks like little clouds is lovely).

[TPeers]

Hi, and thanks for all the ideas!

The bed in question is a triangle about six foot to a side, so I suspect not large enough for a buddelia - the two I have must put on about 6-8 ft of vertical and 2-3 ft of horizontal growth a year (and that is after I prune them to knee high each winter). So it would take up too much of the space, plus give nothing for the winter.

I'll draw up some plans and take some photos to put up here for what I actually do but I think at the mo a sweetpea tower surounded by begonias, mignonette and evening primrose.

Much nicer than my initial idea of begonia with a fuchsia in the middle!

For a winter display, pansys (doh) underplanted with spring bulbs (I'll find out their favourites) but other than a daphne or some other winter flowering shrub, what could go on the tower? I know there is a winter flowering version of honeysuckle - but this is another permanent plant - is their a 'bedding' alternative?

[rustylady]

Why do you want to go for bedding, TPeers? It's high maintenance - I would have thought perennials (permanent plants) and bulbs which come up year after year would be a better base. You can then use summer annuals for colour, but still have interest in early spring. You could put in an obelisk or wigwam with honeysuckle and jasmine - this would give height - You could even grow a summer flowering clematis up the same structure.

[TPeers]

Now you ask - I don't know! Because that is what Hugh always did I suppose.

My own 'flower' garden is basically shrubs and permanent plantings, standard herbacious border plants like golden rod and michalmas daisys, dahlias, lilacs, ornamental maples etc... all underplanted wih bulbs. I much prefer veg growing - drives the hubby mad - he wants endless flowers, I want endless food!

Now you have made me think about it...

I will be back.....