A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I live
by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit 'thematically'. What I
have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too fussy, arrangement of
shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested in
shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid, due to
lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses, especially
those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some rocks with some
heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

louisxiv wrote:
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I live
by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit 'thematically'. What I
have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too fussy, arrangement of
shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested in
shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid, due to
lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses, especially
those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some rocks with some
heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

Where 'by the sea'? Morecambe, West Scotland, Cornwall? ;-) It will
make a lot of difference!
Hydrangeas are traditional sea garden plants in some areas, as are
tamarisks. Agapanthus are immensely popular in Channel Islands and
Breton gardens; Astelias look fantastic in our garden and in the Abbey
garden in Tresco. Personally, I have a strong dislike of
'domesticated' heather, so can't help you there but for grasses look at
Festuca glauca, the Blue Oat grass Helictotriton sempervirens (sp?)
and for impact Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus. Allium Globe Master is a
wonderful colour and here, is just about to burst into flower and then
of course, you could use some Eucalyptus, taking out the tips to keep
them short after a couple of years.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon

"louisxiv" wrote in message
...
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I live
by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit 'thematically'. What
I have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too fussy, arrangement of
shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested in
shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid, due
to lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some
rocks with some heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

As Sacha says you will get better suggestions if you can give a more
accurate location.
An absolute must have is Crambe Cordifolia. Tolerant of most things and
grows on rubbish soil with salt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plant...ages/235.shtml

Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote:
"louisxiv" wrote in message
...
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I live
by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit 'thematically'. What
I have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too fussy, arrangement of
shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested in
shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid, due
to lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some
rocks with some heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

As Sacha says you will get better suggestions if you can give a more
accurate location.
An absolute must have is Crambe Cordifolia. Tolerant of most things and
grows on rubbish soil with salt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plant...ages/235.shtml

I think this is a wonderful plant but it's amazing how few people are
interested in it. Perhaps it's just not colourful enough, or
something but in such a garden, it would reflect the idea of sea spray.
The other excellent silvery coloured plant is the cardoon, Cynara
cardunculus. We have a truly massive specimen in the borders beside
the car park and it comes back each year, happy as can be. And it's
hard to beat the lovely leaves of Salvia argentea.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon

"Sacha" wrote in message
oups.com...

louisxiv wrote:
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I
live
by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit 'thematically'.
What I
have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too fussy, arrangement of
shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested
in
shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid, due
to
lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially
those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some rocks with
some
heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

Where 'by the sea'? Morecambe, West Scotland, Cornwall? ;-) It will
make a lot of difference!
Hydrangeas are traditional sea garden plants in some areas, as are
tamarisks. Agapanthus are immensely popular in Channel Islands and
Breton gardens; Astelias look fantastic in our garden and in the Abbey
garden in Tresco. Personally, I have a strong dislike of
'domesticated' heather, so can't help you there but for grasses look at
Festuca glauca, the Blue Oat grass Helictotriton sempervirens (sp?)
and for impact Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus. Allium Globe Master is a
wonderful colour and here, is just about to burst into flower and then
of course, you could use some Eucalyptus, taking out the tips to keep
them short after a couple of years.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk

I'm in Fife, East Scotland!

I shall look into these plants, thanks.

Anyone else?

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...

"louisxiv" wrote in message
...
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I
live by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit
'thematically'. What I have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too
fussy, arrangement of shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish
green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested
in shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid,
due to lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some
rocks with some heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

As Sacha says you will get better suggestions if you can give a more
accurate location.
An absolute must have is Crambe Cordifolia. Tolerant of most things and
grows on rubbish soil with salt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plant...ages/235.shtml


As per previous post I live in East Scotland, but not so near the sea that
soil is an issue. i believe the soil is pretty good. thanks for the ideas so
far!

louisxiv wrote:
"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...

"louisxiv" wrote in message
...
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I
live by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit
'thematically'. What I have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too
fussy, arrangement of shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish
green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested
in shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid,
due to lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some
rocks with some heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

As Sacha says you will get better suggestions if you can give a more
accurate location.
An absolute must have is Crambe Cordifolia. Tolerant of most things and
grows on rubbish soil with salt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plant...ages/235.shtml


As per previous post I live in East Scotland, but not so near the sea that
soil is an issue. i believe the soil is pretty good. thanks for the ideas so
far!

Then your main concern is exposure (of the plants, not you) to strong
winds and cold east winds. That will limit what you can plant straight
out in the open; shelter will allow you to grow most things but in the
complete open, only tougher stuff will do well.
Shelter from icy east winds will allow less hardy stuff to grow and
shelter from strong winds in general will allow flimsy flowering stuff
to grow.

"louisxiv" wrote in message
...
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I live
by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit 'thematically'. What
I have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too fussy, arrangement of
shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested in
shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid, due
to lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some
rocks with some heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

Inspiration ?
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/davidtrivett...den/Jarman.htm
Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"louisxiv" wrote in message
...
A question from a (overly ambitious?) newbie!

I'm looking to develop a south facing area of my garden and because I
live by the sea i'd like to focus on plants which will fit
'thematically'. What I have in mind is a kind of organised, but not too
fussy, arrangement of shrubs within a fairly limited palette of bluish
green through to purple.

I've already come into some Eryngium (Blue Sea Holly) and am interested
in shrubs which might complement this. I'm very fond of what i'm afraid,
due to lack of knowledge, I can only describe as thick bladed grasses,
especially those with a bluish-green hue and may want to include some
rocks with some heather or similair!

Can anyone decipher this and make any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

Inspiration ?
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/davidtrivett...den/Jarman.htm
Jenny

Gorgeous Jenny! Didn't realise the old poove's immense talents extended to
gardening. Shows what I know! I shall read and research!

Try visiting http://www.homeandgardening.co.uk/plantprofiles.htm they offer some great profiles of plants. Great advice on growing and propagatng many plants.