I can see a rainbow! | Notes From Boyd

I can see a rainbow!

I visited a garden one spring where the owner had really thought about the planting and created a rainbow of colour that resulted in a stunning display. They'd very cleverly planted a combination of evergreens, hardy flowering shrubs and bedding plants to achieve the full spectrum of colours. They'd even got a gold painted pot at the end of the rainbow!

Now you might be thinking 'how awful, I'd never want that in my garden' but what it did demonstrate to me was that absolutely anything can look great if carefully planned and executed well.

Some of the highlights were.... Red delivered by the fresh foliage of crimson acers - dramatic in the border towering over tulips and dwarf evergreen azaleas. Hot orange pansies and violas followed and met with their yellow brethren flowing round one of my favourites, Choisya Sundance.

The lush unfurling foliage of hostas and ferns carpeted a woodland dell. Height came from the silver birch punching their way up through the fresh greens and variegated leaves. Evergreen ceanothus, smothered in powder blue blooms, clothed the garden shed and provided a perfect screen. A river of Lithospermum flowed through a low alpine garden, the rocks draped with alpine phlox and campanulas.

Deeper shades of purple and blue were delivered by tall spires of Polemonium and Veronica. Whilst Cotinus Royal Purple completed the arc and brought the eye to the sparkling gold water feature. The sound of gurgling water brought a cheery laugh to the whole scene.

MY TOP TIP - Think of your garden as a 12 month palette. Whilst a riot of colour in the Spring can be wonderful it is important that you plant with continuous colour in mind. The rainbow garden brightened up a dull May day but it wouldn't have looked great in the winter. The addition of a few more evergreen shrubs would have helped to not only maintain shape but also interest.

Buy Online