Hi GPODers!
Today a contributor has answered our call for summer color with a collection of blooms in just about every shade imaginable. Hugh Locke in New York has shared some seriously colorful photos in his previous submissions (Hugh’s Celebration of Annuals From Seed, Some Plants Worth Growing, Close-ups in Hugh’s Garden, etc.), many of which are his stunning ‘flower portraits’ that he also shares regularly on his Instagram (@hugh.locke). In this submission he’s diving deep into an absolutely impressive border he created last summer:
I created a vibrant 80-foot-long flower border in Westchester with an array of annuals and perennials, the majority of which I grow from seed. The photos here are from last summer.
My approach is based on the classic English flower border that mixes colors and textures with a gradation of height from front to back. It is also deep enough to accommodate a wide variety of flowers that are positioned to ensure a continuous show all season long.
One of the highlights of last summer was this orange and yellow snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus ‘Potomac Orange’, annual) that was grown from seed and rebloomed on cue.
Part of the fun is putting different flowers together to see what happens. Here the experiment worked out with a purple blue dwarf ‘Aloha Blue’ ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum ‘Aloha Blue’) (Ageratum houstonianum ‘Aloha Blue’, annual) that bloomed continuously until frost. The zinnias were similarly in full bloom until frost, from left to right: ‘Profusion Double Hot Cherry’, ‘Profusion Double Deep Salmon’, ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’, and Profusion Apricot’.
The focal point of a different section of the border is ‘Musifolia’ canna (Canna ‘Musifolia’, Zones 7–10). This is the world’s tallest known variety, which topped out last summer at 8 feet tall. While it has modest red blooms late in the season, the leaves are its best feature.
White flowers can sometimes get lost, but these two stand out against a hedge and some canna: Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum, Zones 3–8) on the left and woodland tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) with its fireworks of trumpet flowers on the right.
Hugh has been experimenting with coleus, with this variety a clear winner ‘Colocha Rose’ coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides ‘Colocha Rose’, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) when grown next to ‘Profusion Apricot’ zinnias.
This image shows off the range of colors and textures to maximum effect. Pink cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Rosetta’, annual) and blue salvia (Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’, Zones 8–10 or as an annual) are in front of striking yellow goldenrod (Solidago), next to which is lacy white yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Zones 3–9)… all grown from seed, with the perennials now a few years old.
‘Casa Blanca’ Oriental lilies (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’, Zones 5–8) steal the show, with a backdrop of violet cleome (Cleome hassleriana ‘Violet Queen’, annual). To the right are perennial Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum ‘Madonna’, Zones 3–9) grown from seed last spring and happily flowering their first year out.
Yet another section of the border is dominated by this giant castor bean (Ricinus communis ‘Zanzibariensis’, Zones 9–11 or as an annual). An annual grown from seed, this tropical beauty eventually reached 14 feet by the end of the season. At that point the stem was the diameter of a small tree trunk and digging up the deep root system was a major undertaking.
This celosia (Celosia plumosa ‘Yachiyo Hiryu’, annual) was a new addition last year and is now on the permanent list of annuals.
Each year I starts seeds indoors under lights, beginning in February. While most are annuals, each year there are a few perennials (some of which admittedly take two years to put on a show of flowers). Last spring the result was close just over 350 plants in 4 inch pots ready for transplanting.
Here are just a few examples of the closeup flower portraits from my garden you can see on my Instagram.
Thank you so much for another memorable submission, Hugh! As many of us look out into gray, white, and brown landscapes of winter, your plant portraits and colorful garden combinations are a much-needed reminder of the warmth and color that awaits us later in the year.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.
Spear & Jackson 4930FZ Razorsharp Telescopic Tree Pruner
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Telescopic tree pruner with SK5 carbon steel blade which stays sharper for longer. Variable length telescopic handle extends up to 92 Inch (2340mm). Lopper for cutting branches up to 1.2" (30mm). 13 inch (330mm) saw is ideal for cutting thicker branches. Supplied with a long cord and pull-action handle. Part of the Razorsharp Advantage collection, the obvious choice for gardeners who demand and expect precise, powerful performance. "Grow Your Own" Great British Growing 2020 Award Winners.
XLUX Soil Moisture Meter
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
- Large and clear dial, including ten scales, plug and read
- Simply insert the moisture meter into soil and you'll get the test result instantly
- Single probe, less hurts to the roots, doesn't dig up too much soil after test
Comments
Excellento ! Your photos remind me of my turf here in central NY except you have really taken it to another level with your your annuals . Congrats on having some crazy areas . I love to have a dedicated area and then fill it up . I see that you concur . This spring is going to be a sizeable "splitting season" for my daylilies and orientals .
Once again , excellento ! Peace .
Bravo, Hugh! Your strategic use of bold foliage tropical plants gives the border great textural contrast. I also plant Cannas in my borders but haven't planted C. musifolia in years. I'll have to look for some.
Stunning color combinations - a living rainbow!!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in