Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire
The owners wanted some year round interest (and not to be able to see any soil) in their existing borders which were to be raised. They had the idea of using alternate layers of pavers and wood to break the otherwise wooden 'box' up. After these were built, topsoil and manure were used to fill the beds which arrived on in what was mosoon conditions! Apart from an existing Forsythia and Hebe, everything else was to go. In went Cornus for stem colour, Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' for late winter/early spring colour and added height, Hebe for evergreen, Rheum palmatum for the leaf size and colour, Aruncus for height and texture, variegated Pulmonaria 'David Ward' (a fairly new introduction), Ajuga for evergreen and ground cover to name a fewThe last 4 are shade lovers as the bed spent most of the day in the shade, but the tops of the shrubs were in sun. The photo below was taken after planting.
In the back garden the bed was in sun for most of the day. Most of the existing plants were to be kept but I added Blue and White Delphinium for height, Bergenia evergreen and for early colour, Geranium 'Johnsons Blue' for summer long flowering, Saponaria (Tumbling Ted), Lawn Chamomile and Thyme to grow over the bed, soften the egdes and release their scent when sat on, Lavender, Sage, Monarda and the existing Rhubarb that grew huge thanks to all the manure!
