Spring Postcard 2008 - Designing with Plants & Plant Combinations
This spring, we printed a general postcard to showcase my garden design style which I’d describe as “contemporary classic” – a backbone of structure and formality, splashes of colour and flowers, and beautiful if perhaps unexpected plant combinations using proven classics + more contemporary plants that go well together. Pictured from left to right, across the top then bottom:-
Top Row:
1. Large-leaved Ivy Hedera canariensis
I find Ivy an elegant and very useful plant – if kept under control. It will grow where other plants don’t, and it keeps on giving year round simplicity and elegance. See more Box Topiary ...
2. Box Topiary Buxus sempervirens
I love experimenting with different plants to see if I can train or prune them into topiary – but again and again I find that Box is the best.
3. Pittosporum "Golf Ball"
A “new” style topiary - and we have such a wide selection of bushy evergreen native plants in NZ to choose from. I tend to favour Corokias; but "Golf Ball" is a naturally compact pittosporum, a lovely fresh green colour, and it contrasts nicely with darker green Box.
4. Spiral Aloe Aloe polyphylla
Succulents don’t have to be gnomey! I love them; they are quite simple, classic and easy care, and are especially suited to pots. Generally, they don’t like rain, although some are more tolerant, and I have many on my deck on trial to see which suit local conditions.
5. Portuguese Laurel Prunus Lusitanicus
These are the classic evergreen standard; and also loved by various leaf-eating insects. So you need to feed them well, and spray to keep them in mint condition, pruning hard to reinvigorate. I have also been experimenting with Michelias and Magnolias to develop a more easy care (ie: less spray) alternative.
6. Alstroemeria “White Buttons”
I love flowers and perennials, especially long flowering alstroemerias. They are also great for picking, with a long vase life, and combine well with other plants.
Bottom Row:
7. Mini Pohutukawa Ball Metrosideros “Tahiti”
Mix it up a bit with natives and “exotics”; and I especially love the plant combination of hydrangeas, flax, pohutukawas, agapanthus & grasses, which remind me of long summers at the beach.
8. Berberis "Helmund Pillar"
This Berberis has an upright “columnar” form, and dark burgundy leaves turning to red in autumn (deciduous in winter). It’s good to have a few deciduous plants in the garden to feel the change of seasons; and I just love a bit of dark, moody foliage.
9. Red Flax Phormium "Rainbow Sunrise"
We have a wonderful, wonderful selection of flaxes in NZ. They have a beautiful arching form, are great in pots and hard to grow places like banks, and birds love them. They win the award for best all round plant.
10. Canna "Tropicanna"
I love subtropicals – which can be a bit of a challenge in Wellington. You need to find the right spot, and as often in cooler climates, such plants become deciduous. Who cares!!! Cannas have fabulous leaf colours, a wonderful wavy form, and colourful tropical flowers.
11. Hydrangeas
Another favourite for pots or shady places. So many colours and such wonderful blousey plants – like roses but much easier to look after!
12. Grasses
Grasses have had poor press, and probably suffer from “roundabout” fatigue. Larger ones, like Miscanthus, are absolutely stunning mixed en masse with large clumps of flowering perennials. Best in a country garden; or in a really simple city chic setting.
Join Our Mail List
We send out postcards twice a year, in spring and autumn, with information on new releases and upcoming events. Please contact us if you would like to join our mail list, or if you would like to find out more about our design services and to buy plants.
