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Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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Posted by lavender_lass WA zone 4 (My Page) on Thu, Sep 24, 09 at 14:37
| I am planning to redo my front garden and want to take everything out but my hybrid tea roses and lavender and move my peonies to this garden. What other flowers would do well? I plan to put the peonies and roses in the back with the lavender in front. I also have some coral bells, daisies and coneflowers in other gardens, but I don't know if I want to put them with this garden. The bed is about thirty feet by five feet deep and I have another bed near it (in front of the porch) that's twelve feet by four feet. They both are on the southeast side of the house and get some shade late in the afternoon. Thanks for any ideas! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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| daisies and coneflowers would do well in a very sunny border. Coral bells will work better in the shade. I need to know what is the look that your are seeking? In a straight border like that I would lump similar colours together. Get sphire plants like delphiniums and set them to the back. Get the peonies in the middle row of the border. I also like to contrast different shapes such as umbrels(like achilleas) against delphiniums (sphires), coneflowers (daisy shaped), plumes (joe pye weed). Then choose the colours you like, for example if you are into blues, that says you like cool calm colours. Same thing with pinks. if you like yellows and oranges, then you like exciting colours. Reds reflect a more traditional colour. You can group plant colours together in the same way as a rainbow prism. Once you have settled with your plans, time to get the plants |
RE: Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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| Thank you for the response. I really like pink, purple, blue, and white. I have two Oklahoma roses (really dark red) and two dark red peonies, but the other peonies are white with deep red edges. The other roses are pink, even the Tamora I have is pink with a slight hint of peach. While the garden is rectangular, I would like more of a cottage garden feel. I like the idea of clumps of color and a more fluid feel, not too rigid. While I like delphiniums, etc. I am trying to stay away from more toxic plants like delphiniums, foxglove, lily of the valley due to so many barn cats that sleep in garden and lots of nieces and nephews who like to "help" :) I'd also be interested in adding some mint or bee balm, if I could figure out how to contain them and not have them take over the garden. |
RE: Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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| I understand although I;ve had delphniums for the longest time even when my daughter was a baby & I do have cats too. Anyhow, a substitute for tall blue sphire type plants may be a russian sages or lupins (not as tall( I had added bee balm recently to my garden but I have to say, they do get awfully mildewy and so it's one plant I am removing this season. Cat mints will only attract cats to your yard by the way. Something to avoid if possible. |
RE: Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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| I've heard that about bee balm on the herb forum. My Mom tried some this summer and didn't have any problem. We usually have really dry summers, though, do you have dry or humid summers? Also, that's a good point about delphinium. Maybe being in the back of the border it's not as much of an enticement. I do like russian sage, but I don't think it's hardy to zone 4. What about hollyhocks? They're tall, but do they take over too much? |
RE: Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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| I don't know about how these would do in your zone, but something spiky like irises and daylilies would give you some contrast in terms of foliage, even when they're not blooming. Ingrid |
RE: Peonies, Roses and Lavender
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| There's another question about peonies, so I thought I'd bump this to the top. Thanks again for the ideas :) |
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