A color bed

16 years ago

Hey all. I consider myself a "cottage-style" gardener, for lack of a better description. For me, with limited gardening space, the implementation is 'very casual' and 'jam-packed'. :) Hope you think it's close enough. lol!

Just wanted to show you some color pics of an island bed I have in my BF's yard. I've had the bed there for at least 10 or 15 years (don't recall when the huge Oak came out!). I change it all the time and I keep it completely jammed with bulbs and plants so that it's full-season color.

I don't do "color beds" intentionally! I prefer a full mix of color and shape and texture. But last year there was a bit of a color phenomenon in the island bed, and I luckily captured a couple of the phases.

This is in its "blue" phase, taken June 10 last year:

{{gwi:671685}}

And here it is (trying to remember the same photo angle. lol!) taken July 24 last year:

{{gwi:671686}}

Unfortunately, the orange lilies were starting to fizzle by the time the coneflower and phlox were flush, and I don't think I took a photo between those two.

Anyway, I thought it was cool. :) And, yes, I'm [re]/moving things and changing the bed already. lol!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (19)

User
16 years ago
I love the blue!
schoolhouse_gw
16 years ago
How many people stopped to take photos of your flower bed??? Those are very pretty combos. Can't wait to see what you've done this season.
Related Professionals
Gulfport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Manhattan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chico Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Indianapolis Landscape Contractors · Salina Landscape Contractors · Wilmington Landscape Contractors · Lawton Landscape Contractors · Muskogee Landscape Contractors · Escanaba Landscape Contractors · Grand Forks Landscape Contractors · Eau Claire Landscape Contractors · Nashua Architects & Building Designers · Twin Falls Architects & Building Designers · Provo Architects & Building Designers · Longview Architects & Building Designers
hurlee
16 years ago
oh my I LOVE the blue! what an eye you have!
susie_gardener_2007
16 years ago
Beautiful! Wish mine looked that good.

Susie
ghoghunter
16 years ago
Your bed is stunning!!! I LOVE it..how can it change like that is just amazing!
Joann
newyorkrita
16 years ago
It was so pretty in both color phases. I wouldn't change it but to each his own.
midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
16 years ago
Wow!!

Nancy.
roper2008
16 years ago
That's beautiful. Love it. Don't forget to post your new changes
this year.

Linda
organic_kitten
16 years ago
That blue bed is just beautiful! The pink one is lovely too, and the color change is genius.
kay
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
OMG,I love them both,Good job and color combos.
Kathi
prairiegirlz5
16 years ago
Please tell me what the name of the pink phlox is, and the blue irises. Love both looks, very stunning. What changes do you have in mind?
party_music50
Original Author
16 years ago
Wow, thanks for all the nice replies! :) It sounds like the blues are definitely more popular.

As far as changes go, it's an island bed in the front yard so the plant height/texture and color arrangement is critical to make it look decent from spring to autumn. The smartest thing I ever did is stop trying to make it look good from the street! It's much more important for it to look good to me from the kitchen window. lol!

For me, gardening is all about change... move out things that don't do well, pair up better companions, rearrange plants with color clash or when the heights or bloom colors aren't what you expected, and so on. Some plants are being swallowed up at the moment: I REALLY need to thin the phlox and sib. iris (the photo doesn't show how large those really are!). There are many plants in the bed that you can't see from the two photos and one camera angle... This year I'm adding whites, yellows, and relocating plants with lavender flowers that should all bloom with the 'pink' phase -- I want that to be more "multi-color".

schoolhouse: the only time I caught someone with a camera, it turned out that they were trying to get a photo of me with my cat riding on my back! lol. She's gone now, but she used to love to ride on my back/shoulders while I weeded. :) However, many people stop to comment and ask about specific plants....

prairiegirl: my friend gave me the pink phlox years ago and I don't know the name. I do know that it's rare (very dark foliage) and the fragrance fills the yard. Everyone asks about it. The bearded iris is Rhein Nixe, and the other (all blue) is a siberian iris.

Thanks again for all the nice replies. It's nice to show someone who understands. :)
lisa33
16 years ago
The blues may be more popular, but I think the hot pink/orange combination is stunning! I love that you have such a nice sequence of bloom in that bed. That's something to which I aspire. It looks like you totally replanted and the colors are so season appropriate with the cooler blue earlier and the hot pink and orange in the heat of summer. It really takes time to get a feel for what really blooms when and how long they overlap with other blooms. Very, very nice!

Lisa
tammyinwv
16 years ago
I never really thought I would like a theme color bed, BUUUTT That is GORGEOUS!. I love the blue and white together. I know you named the Iris, but what are the other blues in there? I gotta do this one.
Tammy
tammyinwv
16 years ago
Just found this link, while looking for these bulbs. These look more purple on my computer. Yours look deep blue and white. Is it just the cameras?
Tammy
girlgroupgirl
16 years ago
both of them are just so gorgeous! I love orange coned coneflowers with orange flowers!
a2zmom_Z6_NJ
16 years ago
Both your combos are spectacular, although like everyone else, I'm partial to those blues. Just a great mix of form and color.
gottagarden
16 years ago
Great colors! I love the monocolor themes and you have such a great bunch of flowers to pull it off. Outstanding!
Oakley
16 years ago
If my husband saw the blue flowerbed, he'd insist I do the same next year! I've never seen blue Irises before. That's an Iris, right? The blue and white is stunning!