The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

What's your point of view?

AndrewR

By AndrewR

14 comments


I recently posted a photo of a flower in the main border in my back garden, geum ‘Herterton Primose’

But when we look at our gardens, we don’t see plants in isolation but as part of the bigger picture. So how does it fit in? Here’s the border, taken from the front

If we go to the other end and look back towards the house, you get this view

But that doesn’t tell the main story because this part of the garden is usually seen from the house. It’s on the left beyond the pond

So if we look from this angle, we get another different picture

Groups of plants make ever-changing combinations as they come into flower or ‘go over’, but where you stand to look at them can be just as important as anything else when you are planning your display

More blog posts by AndrewR

Previous post: Some like it pink

Next post: Bracknell prairie - April to June



Comments

 

that is a lovely view point from all different angles. I hope the pond picture was taken months ago what with all that snow ;o)

it is a lovely flower such a soft yellow.

5 May, 2019

 

I totally agree Andrew, in fact I enjoy seeing my garden from a distance (less weeds to see, joke), it gives a different perspective and more interesting viewing the different shapes.

5 May, 2019

 

Sbg - yes, it was taken in late January (although it feels like January out there this weekend)

5 May, 2019

 

I agree Andrew. At this time of year I like to walk up the incline of my woodland garden. I prefer the view leading up to the light. My main border looks best looking towards the bushes and trees round the old brick wall and my front garden looks best looking towards the gates or the fir trees.

5 May, 2019

 

Its interesting to see it from various angles. Being a very bad planner I tend to look at particular plants rather than the big view a lot of the time, but this early Spring when everything flowered at once I got the long view as well.

You seem to be able to manage both!

5 May, 2019

 

Stera - this was the border I replanted last year, ready for our Open Garden in August. So it's much easier to plan it all out on paper first before putting the plants in. I've learned that in a big space, you need to repeat plants to improve the cohesion so there are five of that yellow geum along the border, plus another three 'Totally Tangerine' behind them. Later on there are five different heleniums, but the similar leaves and flower shapes help to hold it together (I hope)

5 May, 2019

 

It's the sort of plant better appreciated up close and the closer I look the better I like it. Other plants look much better from afar - my ugly imperfect roses for example.

5 May, 2019

 

BG - from a distance, the geum only shows as a mass of pink stems with the odd flash of yellow

6 May, 2019

 

I know you are right about having several of the same plant, but its so hard when you could have more different ones...

6 May, 2019

 

I know, it's taken me more than thirty years in this garden to learn the lesson

6 May, 2019

 

I always want to see everything from the kitchen window which I can mostly at the moment really 😀

7 Jul, 2019

 

I have a back border I created strictly from spare plants. Whenever I divided a day lily or hosta, or anything else, the divisions went in the back border because I had no place else to plant them and I didn't want to throw out good healthy plants. That hodgepodge of plants I created turned out to be the most dynamic, color changing and interesting area of the whole garden. Every plant found it's place and compliments the whole collection.

8 Jul, 2019

 

I wish I could use just a few plants in our borders, but I find it difficult to not buy another plant, which I have fallen for.....if we had a large garden, it would have drifts of the same plant, it's such an effective way of planting, your garden is looking good, we have far too many tall plants!!!!

16 Aug, 2019

 

I give up on groups of similar plants but do try to arrange the colours.My newest border has been mostly bright pink (largely self sown antirrhinums)with white blue and lemon highlights but however much I try to visualise final results something always needs moving - and doesn't always get it so the muddle goes on... but its been bright and cheerful all year up to now so why worry... There will be precious little to look at in winter though unless I get an inspiration.

16 Aug, 2019

Add a comment

Recent posts by AndrewR

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    12 Feb, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 Oct, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    1 Oct, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    21 Nov, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    22 Oct, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    26 Feb, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    31 Mar, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    27 Sep, 2008