What is your favourite plant in your garden ?

[NomDePlume]

Yes, it's another NDP gardening thread... I moved house a few months ago and inherited a completely blank canvas, literally nothing but grass. We've had a landscaper in to do the groundworks - shaping the lawn and creating beds, also adding a nice big barked play space at the end of the garden where the big trampoline will go when it arrives. I now have the bare bones of a garden, but not one single plant aside from grass (is grass a plant ?! I guess it must be).

I'm keen but clueless when it comes to gardening and the thought of designing a planting scheme from scratch is pretty overwhelming, so I'm after a bit of inspiration.

So, what is your favourite plant ?

lilac.. mmm the scent is wonderful.

Can I propagate (sp) them ok without a greenhouse though, QV ?

I'm in Worcestershire, so a good 130 miles from you.

ds1 sunflower as it the only thing thats survived my greenfingers this year

I had a lovely lilac in my old garden, it did very well and was utterly gorgeous (although still pretty young when I moved)

i have a couple of favourite plants which is amazing given that i havent got green fingers at all.

1. water lillies in the pond
2. 2 climbing roses, creating an archway
3. a white rose my sister gave me for my birthday

for my 'new' garden, i want some peoine (?) plants, roses, magnolia tree, lavenadar....

lol bananaloaf . My mum grew DD a sunflower in her garden in Wales and recently potted it up and brought it with her on a visit. DD was beside herself ! It looked a bit poorly initially but it has perked up now and has grown twice as tall and we've only had it for 4 weeks .

If you're happy with the patio position and shape, then work with it to inspire the rest of the design / layout / division of space.

Depending on how fond you are of your shed, you might want to create some kind of hedging to isolate the play area so the kids can have a special place IYSWIM. You can still design this so that you have glimpses / full visibility depending on the choice of hedging, plant height and spacing etc. Possibly some bamboo would appeal (modern / geometric house) and hide the shed nicely, whilst creating an evergreen 'wall' which can rustle / be touched / ran through etc. etc.

Potted topiary is very classic and smart, in the right place. Box / Bay 3ft standards, or groups of balls are excellent. A standard holly (ies) will be expensive, but is fab, especially if Xmas time is special for you.

Again, a magnolia can create that 'just right' touch for a modern home IYSWIM. It can be very stately, particularly if you can stop the leaves going yuck.

Silver birch might also achieve that look of distinction which might appeal.

This book is worth the money. hth. Oh, and start visiting gardens in the National Gardens Scheme !

Some seeds can be propogated outside happily, some need propogating on a windowsill so if you have a light (but not in direct sunlight) window sill or two, then you can start them off there, then move them outside to a sheltered corner (or coldframe if you have - doest matter if you dont) when the weather warms up, plant them on.

I'll CAT you later, let you know what seeds I have if you are interested?

LOVE my honeysuckle!

After reading this I want to go to the garden centre and spend spend spend. Haven't done that since having kids! Expensive little buggers.

Love my conifer, it always looks good and doesn't take much looking after.

lots
miscanthus grass
the various stipa s i have

the dierama
my cimcifuga - although not great this year, bit stunted in height

and the rose my mum gave me from david austen in my name!

Oh yes. Agreed. Some of the grasses might well look grand.

Ceanothus Malory.

pampas grass

I adore bamboo(as i said on another thread) but I'm a little concerned about them spreading. The idea of using them as a living screen between the beds and the shed is a good one.

My garden is very sunny indeed with a tiny bit of dappled shade along the left hand side.

NDP -you can grow bamboo in huge pots if you're worried about it spreading. We've got one in a pot thats over 7ft tall. I think its lovely and adds that all important height

That's a good idea, Betty. I suppose I could always buy cheapo pots and plant the bamboo, pots and all, into the beds...

We've done that with mint in our herb garden (planted pot in the ground) as it spreads like wildflower otherwise -seems to work

bamboo will take a long time to spread. and then you can lift the new plants and sell them for 40 quid, as they are so expensive to buy in the 1st place.

I've got a gorgeous evening primrose sitting in the middle of my veg patch (by accident), I love it!