The flower box at the front of my house: Coleus 'Dark Heart', Begonia 'Summerwings Deep Red', Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea', Begonia luxurians, Begonia 'Marmaduke' and Begonia repens.
The pot/planter combination at my office: Coleus 'Dark Heart', Senecio petasitis, Begonia 'Summerwings Deep Red', Begonia repens, Pteris cretica 'Albo-lineata' and Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea',
Lovely displays which I may try to emulate next year.
ReplyDeleteI just returned from the Perennial Plant Conference at Swarthmore College. Paul Zammit, the Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Garden, spoke on Container Gardening. And I got to see endless examples of innovative pots and planters at Swarthmore's campus and at Chanticleer, in Wayne, PA. I, too, have some great new ideas to emulate myself.
ReplyDeleteHow did the Begonia 'Summerwings Deep Red' perform for you? I design planters and hanging baskets for a municipality and those we are planning to use this summer.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul, Begonia 'Summerwings Deep Red' worked really well for me. I found it very amenable in the flower boxes on the northeastern side of my house (Zone 5a) which gets morning sun and afternoon shade. It hangs very gracefully and wasn't overly fussy about being watered, although I tend to be diligent about watering. Where are you going to grow it? I'd love to here more about what you are doing in public plantings.
DeleteThanks for the quick response Michael! This will go in mixed planters and hanging baskets on the main streets of the three towns. They will be part of our red, white, black, and gold planting scheme for this season. I am a bit apprehensive about these in the full sun locations, but these plantings will also have red in the form of Supertunia 'Black Cherry'. We are located in rural southwestern Ontario, but similar growing zone to yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul, I looked it up because full sun makes me nervous too. It is supposed to tolerate full sun but I have never used it in afternoon sun. Another option might be Cuphea llavea 'Bat Face'. It is a nice red all season and definitely handles full sun and even some drought. A lovely draper, that Lynden Miller uses a lot in her NYC public plantings is Coleus 'Compact Red'. It has red foliage with a subtle chartreuse edge. She taught me that those two foliage colors go with anything, and they do!! The coleus can take full sun but must be watered regularly. Send me pictures this summer: mbgod@hotmail.com. Good luck. I am a big believer in the importance of high level public plantings. Thanks for trying so hard.
DeleteJust an update for you Michael - I have worked for nearly two decades in landscaping, but am reasonably new to public gardening. Thus, I was unfamiliar with your reference to Lynden Miller. However, I did some searching and decided that it would be well worth my time to read her book 'Parks, Plants, and People' which just arrived today! It should provide some new inspiration. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteThat is great that you are getting involved with public spaces. Lynden's book should come in handy. She taught me much I what I have learned. Feel free to contact me if I can be of any help. Best of luck and thank you!
Michael