Last year I created a mixed display of mainly succulents in pots on the top patio. I really liked the effect that was achieved and had so much fun preparing the display. Inspired by that I decided to do something similar again. This time bigger, better, more colourful, more vibrant, and more dramatic.
I love it! I'm in love with it!! And I really, really enjoyed making the display and looking at it!
Bright colours are my thing, not so much from the plants (especially as we're both mainly foliage gardeners) but it's something I can achieve with pots.
Before starting the display earlier in the year I wanted to tone down the 'whimsical touches' of last years display, and just rely mainly on the colourful mix of pots and their succulent plantings for dramatic effect. But as I prepared the display with much less of the "garden tat" I thought it was not that fun. I even missed the presence of some of them especially the elephant pots. So they came back out again and have also kept the flying fish on the tree, even adding a cage of elephants to that lot.
Glazed pottery and earthenware are something I'm obviously in to especially ones that are bright, with interesting patterns, shapes, and texture. Even earthenware that are meant to be for the kitchen I've used as garden accessories where appropriate.
Remember the raised bed with palms that we were doing a couple of months ago? Here it is now with the brickwork and raised bed itself painted white. Blue sandstone was also used for edging and green slate for mulch to tie it in with the raised beds on our koi pond area. This bed ties the top patio in with the koi pond area.
Project for next year however is the paving. We're thinking of using small blue sandstone blocks in a herringbone pattern.
Let's take a closer look at some of the plants on display (and pots of course)...
And the view of the top patio as you approach it from the two main arms of the garden...
Having fun, that's what it's all about!
