Hi all
I'm looking to pick your brains for suggestions :)
My work annual 'Away day' this year is a community project involving transforming a vast area of bare soil into something a little more pleasant to look at for an MS care home. We are going to seed most of it with grass, but are planning on putting in a few features too. I have managed to get myself involved in the planning side of it!
One of these features is some kind of focal point which will be seen through a floor to ceiling window at the end of a long corridor. Outside the window is a slope with a path along the top. I basically have 2 ideas at the moment, but I'm hoping that maybe some of you might be able to help me with some suggestions of specific plants.
Idea 1: Put in some kind of obelisk and have some climbers growing over it that would flower at different times of the year, and possibly try and plant something for winter interest around the bottom. I@m thinking Roses, clematis.
Idea 2: Plant a small specimen tree or shrub that will give interest for most of the year and some groundcover/bulbs underneath it.
Idea 3(just had this one whilst typing!): put some trellis up round the window and grow roses around it so that it frames the window from the outside, and then maybe find some kind of sculpture to put as a focal point.
Below are 2 photos just to give you an idea of the area from the inside and the outside (the window is towards the far end of the wall).
Any suggestions gratefully received :-)
SP x
Hi Sweet Pea
You could also put some bird feeders - there's nothing more interesting than to stand quietly and watch the wildlife - very therapeutic
Regards,
Joolieeee
That's a good idea, and would provide winter interest. I shall see what they think of that idea :-)
SP x
How about an arch around your statue too to be able to grow more climbers. I am just off out but will enjoy pondering on this, it sounds a lovely task. I think the bird feeders are a wonderful idea too. :)
It might be worth asking the residents what there fav flowers might be.
Visability down the corridor - i would look to put some prints on the wall and directly outside i would go for a water feature with planting behind it. And movable seating around it.
For the outside i would look at creating an outside useable space, you might need to look a using slabs on the floor for wheelchair access. I would use sensory plants herbs and roses. This combined with the sound of water will be very soothing and relaxing. I would add some confortable seating which can be moved to accomodate wheelchairs. You might want to add arbors which would provide shade from direct sunlight.
( might be worth speaking to local builders merchants, nurserys etc to see what you can get )
I would light up the area around the trees with some pruning ( speak to tree surgeons who might do this for you for free to help you out ). Look at planting some roses that will climb over the trees.
Speak to david austin who might help you out but i would suggest R. Filipes 'Kifesgate'
These can be planted and more or less left to ramble. I would also add bird homes and feeders which are viewable from the door/windows.
I would also look at putting a fruit/veg garden in one area. You could plant some apple trees. A strawberry bed. Compost bin. Potato planters. And some small raised beds with parsnips/carrots etc.
Its a shame that you cant put a covered patio area along the side of the home that they can use all year around.
But looks like an exciting project.
Best of look
Cambourne7
I do not know what your budget is, or who will be maintaining it. But here is my input. The area that is likely to be grassed would look better if you scrounged a large sack of crocus bulbs for a nice early show of colour. They are all over by the time the grass needs serious cutting. Don't be tempted by daffs as they always look scruffy when the flowering is over. A few nice berry shrubs would look good planted around.
The window area lends itself to an open wooden gazebo with climbers growing up and over, with a nice coral bark maple behind itor even a short rose arbour doing the same.
Some good suggestions so far....the area looks quite dark to me, so perhaps a sculpture surrounded by ferns may work? They look good all year round and require little maintenance. I like Ace's crocus idea too.
Wow, some fantastic suggestions ;D Thanks Ace for the comment about crocuses, we were thinking of planting some bulbs in the grassed area, but I have to admit I had been thinking along the lines of daffs, so glad you mentioned that. Also like all the suggestions for the end of the corridor.
I should probably have pointed out that it isn't a residential home as such, more like a 'hotel' where MS sufferers can come and stay to give their carers a rest, so there is always a change in the people staying there. Also we only have 1 day to do the work! so in that respect are a little limited in terms of time. I love the idea of a water feature, although I'm not sure whether it's something we could achieve in the time. We are still in the early stages of planning though. Also budget wise I think we have about a grand that we can spend but we are hoping to blag some stuff if possible :-)
Thanks again for the suggestions so far. I'm going to try and draw up a basic plan of the area tomorrow evening so I'll post it and here are a couple more photo's:
I agree about the crocus too, we have done that in our lawn because they can be cut so much sooner.
Looking at the seating they have it is all possibly in the sun, would one of those seats in an arbour be useful if it can be put together in a day as it would be more shady on a hot day and somewhere to grow more climbers.
I like the idea of the obelisks, and could you plan for lots of daffs/tulips in a border or in containers that can be swapped around?
Is there someone to maintain it all or should it be low maintenance?
Some shrubs that provide all year interest as a basis to a planted area with bulbs and herbaceous plants in front to add interest?
Can a pergola be put up in a day?
What about a raised scented garden so that people in wheelchairs can brush there hands over, say, herbs, lavender etc and feel and smell them.
Ooh, I love planning gardens... :)
Idea 1 - Might I suggest a winter flowering clematis, such as cirrhosa freckles, with an akebia for spring colour and scent, and something for the summer, preferably scented (possibly also clematis - there's a vast range!) with maybe a couple of self-seeding annuals, such as black-eyed Susan (thunbergia) or everlasting sweet peas thrown in for a riot of colour.
Idea 2 - Many people recommend Amelanchier lamarckii as a specimen for its all-year-round interest - a froth of white flowers appear early on bare branches, then pink-tinged spring foliage, followed by red berries in summer, turning glossy black, and glorious fiery leaf colour in Autumn.
Idea 3 - trellis - I guess I'd repeat the climbers from idea 1 for this, with the addition of two large pots or planters at the base of the trellis, each side of the window, for bulbs - mini-daffs, compact tulips, freesia, crocosmia - things with a bit of zing! - and again, what about some self seeding small annuals, such as Nemesia - there's a vanilla-scented one (which actually smells like the drinking chocolate powder you get in tins - mmm!) or maybe some aromatic herbs, like orange-scented thyme?
A lot of care staff know nothing about gardening and care less, so everything needs to be low maintenance. Is there a budget to pay garden staff?
They have at least one part time gardener, but I think it probably does need to be fairly low maintenance as I don't know how much time he has on his hands.
I'm so glad I've asked for suggestions as it's really helping give me ideas, I don't feel quite so daunted now :-)
SP x
Here's a rough plan of the site, the hatched area is the project area.
Oh, and I'll be off-line for the next week so won't be able to respond if any more suggestions are made :-)
SP x