inspiration at the Dorothy Harvie gardens at the Calgary zoo

Have you been to the perennial gardens at the zoo?  They are a great place to get both design and plant ideas as they are well landscaped, have a wide selection of hardy perennial plants, and almost all plants are labelled.  I was there in July and found myself paying close attention to the orange and blue-flowering plants as I am still looking for a few more plants to fill up my new front entry garden with a blue-green-orange-red colour scheme.  Here are my notes:

 
Above: When you're looking for orange, even these common orange daylilies suddenly look very attractive, especially when planted in gigantic drifts like this!  Paula, if you're reading this, your orange daylilies are doing just fine, although not quite this impressive since they were just transplanted this spring!

 

Above: Golden-orange helenium 'Mardi Gras' is the Calgary Horticultural Society's "Perennial of the Year" - so of course, I must get some and try it in my garden!

 

Above: Anchusa azurea (alkanet) 'Feltham Pride Strain' is in the borage family so of course, boasts true blue flowers and bees love it.  It is not the most elegant-looking plant but true blue flowers are hard to find so I think I might give this plant a shot.  I'll be looking for seeds next spring.

 

Above: Gentiana septemfida (summer gentian) is another plant with true blue flowers.  I actually have this plant already in my garden, but it was a gift and I wasn't sure what kind of gentian it was.  Thanks to the plant labels at the zoo, now I know!

 

Above: This groundcover mix of Anagallis monelli (pimpernel) 'Angie Blue' and 'Angie Orange' also caught my eye but they are annuals and too short to work in my garden.  But maybe I'll try them in pots - their colours are fantastic!

 

Above: And finally, this meadow-like planting of thyme punctuated with spikes of bearded iris was so gorgeous that I didn't care that it wasn't blue & orange.  If I had just one more area in my yard where I could make more garden space I'd be tempted to try this!! 

Alas, I do not have the space.  Do you?

 

 

Comments

[Paula]

I found that the old orange daylillies need about two seasons to come into their own - then they can get really big! They are cast iron, as well. I gave some to a neighbour who planted them along a side walk then had some serious yard work done. Though the lillies were trampled by man and machine they came back, no problem - definitely one of my favourites! And for anyone with a trouble spot, they seem to grow anywhere with very little maintenance.

I love the zoo gardens, too. They are a great place to be inspired.

[Calgary Garden Coach]

Thanks Paula, good info! I bet you can't wait to get those daylilies back!
Janice