WEST HILL BLOG No. 116 The Transformation of the Sensory Garden

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Its taken three and half years to transform the Sensory Garden into a space that provides plants that can be enjoyed by all the senses. Before I talk about the design, here are some before & afters ...
2017

2018

2019

2020
Echninace looking cheerful
Crocosmia & Stipa arundinaria

The huge challenge I had with the left hand side of the path were the perennial weeds, which were almost impossible to control. So to make the maintenance easier, I have sown a lawn on the left hand side of the path & have punctuated it with a number of carefully selected plants which will provide sensory interest through out the year. 

Sensory Plants

 - Autumn fruiting Raspberries
 - Buddleja Harlequin; variegated foliage, scented purple flowers; late summer     
 - Buddleja x weyeriana; orange/yellow fragrant flowers; late summer
 - Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple; purple leaves & cloud like flowers; late summer 
 - Heptacodium miconoides; fragrant white flowers in late summer; late summer
 - Mentha x piperita 'Citrata' Grapefruit Mint
 - Origanum; scented golden foliage
 - Salvia Amistrad; Blue flowers; mid to late summer
 - Syringa Amethest; fragrant bluish flowers; spring 
 - Viburnum bodnatense Dawn; fragrant pink flowers; spring 

Other shrubs in adjoining borders include a Golden Sambucusm a very fragrant Philadelphus & a Rugosa Rose taken from cuttings taken by Ruairi Corr.
As attractive as it is now I am now thinking how to make the space on the left hand side of the path more colourful. This will be the plan for next year

We have now started a new project to build an arbor over the seat.
When finished it will be covered with scented Clematis & Honeysuckle
Don & Mike erecting the first post
Four posts in















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