Summer pots - June's article for yougardener
I was asked to create some vegetation arrangements for a bar-pastry shop that I am a loyal customer of, located in a small village in the Ligurian hinterland.
In view of the summer, and given the particular situation we are all familiar with, an area adjacent to the premises would be adapted to provide a few more seats.
The space in question is actually very beautiful and welcoming, and can be described as a farmyard, with houses partially surrounding it. Until last year, it was a place for walking, meeting, and taking a break within the village.
Despite being filled with tables and chairs, it felt rather scattered; there was also a need to mark a boundary, even if only visual, between the seating area and a portion obviously left for passage. The aim was to add a touch of color and character without creating visual barriers of any kind.
So I decided to create a few groups of pots, made of resin—which is durable yet lightweight—in pastel colors. In the sketch, for example, you can see a combination of orange, light blue, and taupe, in harmony with the colorful and fresh character of the room.
When studying the solution, I certainly couldn't ignore the fact that the plants I would choose would not receive the attention they deserved: we all know that in a restaurant in high season, there are always other priorities!
I was also looking for a strong and cheerful color contrast, including through the vegetation. My choice therefore fell on grasses and perennials that would bloom in midsummer, that were hardy and could tolerate even the inevitable forgetfulness when it came to watering.
Blue-yellow
The large ribbon-like leaves of Agapanthus africanus 'Blue', up to 50 cm long, with their intense green color, would have ensured an elegant mass of vegetation, even before the long, fleshy stems had blossomed into beautiful pseudo-umbellate inflorescences, composed of small blue funnel-shaped flowers.
Agapanthus is a truly beautiful rhizomatous perennial that can be used extensively to create striking borders in the ground or in pots. It thrives in full sun and partial shade and tolerates drought well (less so when grown in containers). In winter, it is advisable to protect it because it is sensitive to frost.
The task of contrasting and emphasizing the blue of the agapanthus falls to Rudbeckia Fulgida, a summer-flowering perennial (from mid-summer to fall) with large daisy-like flowers in an unmistakable golden yellow color with a dark center. Here too, the flowers are carried on rather long stems, and the petals face downward. Rudbeckia will lose all its foliage during the cold season and will return to vegetate the following spring. Even in this case, its water requirements are significantly lower than those of many annuals and perennials.
Finally, Stipa tenuissima, with its soft, feathery texture, delicate green leaves, and cream-colored inflorescences, is a beautiful evergreen grass that can add elegance and refinement when paired appropriately.
