seaside themed planter

[SarfEasticated]

Hi ladies,
I have a bag of seashells that I would like to use in a seaside themed planter. Can you give me some plant suggestions? Planter hasn't been bought yet, so any size, and it will be in full sun on our deck. I'm thinking Whitstable meets Dungeness, rather than anything flash, but planter will be in London so no sea air. Any ideas?
I use to go the BBC website for plant info but it seems to closed down - what sited do you use for inspiration and advice?
Thanks in advance :)

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Whitstable meets Dungeness, eh?

In that case, how about (space permitting) crambe cordifolia? Eryngium? I believe Derek Jarman got into trouble with the nature conservation bods for using non-native plants, but I guess you're just aiming for the general style and look? Anyway, the best gardening site is the Royal Hortocultural Society. There are some useful ideas here - most coastal plants are very tough and should be able to withstand sarf London. One think to beware if I'd that the shells (if you use them as mulch) will make the compost quite chalky and so acid-loving plants won't be happy.

[Viperidae]

I live at the seaside and, if my garden is anything to go by, you should just put in a few silvery, spiky things and cover everything with fecking sand

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

A bit of driftwood or a rusty iron article or two would also add to the Prospect Cottage ambience.

[HeathRobinson]

Fun planters!

[SarfEasticated]

Well thank you so much! I have had a slight change of theme now... The plan is to buy young daughter (5 yrs) playhouse, place on our deck and paint like a beachhut. next to 'beachhut' a small raised bed 'garden' with childfriendly plants strewn with shells and beachcombed stuff we seem collect when we go to the seaside. Plants maybe like thrift, some red poppies. What do you think? Young Rugosa is pretty good at deadheading, so they'll need to be pretty bombproof

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

That sounds fabulous! I want to paint my shed like a beach hut.

Thrift is good, poppies too. Maybe you could add something like nigella or nasturtiums which your daughter could grow from seed? They're pretty bombproof.

[UnrequitedSkink]

Some grasses maybe?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Oh and if you find a large bit of driftwood/ artfully rusted metalwork, you could grow a clenatis or honeysuckle up it.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Unrequitedskink - Oh yes. Festival glauca would be great, as it's blue.

[Grockle]

I live by the seaside and was going to paint my shed like a beach hut but went for a toned down version. I love it.

We have lots of heather & gorse growing along the clifftop as well as pink daisies - sort of osteospermum things? Other things like sea lavender and sea purslane might need more salty water. And palm trees. Lots of palms.

[FreelanceMama]

grasses are lovely for giving some motion like waves, you could try a few edibles too if your daughter is a bit hands-on, e.g. Chives and as someone said, nasturtiums. A child's windmill is quite nice to add too.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

I won't actually paint my shed like a beach hut - it's just a daydream - but I think I'll go for a slightly two-tone effect with contrasting window frames, etc.

[Grockle]

That's what I did, maud - Cuprinol Shades. I went for a greeny one (I think it is thyme or willow) and cream. It looks lovely & everyone comments. I now need to do the chicken house but can't decide if I should do it the same colour or just dark green like the fence behind it.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

That sounds lovely, Grockle. I'm thinking silvery grey for mine.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

That does sound lovely, Grockle. I'm thinking silvery grey for mine.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

::smacks forehead on desk::

[Grockle]

You only need to do it once maud

Silvery grey sounds lovely. You could get some glitter spray paint to Make it sparkly as well.

Disclaimer: I have just discovered glitter spray paint so everything that stands still long enough is now sparkly chez Grockle. I am quite sure that DP will be delighted when he returns on Friday.

I also have a can of glow in the dark spray paint...

[SarfEasticated]

Where did that B&q ad come from?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Weird double-postings from this phone - first post seems to vanish, so I post again and then lo and behold, both appear. Gah.

I think I might forego the glittery paint, but it is tempting. DD is watching Gnomeo and Juliet and it's making me want to adorn my garden with gnomes too.

::tasteful::

[Grockle]

We have gnomes--

[SarfEasticated]

My plagerie will be a gnome free zone. It will be whimsical yet tasteful. Rather like Grandpa in my pocket meets vita sackville west white garden.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Whimsical yet tasteful is exactly what I aim for even with the judicious addition of a few gnomes.

[Grockle]

And me. But with burnt patches from the dog weeing on the lawn, footballs and assorted toys strewn everywhere and little piles of weeds/ branches I have pulled down but not yet dealt with, it looks rather more like the local dump.

Perhaps I need more gnomes

[SarfEasticated]

Could you maybe call it a toy mulch?

[Grockle]

That sounds a little more sophisticated