Have you ever contemplated a golden garden?
Many people have tried to imitate the world-renowned White Garden, designed and gardened by Vita Sackville-West at Sissinghurst in Kent, England, a fine collection of truly wonderful, complementary plant material, based on a collection of white and silver, especially valuable for night time viewing. Contemplate filling your garden with brilliant yellows to create a truly golden garden. A golden oasis full of sunshine and brilliance, lighting up an area with endless reflected colour. AHHHHHHH, my kind of fantasy.
Carefully consider some of the new introductions of hardy plants this year and I know you will find this a most fulfilling experience. There are so many to choose from that I recommend that you ask for some advice from the Certified Gardening Professional at your local garden centre.
Here, I am going to concentrate on the main bones of the garden, the trees and shrubs. As well as creating a base to build on, these plants play their role in beautifying and enriching our lives with their cheerful golden radiance.
Forsythia 'Gold Tide'
This forsythia makes a wonderful ground cover. Unlike the regular upright variety this prostrate cultivar grows to a height of only 2ft. It is well branched and blooms heavily, covering the ground with a shower of golden blossom. 'Gold Tide' would be an ideal candidate for covering a steep bank. This harbinger of spring will make its home in full sun to part shade and is hardy to Zone 6.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Fernspray Gold' (Fernspray Gold Cypress)
This slow-growing evergreen will ultimately reach a height of 3-4ft. Upright and open in habit 'Fernspray Gold' reveals bright yellow foliage with a shape reminiscent of the fronds of a fern. If left unpruned its character will become rather open with an indefinite spread. Plant this one is sun/part shade. Hardy to Zone 5.
Ginkgo biloba 'Pendula' (Weeping Ginkgo Standard)
This unique specimen displays the characteristic fan-shaped leaves of the Ginkgo in a weeping, standard form, growing to a height of only 6ft. with an 8ft. spread. This beautiful, pendulous version of the ever-popular Gingko is definitely one to make a definite statement when planted in beds and borders, especially in the fall when it matures into a most spectacular golden umbrella. Tolerant of most soils 'Pendula' is hardy to Zone 3.
Spirea 'Golden Carpet'
Imagine vivid golden yellow foliage throughout the season, peaking in spring and again in fall, covered in clusters of fragrant pink flowers throughout the summer, excellent for edging a border. This amazing golden Spirea grows to the mere height of 8in. with a spread of 14in. Simply ideal for edging the border in a sunny/part shade location. This plant is hardy to Zone 3.
Larix decidua 'Varied Directions' (Varied Directions Larch)
The larch is one of the few deciduous conifers, offering a fresh and lively display of new growth each spring. It thrives in moist, wet soil and prefers a full sun/part sun location. 'Varied Directions' does just that, propelling the branches up and out vigorously from a vigorous, spreading plant. The branches eventually arch down to cover the ground. This variety is made distinct by its thicker twigs, golden tan branches and spreading habit. A beauty to behold displaying fresh green foliage in spring and golden in the autumn making it quite distinct from the weeping European larch. Hardy to Zone 5.
Magnolia 'Elizabeth'
Who can resist such a magnolia, especially when it produces fragrant primrose yellow blooms, fading to cream at maturity. A neat pyramidal, vigorous grower, displaying gorgeous blossoms during April and May. This tree is not to tuck away, lost in some corner, it grows to a height of 30-40ft. and requires planting in full sun. Be the first amongst your friends to welcome this unusual plant to your garden, perhaps the crowning glory of the Golden Garden. Hardy to Zone
