What to Plant?

[cora]

At work we've had two big raised beds built with a bench in between - as well as two hanging baskets.

It's only been in the last year or two that I've discovered the loveliness of gardening, so I'm not that experienced!

The beds are about 3ft x 3ft - we want to grow veg in the back half of both - but at the front half we want it to be really colourful, with lots of trailing plants.

I love lobelia - but my boss said that it wouldn't grow...I don't know why, he said the soil might not be right - we've filled the boxes with a half and half mix of soil and compost (I couldn't say what the soil is!!)

What would you suggest I buy?? For lots of long lasting colour???

[MightyMouth]

If not lobelia....why not aubretia? Quite PH tolerant and most importantly, you don't have to plant it every year!

I suppose it all depends on what you want. What colours? Do you want annuals and are willing to plant every year or are you like me, perennials so you don't have to bother? I love blues so for me, Aubretia, Campanula, Gentiana etc

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=aubretia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=xIjmS-GMPIn40wT28bDWBg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQsAQwAw

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=gentiana&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=rInmS6K9OI-i0gTHkfnIBg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDwQsAQwAw

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=campanula&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

For early spring Chionodoxa

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=chionodoxa&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=BormS-rsFIj80wSR5O3GBg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDUQsAQwAw

Do you want a riot of colour or something calming whilst you sit? Do you want smelly ones? In which case some evening scented stock..

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=scented+stock&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g-m1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[cora]

I just love those blues MM - definately going to go for all/if not some of them!! I may go a little over the top (as I always do in everything!!) but it's to make it all inviting - so people can see we're a welcoming sort of bunch!!! (most of the time...after coffee...and biscuits!!) ;)

Now I know what perennials are, I shall look for them - as, the boxes will be there long after I've left, so would like it to be easy for whoever takes over...