ideas for garden designers

[greenfinger]

The last 11 days I walked through the Swiss Alps near the village of Leysin. In the beginning of the 20th century this was a medical treatment center for tuberculosis. Now it is a touristic center with breathtaking views and a source of inspiration for the creator of natural borders and rock gardens.
I've seen a multitude of plant combinations a capable garden designer couldn't have done better. A combination of colours going together with contrast of leaves and flower forms. It's as if nature follows the principles of good garden design
I included in this message a few illustrations to show what I mean.
The next days I will post a series of pictures I know from name, but also some I don't know yet. Perhaps the Horticultural Ideas Genie Society (HIGS)  can elevate my botanical level.

I've just found out that when you use the looking glass and move then over the pictures the details are good. I learn every day!

http://picasaweb.google.nl/andre.degeest/ZwitserlandJuni200902?authkey=Gv1sRgCPaPvse0w--7Zw&feat=directlink

[ideasguy]

Hello André
Its really good to hear from you again 
I missed you visiting and sent a couple of emails. Now I know why there was no reply!

I hope you enjoyed your holiday. It sounds like you did, and thanks for posting those photos.
More to follow? Great 

The HIGS eh?
Now thats rich!
Since you are talking Alpine plants, I expect Eric (palustris) will be appointed as project leader (Wizz) in this exercise!
We will assist as best we can 

[greenfinger]

Yes, creators of perennial borders and rock gardens can learn a lot in this landscape.
I found combinations with Geranium sanguineum, G. phaeum, G. robertianum, Digitalis grandiflora, Centaurea, Scabiosa, Lamium galeobdolon, Campanulas, Aquilegia atrata.

I'm not completely sure about the names of the following plants:

http://picasaweb.google.nl/andre.degeest/ZwitserlandJuni20092?authkey=Gv1sRgCJPU-pDZ2siGjQE&feat=directlink

[ideasguy]

Were all those plants growing in the wild André?

Hopefully someone will be able to help with the ID.

[greenfinger]

Yep, dear George, roaring wild they were
I have some ideas about the identity of the following plants, but are my guesses right??

http://picasaweb.google.nl/andre.degeest/ZwitserlandJuni20093?authkey=Gv1sRgCPD3-9Oq3M-auQE&feat=directlink

[ideasguy]

Good research work there André

This site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7208148@N02/2428079695/
and this one
http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/P/Paradisia%20liliastrum.htm
certainly look like your Paradisia liliastrum

This site
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-taxon=Polygala+chamaebuxus
looks like your Polygala chamaebuxus
Its a very unusual little flower, isnt it!

Co-incidence? Heres a greenfinger site for you!
https://www.greenfingers.com/gardenbase/plant/view.asp?id=59905

Wonder if any of our members know those plants?

[greenfinger]

>>Wonder if any of our members know those plants?<<

Those plants are not exactly inhabitants of our regions. I found them at an altitude of plusminus 2000 meters in the Swiss Alps.
But it's always a good exercise to learn to identify plants we don't find in our direct environment by studying the colour of the flower, form of the leaves, flowering period, height of the plant. It's worth the effort and may give satisfaction.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

>>Wonder if any of our members know those plants?<<

I had never seen them before, but have never been to the Swiss Alps.
My sister has just come back from 2 weeks in Grindlewald and she hasn't seen them either, though they do quite a lot of walking, may be not above 2000mtrs.

Malcolm