Seaside shingle garden

Amazing ! Could we have a list of the plants used for
others with this problem ?

Sounds very interesting. I live fairly near the late Derek Jarmans Dungeness shingle garden and its amazing what can be created in spite of salt air and strong winds or, perhaps, because of it.

When I can work out the tech I'll post some photos.
Thrift, verbena bonariensis, blue grass, creeping thyme, dwarf geraniums, iris, hollyhocks, armeria, digitalis, spring bulbs, nerines, crocosmia.....

Sounds lovely, hopefully we will get a picture.

The next shingle garden project is a larger area. It was a concrete base which had an old corrugated iron garage on it with a leaky asbestos roof. Well, that's all been cleared away - at great expense - and we've just had a chap to drill up the concrete. There are loads of chunks of it left, with sandy soil underneath, assuring the sharp drainage we need. We're going to cover it with a couple of inches of 3/4" shingle, and then I'll be ready to plant. It's in full sun so there are many plants to choose from.
With the front garden I had to water whilst the plants got established but I haven't needed to this year at all, - and that's the general idea with the garage plot too, a la Beth Chatto etc.
I've had landscapers say "Are you going to have a lawn?" Well, no I'm not. That's the last thing I need to worry about. This cottage is supposed to be a joy and a refuge not a burden!

Sounds just the job! How about some yellow sea poppies? I remember seeing them in the shingle near Bognor.
Looking forward to some pictures.

Sounds fascinating. I can’t think of another seaside shingle garden on GoY. I really look forward to the photos! Are you anywhere near Heacham/Snettisham?

Ah, Steragram, yellow horned poppies are 'weeds' round here. I'm in 2 minds about them because they're so invasive. Yes, I know they're native, and that's good, - but I prefer the yellow Welsh poppies and the bright Californian ones. Cottage Karen - no, I'm on the East coast, - lots of icy cold winds from Siberia, and not enough rain. You have the opposite problem I guess!

No pb. I am in Angus, near the coast and have the same issues as you believe it or not! But my family are originally (pre victorians) from Heacham, so thats why I asked you if you were near there. :) I’ve never been to Norfolk...always wanted to go there...must be in my genes!

Welcome to Grows on you !
Your garden sounds interesting, and different. I wish you success with your new project and hope you keep us up to date with how it's progressing.

Oh - old garage with leaky asbestos roof ... been there lol

No lawns ... I like that. I haven't got any either. They're a lot of work and I find them boring. Plants are more interesting :) and you can probably grow things that would not survive in other places ....

How nice it is to have passers by stop to comment on your garden. It must spur you on .... I enjoy it when that happens here too. Some walk past like zombies but others will stop and talk about the garden etc. It's very human.

I'd no idea sea poppies grew like weeds anywhere - we were thrilled to see the few we found! Its Valerian that grows well round here. Keep us posted on your new gardens.

Anyone with a brickwork surround would do well to copy
the Shingle Garden idea.

Welcome to Goy, your garden does sound very interesting , I like the sound of a shingle garden, hope you work out how to put some photo's on as I'd like to see some...

Ah yes, Steragram, there's a lot of red valerian here too and my hubby likes it, -but it's so invasive. He's cross with me 'cos I pathcleared a big one that was coming up....

Hi Pb, Unless you are an avid weeder, wherever there is valerian there will always be some coming up, so your husband can relax! And if you plant 'dots' of things that spread, you will soon have swathes, as I'm sure you are aware! The whole project sounds wonderful and it sounds as though you are thoroughly enjoying the making of the garden and I hope it's a great success! Maybe we'll be treated to some photos later on?