We have created a rainbow display of small shrubs, grasses and perennials in a range of foliage and flower colours as a symbol of hope for all those affected by coronavirus.
Initial planting design plan of the rainbow by Helen Taylor Garden Design.
We were delighted when our customer Helen Taylor Garden Design approached us with the idea after we were targeted by vandals last week, leaving us with serious damage to our plant productions beds.
We have had to bear these losses on top of the very grave situation the horticultural industry finds itself in now that gardens centres have been closed due to the coronavirus restrictions on non-essential retail.
Eleanor Richardson, Johnson’s of Whixley and garden designer Helen Taylor putting the final touches to the planted rainbow at Johnson’s Wholesale Cash and Carry.
All suppliers for ornamental horticulture are likely to encounter huge financial losses as they have no outlet for their plants. The HTA Horticultural Trade Association believe that millions of plants could be binned in the coming weeks.
Because of this Johnsons have teamed up with Hedges Direct to create a garden rescue pack pallet of plants to those who are self-isolating and want to get out in the garden. Read more here
Group Managing Director, Graham Richardson said: “We welcomed Helen’s idea to put out a symbol of hope, particularly to our own horticultural industry and as an opportunity to do something positive. In these testing times we hope it will lift our staff and trade customers spirits as they see the large rainbow display with its promise of sunshine after the storm.
A rainbow of hope from above taken by a drone camera.
Garden Designer, Helen Taylor, said: “I’d been noticing all the lovely rainbow pictures drawn by children in windows and I realised I could design and create a rainbow made from plants which would be a living piece of art. I use Johnson’s of Whixley for sourcing tree, shrubs, perennials for gardens we design and wanted to help the nursery in their current difficulties and to send a symbol of hope to out to everyone.
The rainbow has been made of a series of arcs of contrasting plants to represent the colours of the rainbow:
Reds: Photinia ‘Carre Rouge’, Berberis thunbergii’ Harlequin’ and Photinia ‘Little Red Robin’.
Oranges: Physocarpus’ Amber Queen’, Berberis thunbergii ‘Admiration’, Carex comans ‘Bronze Form’, Spiraea japonica ‘Firelight’.
Yellows: Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmount’ and Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald and Gold’.
Greens: Hemerocallis Stella d’Or.
Blues: Hebe Blue Star’, Lavandula in variety and Festuca ‘Elijah Blue’.
Indigo: Anemone ‘ Harmony Blue’.
Violet: Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shade’.
Garden Designer Helen Taylor with the rainbow.
Posted 3rd Apr 11:04am
