Mixed border (1974)

The mixed border from 1974 was developed after the second extension of the gardens had taken place and served as a boundary to the garden on the north side. The border, which faces south, is approximately 20 metres long and 4 metres wide. The basis for this border is a combination of shrubs, roses and perennials. A brown beech hedge serves as a background to the garden.

 

Design and planting

The border is an experiment in combining  shrubs, roses and perennials. The idea was to give structure to the border by using the shrubs  and to lengthen  flowering time. Mien Ruys chose shrubs with a particular leaf and long flowering roses. The upkeep of this border is not simple; the shrubs need pruning regularly in order  to give the perennials enough light and space.  The leaf colour is predominantly red brown and silver grey, with the brown hedge in the background. The colours of the flowers are pink, crimson, lilac, purple, blue, grey and white. Both the grey leaf and the light pastel tints of the flowers contrast beautifully with the dark beech hedge. Dark colours would not show up with this background.  The difference in atmosphere and effect  between this border and the old borders in bright colours was noticeable. In the period following this, the use of pastel tints in borders became more fashionable.

History

This border is one of the few parts of this garden section that has almost remained the same since it was developed.  In 1974 there was a very different view of the garden; the nursery beds of Moerheim nursery lay behind the beech hedge,  leaving an open view of the sky above the hedge. When houses were built on the former nursery in 1992, a row of trees was planted to hide the view of the houses. Nowadays these trees form a high wall, putting the hedge and border under it in a different perspective.