Guerrilla gardening at the local War Memorial, SE9

[russbowes]

The planters on our local War Memorial (Eltham, SE9) were looking desperately sorry for themselves in the early autumn this year, having been all but abandoned by the local branch of the British Legion because of problems with vandalism (I shudder to think that there are people who would pull plants up from a War Memorial.   So I decided to take matters into my own hands and - touch wood - no problems so far.....
http://www.capabilitybowes.com/page7.htm
Being a freelance garden historian, I decided to make all the planting relevant to the memorial and based my ideas on the Victorian Language of Flowers.  So we currently have rosemary for remembrance, red roses for love (and England) and oak seedlings, again for England but also for strength.  Blue scillas will follow in the spring (for Forgiveness) and miniature daffodils (Chivalry). Further plantings of annuals will follow in the spring. 

Next stop is the church "garden" - a thin strip of poor soil right up against the church wall, currently home to some very straggly roses and not much else (although there is a wonderful blaze of pink nerines just now).  I dont have any religious leanings, but the church is right opposite my house so it seemed appropriate to "adopt" the memorial and the garden as I walk through the churchyard very often. 

The actual churchyard is no longer in active use for burials and is basically just scrubby grass.  I'm planning some wildflower bombs in the spring.....

[russbowes]

Just to update all those who read my initial post on this subject - I've put some new pictures up of the planters on the website already listed - and added pictures of today's effort with the disused drinking fountain.  Let me know what you think about the question I posted - should I use the bottom trough as well, or would the parish dogs welcome their drinking trough back??

[Richard _001]

Great progress Russell. Good to see the success of your thought out remembrance planting  led to further advances into new containers. (How very odd to find oasis in the bottom of that first planter, it must have been the church flower arrangers getting a bit muddled between growing things and sustaining the death pangs of cut flowers).

Are dogs actually using that trough for drinking or are they no longer quite so sophisticated as their Victorian ancestors as to sup from purpose built receptacles. Looks like a potential garden to me!

[russbowes]

I think the chaps of the local British Legion (who have been technically looking after the planters but, though it pains me to say it, not very well!) had all the Oasis put in either to save having to drag a watering can to the Memorial (although what they were watering is debatable - it was full of weeds when I took it over), or to support the plastic flowers they used to cram the planters full of once a year (immediately before Rembrance Day).  The Vicar hated these with a passion! Still, the local flower arranging society was very pleased with the Oasis!

I had a rethink on the dog trough.  Nothing drank out of it without the risk of being very poorly as it was full of black, stagnant water and old cigarette butts anyway.  Its now cleaned out.  But, of course, its completely water tight (no drainage).  So in a wet spell, any plants in it are just going to end up sodden.  I think the dogs deserve to have it back, so I will nip over there with my watering can occasionally and fill it up.  I might also pin a notice on the Lych Gate just round the corner directing owners to the trough. 

A very good idea re planting the bowl was recently made - why not fill it with blue-flowered plants to represent water?  Even though I shudder at the thought of lobelia, this is the only plant I can think of that will fall over the rim in an approximation of dripping water.  I might mix it with anagallis.  The only trouble is that both are low growing, and the niche in the fountain does need something taller to set it off. 

[rosebud]

Russ, I loved your symbolic planting. Good for you, it looks great.