For another blue, use nigella. Will delphinium or larkspur do OK in summer up there? We can use delphinium here as an annual, but you probably need to do those from plants. It seems like a bit of spikey plants would look nice. Some Strawberry foxglove would give you that warm pink but again, you would need some already growing plants.
Renee's Garden seeds have a single scarlet zinnia that is the same color as the runner beans, they get about 2 feet tall. I am not crazy about zinnia either, but the singles are better, and they do pump out the flowers no matter how hot it gets. A very few plants is plenty.

Your plan sounds so cute.

Blues:
Nigella (like Debbie suggested)
Bachelor's Button
Forget-me-not's

Have you thought of incorporating Hollyhocks?
Foxglove would be lovely also.

Have fun!

Edna

I hought I saw Sam with some schizanthus in one of the scenes...

Snapdragons?

Is that the Party Tree I spy in the background? Too bad you couldn't incorporate a mound of sod in there somewhere, to give the cottage a built-into-the-hill look. Looks like it might be too narrow, though. Or maybe add a wooden sign that says, "The Golden Perch" or "The Green Dragon."

Nice plan, Rosefolly. Your father is sure to feel welcomed. Salvia 'Victoria Blue' is mostly treated as an annual; good for spike shaped flowers. Then there is periwinkle (catharanthus roseus/vinca rosaea) which comes in a pretty shade of peach/apricot---treat as an annual. Also,ageratum, alyssum,bells of Ireland, canterbury bells, coleus,dianthus,gaillardia,impatiens,lobelia,morning glories, nemesia,nicotiana, annual phlox, poppies, blackeyed susan vine, some verbenas, pansies & violas (must have shade and plenty of water if summer gets hot), and wax begonias. Oh, and how about some pelargoniums, as well? Can't wait to see pics of your 'hobbit garden'.
-Becky

Paula, that's a lovely idea. All I can remember from Sam's garden are sunflowers and nasturtimus everywhere, I would need to view the films again. But I see you've got those covered. I know you said you weren't particular on a strict reproduction, but I can't remember anything in the blue range in the film. Maybe you'd want to limit the palette to a more restricted range, the yellow-orange you already have? I personally think yellow - blue and orange - blue look good, yellow-orange-blue may be a bit over the top, especially for such a small area. Just my opinion, of course, taste in color is a purely personal thing.

Snapdragons would look lovely with the sunflowers and nasturtiums that make up the main theme of the garden and I would add more flowers in the same color range, varying the height.

Good luck with your project and please post pictures once it's finished.

Eduarda

What a lovely thing to do for your dad!

I was thinking of blue salvias, as well. The "Black & Blue" variety might look nice in your color scheme. Also, have you considered planting lavendar for both color and fragrance?

Have fun with your project!

Marilyn

What a great idea...we are such LotR fans also.
My DH made a plaque for our library that would look so cute in your garden.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Georich, what a wonderful library. I particularly like the Horance Mann quote.

Eduarda I went back and looked at some stills from the movie, which is where I got the idea of adding some blue and some warm pink. I didn't notice those colors when watching the movie either, but they are there. But I have the same concern you expressed, that with this small area, it might be too much to expand the palette into pinks or blues. I might decide to stick to the yellow-orange-copper range. Since I rarely use these colors, this is an adventure.

Eduarda and Homenovice, I'll see what snapdragons my local nursery offers this spring. They are actually perennial here, but I can treat them as annuals.

Fammsimm, BecR, Boondoggle, Homenovice, DebbieCa, Edna, thanks. I can see that you know annuals better than I do. You have sent me to my catalogs, looking up plants I haven't used before. This is fun!

It's a work in progress. Yesterday I relocated two of the three roses I need to move. We're expecting a week of much-needed rain, so I won't be able to do anything else for a while. It's okay -- too early to plant, and I need more planning time.

Rosefolly

Can I just say, I now have an urge to plant some nasturtiums! I haven't planted any since the year we bought our 1st house - 8 years ago!

What a lovely idea, Paula!

How would white work in the garden? I was thinking of some tall Nicotiana elata (flowering tobacco) which I've grown the very fragrant white (night-scented) and I think there are pink varieties as well that may not look right with the other colors in this garden. I second the idea of some tall hollyhocks in the back -- I've seen seed blends from T&M of single "hot" colors containing yellows, oranges, and brownish shades that would work with what you are doing, or you could go for a chocolate-black which would attract a lot of attention. Sounds like a fun project!

I'm not crazy about white for this spot. I hesitate to plant hollyhocks because they are such prolific reseeders. It takes years to get them back out of the garden once you are done with them. But I do like the idea of tall spires in those colors. Thanks, Lori. I like the idea better than foxgloves, because I'm thinking of this as a summer-and-fall garden, not a spring garden. It will be nice to have a garden area peaking when the roses are resting from the summer heat. I'll start looking for foxgloves, and also looking in the T&M catalog.

I'm really getting excited about this project. Last night I put the DVD of RotK in the player and looked at the final scene when Sam comes home to his family. No blue to be seen, lots of sunflowers, nasturtiums, and various daisies, yellow, orange, and warm pink. I think I will skip the blue. Later I'll look at the FotR DVD again. There was more than one garden in Hobbiton, but still, the blue is out.

My Dad is going to love this garden, and so will I. That is why it has to be annuals only, so he will enjoy it, but still feel free to change it as much as he pleases. At 80 years old, he is still felling trees and digging trenches in his back yard. Amazing man.

Rosefolly

Lori - are these the ones you meant? I really like them, great colors and single, which I prefer. Also they are the fig-leaved hollyhock which is somewhat resistant to hollyhock rust. Yes, I think I will order them. Thanks for the suggestion.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Hollyhock 'Antwerp Mixed'

Yes! That is the colour mix of Hollyhock I was thinking of! These are supposed to be rust resistant. I don't get hollyhocks to self-sow readily here and I wish they did. I understand what you mean about white not fitting, I hesitated to mention it for that reason.

There are some lovely yellow foxgloves that would give you the spikey flowers. 'Primrose Carousel' is a nice variety, deadhead to prevent seedlings.

How about some flowers foaming over the edge of the stonework? Calibrachoa (I think the common name is Million Bells) bloomed continually for me from spring to fall last year. They look like mini-petunias, but are much cleaner, no dead-heading. You would have to either order or find local plants as the seed isn't available yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Calibrachoa

It all sounds wonderful. Made me think of this site I found a couple weeks ago... but it lacks the garden!

Here is a link that might be useful: Modern Hobbit House

Wow. I'm there.

On the million bells.I bought a plant 3 yrs ago and sprinkle the seeds in the pot when they start seeding and they fill the pot full of blooms the next spring.Last yr,I bought a different color and did the same thing.They have so many seeds,I can't understand why seeds are not available.I love this plant.LOve the Hobbit Idea too.My grandsons now say they want one and we watched all the movies again this past week end lol but am doing a sunflower garden with teepees of morning glories and other flowering vines.Please post pictures of all you add.
moonphase

Moonphase, in a few months when there is something to show, I will.

My father is now thinking of delaying his move for a year or two. With everything up in the air, I decided to go ahead with the hobbit garden anyway. I have already moved out all the roses but one and have ordered or purchased the seeds.

My DDs (in their 20's) think this idea is very peculiar, so I'm happy to get some encouraging feedback.

Rosefolly

I am known for being eccentric in my gardening, so I strongly encourage you to go for the idea and enjoy a year or two of developing something different. You will discover new plants, expand your color palette and grow your garden designing skills! There's really nothing to risk with annuals because you can rip out anything you don't like and change it.

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