2023 Sunken Gardens Design

Sunken Gardens features a new floral scheme designed by the Garden Artists every year. These displays feature over 30,000 different annuals.
The 2023 theme was “A Magical Mystery Tour".

2023 "A MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR" Design Plan

This year’s Garden Designs will reflect the art work found on several album covers from the Beatles era that were produced during the 60’s and 70’s.  And the designs this year will also incorporate different features and characters that they sing about in their music through the living plants using the colors of our annuals.

We look forward to watching the new plants grow and develop in these designs. We will also enjoy watching garden patrons find these hidden motif’s throughout the gardens. As an example, one should look for ‘Penny Lane’, ‘Octopus’s Garden’, ‘Strawberry Fields’, ‘Love, Love, Love’, to name a few.

The abstract art that was so often used on these album covers was created by the artist Peter Maxx. His use of bright primary colors was an inspiration to the Psychedelic – “Hippie Art” that is still so popular today. His contrasting - swirling colors with blocks of bright reds, yellows, blues and pink will be in on display in all the beds in Sunken Gardens.

Our intent was to create a “Lifting” feeling for the City of Lincoln through these living displays, their loud, full colors that will dazzle garden patrons all summer long. 

 A map of Sunken Garden's floral plan for 2023. There are sections of designs with designated numbers.

Ledges East of the Falls (1)

 The map for section 1 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page01.jpg(JPG, 723KB)

Top Caladium Bed:
  • Alocasia, Upright EE
  • Caladium, White Wonder
  • Dracena Vermelha, Red Dracena
Top Ledge:
  • Alternanthera, Red Thread
  • Begonia, Viking Red on Chocolate
  • Begonia, Top Hat – pink
  • Begonia, Top Hat – red
  • Begonia, Top Hat – white
  • Canna, Cannaova New Scarlet - green leaf, red flower
Middle Ledge – west of Austrian Pine:
  • Alternanthera, Little Ruby
  • Coleus, Red Head - red
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde – yellow
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
  • Lysimachia, Gold Coin
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, “Deep Ocean blue”
  • Sunpatiens, Compact purple
  • Sunpatiens, Compact white
  • Zinnia, Profusion orange
Lower Ledge – west of Austrian Pine:
  • Asparagus Fern
  • Begonia, Cocktail Series, Vodka – red
  • Elegant Feather
  • Juncus, Blue Arrows
  • Lantana on a standard Orange
  • Lantana, Luscious Lantana, Basket Tangelo
  • Lobularia, Easy Breezy – pink
  • Lobularia, Easy Breezy – purple
  • Lysimachia, Gold Coin
  • Marigold, Happy – orange
  • Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallidia, setacea
  • Rheo, Amber Waves
  • Syngonium, Pink
  • Senico, Mt. Everest
  • Tradescantia, Oyster plant
Entrance Bed:
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde - yellow
  • Coleus, Salsa Roja – red
Ledge below Austrian Pine Trees:
  • Alocasia, upright EE
  • Begonia, Viking Red on Chocolate
  • Begonia, Gryphon/Pegasus
  • Begonia, Rex var.
  • Canna, Cannova New Scarlet [green leaf]
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
  • Eucomis, Pineapple Lily
  • Ginger
  • Lobularia, Pine
  • Lobularia, Purple
  • Senecio, Mt. Everest
  • Strobilanthes, Persian Shield
  • Sunpatiens, Compact - white
  • Sunpatiens, Variegated - orange

South Entrance - C Street (2)

The map for section 2 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page02.jpg(JPG, 521KB)

Entrance Bed:
  • Alocasia, Upright Elephant Ears
  • Celosia, Floriosa – red
  • Coleus, Salsa Roja – red
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde - yellow
  • Zinnia, Zesty New Orange
Middle Bed:
  • Canna Pretoria – orange
  • Cleome, Cleo - magenta
  • Cleome, Sparkler 2.0 – purple
  • Coleus, Red Head
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde – yellow
  • Coleus, Inferno Orange
  • Lantana, Lucky Series, Orange Flame Red
  • Melampodium, Jack Pot Gold
  • Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallida – setcrecea purpurea
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean - blue
  • Verbena, Meteor Showers
  • Verbena, Cake Pops
  • Zinnia, Profusion Apricot
  • Zinnia, Profusion Double Deep Salmon
  • Zinnia, Zesty – New Orange
  • Zinnia, Zesty – purple
Liver Bed:
  • Canna, Cannaova New Scarlet  - green foliage, red flowe
  • Papyrus, King Tut
  • Sunpatiens, Compact Purple, Interspecific Compact Purple
  • Sunpatiens, Electric Orange, Interspecific Compact Orange

Ponds (3)

The map for section 3 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page03.jpg(JPG, 586KB)

North Pond
  • Banana, Green
  • Banana, Ensete
  • Begonia, Top Hat – white
  • Begonia, Viking Red on Chocolate
  • Coleus, Flame Thrower Habanero
  • Colocsia, Coffee Cup, black leaf EE
  • Crapsedia, Drumstick Flower
  • Rudbeckia, August Glow
  • Rudbeckia, Chestnut Gold
South Pond
  • Banana, green
  • Banana, Ensete
  • Colocasia, Black leaf
  • Begonia, Red on Chocolate
  • Begonia, Top Hat - white
  • Rudbeckia, Rising Sun – Chestnut Gold
  • Rudbeckia, August Glow
  • Craspedia, Drumstick Flower
  • Coleus, Flame Thrower Habanero
Tropical Pond Plants and Center Waterfall
  • Colocasia, Black leaf EE [water acclimated]
  • Colocasia, “Illustris” [water acclimated]
  • Papyrus, Cyperus, “King Tut”
  • Papyrus, Cyperus, “Prince Tut”
  • Platter Lily’s “Victoria Trickerii, Water Lily
  • Thalia
  • Tropical Water Lilies
  • Tropical Water Lotus

 

 

East Beds (4)

The map for section 4 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page04.jpg(JPG, 551KB)

Center Bed Behind Bench:
  • Impatiens, Beacon - red
  • Impatiens, Beacon – white
Main Bed:
  • Alocasia, Upright Elephant Ear
  • Canna, Cannanova – yellow
  • Canna, Pretoria
  • Cleome, Clio – magenta
  • Cleome, Sparkler 2.0 -purple
  • Coleus, Inferno – orange
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde, yellow
  • Lantana, Lucky series, Orange Flame red
  • Melampodium, Jack Pot Gold
  • Purple Heart, Tradescanthia pallida
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean -blue
  • Verbena, Metero Showers
  • Verbena, Cake Pops
  • Zinnia, Profusion Apricot
  • Zinnia, Profusion Double Deep Salmon
  • Zinnia, Zesty New Orange
  • Zinnia, Zesty purple
  • Zinnia, Profusion Orange

Northeast Corner (5)

The map for section 5 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page05.jpg(JPG, 639KB)

Behind Cornice:
  • Banana, Ensete
  • Brugmansia, Angel’s Trumpets
  • Impatiens, Beacon – white
Corner Walk Bed:
  • Begonia, Vodka – red
  • Begonia, Whiskey – white
  • Celosia, Floriosa – red
  • Gomphrena, Strawberry Fields
  • Impatiens, Bounce – white
  • Mandeville. – Vining – red [small obilisks]
Entrance Beds next to Stairway:
  • Banana, green
  • Begonia, Top Hat – white
  • Begonia, Viking, Red on Chocolate
  • Colocasia, Teacup – black foliage
Back Bed:
  • Canna, Pretoria
  • Cleome, Cleo - magenta
  • Cleome, Sparkler – purple
  • Verbena, Cake Pops
  • Zinnia, Profusion Apricot
  • Zinnia, Profusion Double Deep Salmon
  • Zinnia, Zesty – purple
  • Zinnia, Zesty New Orange
Front and Center Bed:
  • Canna, Pretoria
  • Coleus, Inferno – orange
  • Coleus, Red Head
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde
  • Lantana, Lucky series, Orange Flame - red
  • Melampodium, Jack Pot Gold
  • Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallida
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean -blue
  • Verbena, Meteor Showers
  • Zinnia, Profusion Apricot
  • Zinnia, Profusion Double Deep Salmon

 

North Beds (6)

 The map for section 6 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page06.jpg(JPG, 605KB)

Entrance Beds next to Stairway:
  • Banana, green
  • Begonia, Red on Chocolate
  • Begonia, Top Hat - white
  • Colocasia, Teacup of Black
Entrance Beds: main
  • Canna, Cannova – yellow
  • Celosia, Floriosa – red
  • Coleus Salsa Verde – yellow
  • Coleus, Salsa Roja – red
  • Zinnia, Zesty New orange
Center Bed:
  • Canna, Pretoria
  • Cleome, Cleo - magenta
  • Cleome, Sparkler – purple
  • Coleus, Inferno orange
  • Coleus, Red Head
  • Lantana, Lucky Series, Orange Flame
  • Melampodium, Jack Pot of Gold
  • Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallida
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean – blue
  • Verbena, Meteor Showers
  • Verbena, Cake Pops
  • Zinnia, Double Deep Salmon
  • Zinnia, Profusion Apricot
  • Zinnia, Zesty – purple
  • Zinnia, Zesty New Orange

 

 

Northwest Ledges and Wheel Beds (7)

 The map for section 7 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page07.jpg(JPG, 467KB)

Northwest Ledges
  • Canna, Cannova – Bronze scarlet
  • Pretoria
  • Capsicum, Black Pearl
  • Capsicum, purple
  • Capsicum, yellow pops
  • Castor Bean, red
  • Coleus, Salsa Roja – red
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde – yellow
  • Colocasia, Maui Sunrise
  • Millet, Jade Princess
  • Millet, Purple Majesty
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean – blue
  • Zinnia, Zesty New Orange
Wheel Beds
  • Guara, white
  • Hibiscus, Luna Pink
  • Hibiscus, Luna Red
  • Hibiscus, Luna Swirl
  • Vinca, Cora Classic – red

 

Pavilion Beds (8)

The map for section 8 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page08.jpg(JPG, 440KB)

Pavilion Bed:
  • Begonia, Whisky – white
  • Begonia, Vodka – red
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde – yellow
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde Roja, - red
  • Canna, Bronze Scarlet
 Four Large Pots:
  • Canna, Cannanova – red
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
  • Ipomea, Sweet Caroline,  Medusa
  • Lanana, Luscious Lemon Tart
  • Lysimachia, Gold Coin
  • Pennisetum, Prince
  • Scavola aemula, Surdiva Blue Violet
Harold’s Bed:
  • Begonia, T – Rex Lace
  • Begonia, T - Rex, Painters Palette
  • Begonia, T – Rex, St. Nick
  • Coleus, Habanero
  • Lantana, Royal Lemon Tart – yellow

Ledges West of Falls (9)

The map for section 9 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page09.jpg(JPG, 708KB)

Top Ledge:
  • Alternanthera, Red Thread
  • Begonia, Viking Red on Chocolate
  • Begonia, Top Hat – pink
  • Begonia, Top Hat – red
  • Begonia, Top Hat -white
  • Canna, Cannaova, New Scarlet - green Leaf- red flower
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
Overlook:
  • Begonia, Viking, Red on Chocolate
  • Lysimachia, Gold Coin
  • Pennisetum, Fireworks
Center Ledge:
  • Alternanthera, Little Ruby
  • Canna, Cannaova New Scarlet - green leaf, red flower
  • Caster Bean, red
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde – yellow
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
  • Lysimachia, Gold Coin
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean - blue
  • Sunpatiens, Compact white
  • Zinnia, New Zesty - orange
  • Zinnia, Zesty - pink
  • Zinnia, New Zesty - scarlet
  • Zinnia, Profusion – yellow
  • Zinnia, Profusion – orange
  • Zinnia, Profusion – pink
  • Zinnia, Profusion – red
Bottom Ledge:
  • Alternanthera, Little Ruby
  • Capsicum, Black Pearl
  • Capsicum, mixed
  • Coleus, Salsa Verde
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
  • Lobularia, Pink
  • Lobularia, Purple
  • Lysimachia, Gold Coin
  • Millet, Jade Princess
  • Millet, Purple Majesty
  • Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallida
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean - blue
  • Sunpatiens, Compact white
  • Syngonium, Lite Pink
  • Zinnia, New Zesty - orange
  • Zinnia, Zesty - pink
  • Zinnia, Zesty – red
  • Zinnia, Profusion - orange
  • Zinnia, Profusion – red
  • Zinnia, Profusion – pink
  • Zinnia, Profusion – yellow

Street Entrances (10)

The map for section 10 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page10.jpg(JPG, 423KB)

Bed 1: D Street Bed
  • Alternanthera, True Yellow
  • Begonia, Vodka – red
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Blue Lagoon
  • Senicio, Mt. Everest
Bed 2: D Street Bed
  • Alternanthera, True Yellow
  • Begonia, Vodka – red
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Blue Lagoon
  • Senicio, Mt. Everest
Bed 3: C Street Bed
  • Alternanthera, True Yellow
  • Begonia, Vodka – red
  • Salvia, Sally Fun, Deep Ocean -blue
  • Senicio, Mt. Everest

 

Healing Garden - Upper Level (11)

The map for section 11 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page11.jpg(JPG, 550KB)

Healing Garden

 Center Beds:

  • Begonia, Cocktail series, Whiskey – white
  • Euphorbia, Diamond Frost
  • Mandevilla, “Vining” Agate XXL – white
Southwest Side:
  • Alocasia, upright EE
  • Caladium, Heart to Heart - White Wonder
  • Colocasia, Maui Sunrise
  • Impatiens, Bounce - white
Southwest North Side:
  • Alocasia, Upright Elephant Ears
  • Caladium, Heart to Heart – White Wonder
  • Impatiens, Bounce white
East Side Upper Lever:
  • Dracaena, Cordyline - red
  • Sunpatiens, Compact - red
  • Sunpatiens, Compact - white
West Entrance:
  • Caladium, Heart to Heart - White Wonder

 

Healing Garden Bench Pots
  • Dichondra, Silver Falls
  • Caladiums, White Wonder
  • Lobularia, Easy Breezy – white

 

Capital Parkway Sign Bed (12)

The map for section 12 of the 2023 plan, containing a picture of the sections and a list of what plants will be planted

Sunken2023-page12.jpg(JPG, 393KB)

Capital Parkway Sign Bed
  • Ageratum, Artist blue
  • Alternanthera, True Yellow
  • Begonia, Top Hat – red
  • Lantana, Lucky - red

 

           

 

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Sunken Gardens during winter

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Spring tulips

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Spring tulips

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