The cones are here

Ornamental grasses are still looking fabulous at the moment but other plants too, such as echinacea and eryngium are holding their shape well, even when their flowers have given up the ghost. So, don't be in a rush to cut everything back just to make your garden tidy. Your plants will be in much better shape if left to gracefully ebb away, not to mention providing the plant's footings, vital protection from frost damage and safeguarding your soil of unnecessary erosion. Last but by no means least, great food for wildlife also.

A quiet and unasuming star

August can be a tricky month in the garden but there are some plants that effortlessly span the latter days of summer into the early days of autumn. Hydrangeas being one notable plant that is very much underused and would certainly fit the bill. That aside, there are still some relatively unknown specimens certainly worth giving a go. One plant in particular is Tricyrtis, commonly know as the Toad Lily. Many people think it's exotic and tender - on the contrary. In my own garden I've placed it in a Northerly aspect adjacent to a hornbeam hedge so little wonder I'd say it's as 'tough as old boots.' An eye-catching addition to any 'woodlandy' shady border, growing to about 0.5m tall and as slender as 30cm, it hardly takes up any space. Give it a go!

Plant partnerships

The planning for summer colour has begun as the onset of warmer temperatures awaken the transition from one season to the next.

One genus that symbolises high summer colour are salvias and they come in an array of colours. One particular cultivar I've been after for a while is Salvia 'Amistad.' Its rich, deep purple flowers will provide a display for many months to come but to add further interest it's far better placed with a partner in mind.

I've used it on this occasion against the fresh lime colour bracts and the dark green leaves of the herbaceous summer spurge, Euphorbia donii Amjilassa. A great duo! ( I need to improve my camera skills though). A greater depth of colour will occur when Helenium 'Sahins Early Flowerer' hits the scene with petals of burnt orange with light brush strokes of yellow; a trio that will perform for many months ahead. Watch this space!

To get the best out of annuals they're much better used in a relaxed planting and if you've been able to grow some from seed the options available become vast.  

Ammi majus (False Queen Anne's Lace) can be grown either in Sep/Oct or Feb/Mar. The former giving you a bigger and earlier display. Here, I've planted it with Geranium 'Rozanne' which will scramble through its lower limbs and help spread the display.

A plant that has to be in my Top 10 is Sanguisorba tenuifolia 'Alba.' I first used it last year for a border I was designing and have been smitten with its presence ever since. It's tall elegant limbs end with lovely white drooling flower heads.

To extend the season of interest,  I've planted it amongst the dainty pink flower heads of Dianthus carthusianorum, which have been flowering for a few weeks now, Deschampsia 'Goldtau' already bulking out before they takeover the display from mid/ summer and well into Autumn, Stachys 'Hummelo' and Lythrum Pink Blush. Not all of them in this picture I might add.

Fergus, Head Gardener from Great Dixter told me, '...don't plant in isolation' and its something I always try and follow. It certainly makes you analyse your planting schemes and helps you (hopefully) to put together some great partnerships.

Some little beauties

Cyclamen purpurascens AGM waiting to be planted. Unlike the more common C. hederifolium and C. coum, these little beauties flower from June right the way through to December and perfect for dry shade. Prepare the area with plenty of leaf mould and top dress annually when it goes dormant. And remember, it's worth marking their position just in case you go heavy handed with the hoe and forget where you'd placed them.

A rare...day off!

There's not many opportunities where I decide to take a break from work and head-off for some inspiration. On this occasion it was RHS Wisley; only up the road from me so a worth while trip to see the fruit trees (both soft and hard)...

...and to take a look at the Alpine house which I was hoping would have a fine display. It didn't disappoint

 

I wasn't disappointed! 

A Day out with notebook in hand

The RHS Spring flower show (otherwise named the RHS Plant and Potato Fair) was another chance to see some lovely displays in the iconic horticultural halls. It was fairly quiet when I first arrived, much to my surprise, but soon filled up as the day went on.

There were some great displays but the one that caught my eye was 'Jacque Amand International' displaying their collection of early irises. Simply stunning. 

There's always new cultivars being introduced by the breeders but Iris reticulata 'Katherine Hodgkin' still gets my vote.

This show certainly attracts the intrepid snowdrop searchers (galanthropiles) and with a mouthwatering selection there's no wonder that the best soon disappear from the shelf. One I particularly liked was Galanthus 'Spindlestone Surprise' but at £48.00 per bulb you need to be sure it's the one for you.  

Just over the road is the other hall and this year was host to the bewildering world of the humble potato. And what a selection! This row certainly caught my eye.  

There was also a guest appearance from Mr Potato Head. 

All-in-all a fab day out but before I left, a much deserved cuppa and a quick look back on my notes.  One reading 'Avon Bulbs - G. 'Spindlestone Surprise' I like...a lot. Think of trying next year.'

Having a wish list

Over the past couple of weeks I've been working on a border design for a client and putting my thoughts on paper; sourcing various books that will assist in helping select the plants for the conditions, simultaneously pulling on my own experience over the last few years.

As with most wish-lists, the plants that could work are pretty extensive and it's always easy at this first stage to rattle-off a list of potential specimens. The difficulty is trying to reduce the list.

This is the first draft: Dryopteris wallichiana, Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert,' Brunnera 'Jack Frost,' Geranium 'Rozanne' and Gillenia trifoliata. To achieve a long succession of interest other layers such as bulbs and incidentals are yet to be added. Project ongoing!

Surprise, surprise

Despite the frenzied unwrapping of presents on Christmas day (not forgetting a birthday 3 days earlier I should add), one could say 'that's your lot' for a wee while. However, with the auricula season soon upon us I couldn't help but take a more detailed look at Woottens of Wenhasten to see their extensive list of these little beauties.

It wasn't long before 'viewing' on the website, became 'purchasing' and the speedy arrival of the parcel within 2 days. Well impressed!

Packaging was pretty expensive but the contents inside were superbly protected with some biodegradable corn-starch chips.

So, in addition to the auriculas, I also persuaded myself to get some more species pelargoniums to try; interestingly, pelargoniums were a hot debate on the BBC series 'Garden Revival' 

All unwrapped and ready to go. Sadly, there was one runt of the litter but I'm sure he / she will do fine and soon catch up with their fellow offspring.