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.
