New — ty gardd

the ornamental garden

The garden now sits without the warmth of sun, the trees stripped of their verdant display that once filled the valley with an energy. Now as temperatures drop the frost

dipping below the common land that sits above the

As we enter mid June there is a certain energy that runs throughout the beds. The Fillipendula, Veronicastrums, Actea and Echinops in the back of the boarders are starting to make themselves know and we can already see the rhythm they will provide. Most were planted as 9cm’s so will need time to fill out and start making the impact we first imagined, but at a glance you can catch the flowers as they start to emerge.

scabiosa columbaria subsp. ochroleuca with Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus

The Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus is currently tight in bud, readying its self to disclose its fragrant, lily-shaped yellow flowers that will connect with the Hemerocallis altissima that we have positioned near to the back of the border, the idea of drawing your eye through the planting and creating a kinship that makes them a perfect match. The H. altissima growing upwards of 1.5m makes it a notable addition to the back of a border and we are looking forward to seeing its nature later in the season if it decides to flower this year. The Nepeta gov and Scabiosa oct will provide paler tones of yellow that will sit besides the Hemerocallis, all of which are showing suggestions of opening any time now. I feel as i look over the planting each evening there will be a moment when it all erupts, and this feels imminent.

At the end of May the Oenothera stricta ‘Sulphurea’ revealed its first flowers. It had been sitting upright and ladened with dark bud for some time, awaiting its moment to fill the warm air with its delicate scent and informal nature. Although this variety is reasonably upright the odd stem wanders into the pathway, an invitation to stop and take in its beauty. It is a plant that offers so much. Tonally it is exquisite, at all stages. The pale yellow blooms maturing to a peachy shade as it slowly withers and droops, ready to be removed before the next flourish begins throughout the Summer months.

The Lilium martagon ‘pink morning’ has been just as attractive in bud as it is now that the first of the flowers have announced their attendance within the beds, and one positioned behind the Oenothera forms a harmonious combination that will only be enhanced as the racemes of nodding, spotted, pale pink flowers hang behind its peachy blooms.

The hard landscaping was put on hold last year to allow us to complete the planting of the beds by Winter. For the time being the paths and seating areas will remain as sub-base until time allows us to develop it, though of recent we have become excited at the flexibility this has provided and have begun to plant up the less traveled spaces. It allows us the opportunity to use a different palette of plants and slowly build up a conversation with the larger planting beds. It also creates an informality and romance that would be lost if we simply paved and cobbled the areas. To accompany the gravel we will be adding in areas of reclaimed paving and cobbles, close to the house, to deepen the character and carefully craft definition and structure, building a softer demeanour to this section of the garden. Thus far we have planted Melica ciliata, Dierama pulcherrimum, Dianthus deltoides 'Albus', Santolina chamaecyparissus, Oenothera stricta ‘Sulphurea’ and Thymus vulgaris to provide a base layer that we will add to over the next year or so. This Summer we are looking forward to seeing it settle, a combination of plants that will slowly encroach to provide a narrow, scented pathway full of detailed flowers and scent.