by James Alexander-Sinclair
Gardeners' World did a bit of filming in my garden last year [...] I thought it would be interesting to revisit the bit of planting I redid for their benefit to see how it is getting on a year or so later...
Some of you might remember that Gardeners' World did a bit of filming in my garden last year.
Anyway, I thought it would be briefly interesting to revisit the bit of planting I redid for their benefit to see how it is getting on a year or so later. I had a bit of a gap into which I decided to plant the following:
Thalictrum delaveyii - five foot tall. Drop dead gorgeous.
Patrinia scabiosifolia - strong yellowy colour. No nonsense.
Monarda 'Purple Ann' - a pinky red variety
Mathiasella bulpeuroides 'Green Dream' - looks a bit like a hellebore but taller.
Nipponanthemum nipponicum - this last I chose because the name amused me but also because it is really late flowering. It has leathery leaves and pretty white flowers in October.
Sadly, things have not proceeded exactly as I envisaged. Gardening doesn't always work like that (as you all know).
The monarda disappeared without trace over the winter, which I thought very odd as it is a tough old thing and its relations are quite happily spreading itself around in other parts of the garden. I planted the very luscious Dahlia 'Hillcrest Royal' to make up for the absentee monarda, it's a bit pinker but equally effective.
The thalictrum has gone a bit floppy as my early spring staking was a bit shoddy in places - although it is tall and willowy as promised. I must remember to stake that part better next year. I must also remember to write that down or I will completely forget until this time next year!
But, the general effect is, I think, pretty good. I like the way the patrinia and thalictrum blend well and I'm particularly keen on the contrast between the violent yellow/green and the statuesque sugar pink of the Dahlia.
This is the final result.
(The mathiasella flowered much earlier in the year and was also very lovely, although you will have to take my word for it as I forgot to take a picture.)
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