Friday, June 10, 2016

Summer in border

Each year I am looking for inspiration in books, media or nature. Now I can enjoy my garden and give something back. My swing with plants. Obviously I get inspired with Piet Oudolf planting and understanding of it as plant's groups. Like help from each other and little eco-system that could keep biodiversity or even expand it. Well yes, this year I saw more butterflies, even Echinacea's still not blooming. Last year I decided to add some bulbs to my border. And I simply can say that Alliums did all job more than great. I planted about 100 giant allium bulbs. Other bulbs was Allium moly that past owners left in rose bed. No roses are left now. And I wanted to keep those bright yellow alliums. In spring I thought that I placed all in circle project and wait for any shoots. Later on, I saw couple in main border and later they all started to pop-up from all corners. In this picture you can see them in left side. Cute yellow drops in border. Spontaneously I planted first plants before we moved-in. Those where pink Paeonia seedling, Baptisia australis seedlings, Iris spuria and several Miscanthus sp. I keep them in same spot, because they might found that place. Not too far, and not too close. Even I formed this long border later, but I knew that it will turn to something. But can't imagine this is so fast. Now this border has lots of new plant. I try to keep normal amount of ornamental grasses. Not all like conditions I have here. Peats, dry and sunny spot. Short living Deschampsia cespitosa 'Schottland' seems to be the one I keep and plant more next year after dividing clumps. But I try to add more long living perennial grasses like Sporobolus heterolepis. It grow really slow at the moment. But I might see some better results in future.
Salvia nemorosa 'Amethyst'. Honestly I can say that I have never seen or own any perennial Salvia's before. Last year I tried few to grow from seeds ('May Night' growing well, some seedlings big and lush, others small and not so fancy. Genetics...) and I get really addicted. Later I saw few varieties in real and decided to add enough. About 80 tinny plants of this Salvia was planted in 2015 July. This year I have huge impression in border. Some planted in one spot, and others randomly spread around for natural effect. Captured in sea of blooms. Wonderful variety. Taller than others, even a little messy, but I love it. Very delicate and even fancy.  
Salvia nemorosa 'May Night' seedling. It is not true variety. And I might have to call it hybrid. However, it is plant that I love and happy to try. You never know what kind of plant you will get from tiny seed. And what a progress when you see them mature. True power of seeds is when you realize, that this not only give pleasure, but save money as well. I get seeds in trade for other seeds. So it came free. I grow and get at least 10 plants. So 2€ for each. Easy to count.
Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland'. Smaller variety that I also get in numbers of 80 plants of one variety. Yes, that look crazy, but my garden is big enough to get mass of plant and even stronger impression. This variety is scenery. Compact and low, so look outstanding in front of border. Also it is bright, so catch eyes and keep them from neighbors yard.

And more context. In bed they should be just in front. And not alone, they need company of other plants. There in back stranding Monarda 'Scorpion' and those empty like gaps is filled with grasses that need some time. As we are facing another drought in here, some of plants didn't hurry with new growth. Mostly of miscanthus just now started to grow. So you can imagine...
Rudbeckia occidentalis is new plant to me. Last year I have got several seeds of it and started to grow. All germinated and growing. Now started to bloom. With no doubts it is strange. But pretty. I try to save all seeds for more plants of it. I think this could fill all empty gaps in back of border now.
Allium atropurpureum also new. Only one bulb I have. At least to try and see if I like it or not. This color is really strong and bloom longer than others. At least I will save seeds of this too.
Baptisia 'Chocolate Chip'. Did I ever mention how much I love Fabaceae, Leguminosae or Papilionaceae family. And Baptisia's is new passion. I have 3 varieties and several seedlings of species, but they are still not blooming. 'Chocolate Chip' is really nice and bright variety. Even this year it decided to bloom horizontal, but it still catch my eyes. Bees just love this plant. So wonderful. As long living perennial it require a lot of room in future. So I planted several annuals around. So it can grow and later I have no worries about how to lift plants without disturbing this beauty.
Baptisia 'Starlite Prairieblues' might be the best known variety of baptisia's I know. It has way more buds and well standing stalks. Color is lighter than B.australis. Highly recommend this variety for all who have little prairie in your garden, or want plant that could last forever in the same spot. Lupines will last for few years with those bright blooms. But Baptisia's is more loyal and with each year getting just better and better. Last year I visited Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, MA, U.S.A. where I saw very nice collection of baptisia. But amazed not diversity, but size. They where almost my size. So hard to believe that mine could be at least 5 feet (~1,5 m). Time will show.
Lupinus polyphyllus 'My Castle' growing not in main border. But I have to show this for you all. Wonderful bright variety that catch everyones eyes. Also very nice for cutting. In vase it can stand at least 6 days. Also it is stalwart in flower beds. All spring get no water and still give fancy blooms and stand well without any attachment.
Aquilegia vulgaris hybrids. In 2012 I started my very first crosses of columbines (Aquilegia's). And just now I can see very nice results. Just like this seedling. Long blooming and really lush. Others end their show in week. This one is still standing and show great performance.
 And for the end some older photos. These two made few weeks ago when giant alliums where in peak. I want to show you at least a part of my little joy place. Garden that already inspire myself. And even give energy back. Simple weeding, cutting, or cleaning give more joy than exhausts.
This old and distracting fence is something I really do not like. But neighbors are fine with it. So I simply add more taller plants or even some evergreen hedge to cover their buildings. My goal is lush and relaxing garden, little heaven on Earth and my small experimental zone where I have no limits what I do inside the boundaries (property line). There is still lots of parts in garden that I have no idea what to do. But this border is all I wanted before I could start other projects. Even something big is going next spring in this area, but let it be a little secret.
Have fun with your own gardens and thank you all for reading my blog and writing messages. That inspire me to write more and more.

Edvinas


P.S. All photos are true. No corrections added. Simply angle and light of different time a day.