We’ve had half an inch of rain and the land is rejoicing. (Yes, there is also flooding, as predicted) And it’s been possible to venture out into the garden today without getting sweated out. It has become possible to see the garden again and to look beyond whatever is wilting and crying out for help.
After all that heat and dry, the garden is looking rather prematurely autumnal and slightly battered. Flowers which are ordinarily still resplendent are going to seed.
![Veronicastrum in New Garden, Veddw copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Veronicastrum-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20200731_113816rs-1024x683.jpg)
Veronicastrum, should be looking like this, but –
![Veronicastrum Seedheads copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Veronicastrum-Seedheads-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20220818_132355-726x1024.jpg)
Are looking, sadly, like this. The bees still seem to like them. They have no sense of aesthetics.
And other things are going to seed anyway, because that’s what they do right now.
![Cardoons in Veg Plot Veddw Garden copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Cardoons-in-Veg-Plot-Veddw-Garden-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201001_123400_HDR-1024x683.jpg)
Cardoons transforming themselves into powerful weapons….
So my thoughts turn to Piet Oudolf’s claim that “In a natural garden everything should be allowed to finish flowering, not simply to please butterflies and birds, but also because plants in decline can be beautiful.” Page 120 in ‘After Flowering’ in Dream Plants for the Natural Garden
So I went round the garden checking this out. And some plants are. And some plants aren’t.
![Clematis seedhead copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Clematis-seedhead-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20190609_163519-1024x683.jpg)
This truly IS beautiful?
![Clerodendron bungei](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20201001_131631_HDR-1024x683.jpg)
This (Clerodendron bungei) a bit less so? Bit manky?
But I think we have a small stumbling block, which is that we are not generally fond of brown in a garden. Plants going to seed often go brown. I have a friend whose school uniform was brown and she doesn’t like brown anywhere. Most of us just enjoy other colours more.
Perhaps it’s from a distance that brown looks dreary though, because close up it can be very special. As Piet and Henk Gerritsen demonstrate better than I can: see Dream Plants for the Natural Garden again. (I have a signed copy! And better, I also have this – and this is boasting) (shameful) (he was probably just being polite) =
![Piet Oudolf signature](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Piet-Oudolf-signature-20220817_160940-1024x730.jpg)
Forgive me – I think this has been the highlight of my horticultural career.
![Dream Plants for the Natural Garden](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Dream-20220817_161249-1024x768.jpg)
Glorious browns in Dream Plants for the Natural Garden
So this is a plea for us to begin to admire and seek out brown.
![Seedhead copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seedhead-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201007_121048-576x1024.jpg)
No idea what it is, but isn’t it wonderful?
And more brown:
![Seed head copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seed-head-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201001_123511_HDR-1024x683.jpg)
Not bad, but see on the left – it’s not going to disintegrate nicely….
What we are now begining to see is form. Shapes and textures. That takes us beyond brown.
![Seedhead copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seedhead-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201001_124225_HDR-1-1024x683.jpg)
I can’t remember what this is but it’s gorgeous.
![Seedhead copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seedhead-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201001_141130_HDR-1024x683.jpg)
A geranium, maybe?
![Seedhead copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seedhead-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201001_123637_HDR-1024x683.jpg)
No idea, but they aren’t brown..
![Seed head copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seed-head-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20201001_131218_HDR-1024x683.jpg)
Seems quite a few are green
One thing I find problematic is that they’re not all beautiful, (sorry Piet) but if I want a plant to seed I have to leave it to do that.
![valerian going to seed copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/valerian-going-to-seed-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20220723_123828-1024x683.jpg)
Valerian, going to seed. Not very beautiful, but I want those seeds seeding!
![Foxgloves going to seed Copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Foxgloves-going-to-seed-Copyright-Anne-Wareham-s20220818_154938-683x1024.jpg)
I don’t think these foxgloves add much to the scene – but I can’t have too many foxgloves, so they need to stay.
![Seedheads of Chamaenerion angustifolium Stahl Rose Copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seedheads-of-Chamaenerion-angustifolium-Copyright-Anne-Wareham-20220818_155928-1024x683.jpg)
I need these too = Epilobium angustifolium Stahl Rose
![Willowherb seedhead copyright Anne Wareham](https://gardenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Willowherb-seedhead-copyright-Anne-Wareham-20220817_155141-1024x683.jpg)
I want these seeds too. This is another willow herb – the white one.
So – are seed heads worth waiting for?? What do you think?
Seedheads – do we love them? originally appeared on GardenRant on August 25, 2022.
The post Seedheads – do we love them? appeared first on GardenRant.