I have spent a large part of the past month waiting.
Waiting for the two of us to recover from a nasty chest infection – not quite there yet. Waiting for our internet to be mended – a serious matter when we, and our neighbours, have no mobile signal either. It came back yesterday – hurray. And then, I realised, I was waiting for the principal border in the garden, which is visible from the house, to get going.
It does have various bits and pieces which offer some pleasure before it really begins to work. But now it begins to please me properly. The most important bit is Koenigia alpina, previously known as Persicaria alpina.
Alpina, of course, because it’s like an alpine plant, tiny, hmm – as in about two yards tall and a couple of yards wide.
Here it is (above) – the white flowering plant. There’s only two here, but I realised I needed MORE and after years of working on establishing it, I now have it repeating down the border. It flowers for ages, starting white and turning pink as it goes over – see below.
Still not enough of them, but you can see their beautiful soft pink
Today you can also see the begining of Campanula lactiflora – the blue flower,
Campanula lactiflora
which will shortly fill the border, along with the pink flowered Chamaerion angustifolium ‘Stahl Rose’ – an early pink willow herb. And after this things don’t stop until autumn.
Chamaerion angustifolium ‘Stahl Rose’
But my reason for going on about it was that this year I was so aware that I am waiting for it to begin.
And that when it does, it will signify the peak of the flowering year for us. In other parts of the garden rambling roses begin to pour out scent, the meadow is full of moon daisies, and hydrangeas are begining to flower. Much of the garden begins to peak.
Rosa lucieae (syn. Rosa wichurana) – with a wonderful spreading scent.
Something occurred to me about this.
That we are encouraged on all sides to have flowers and great performing gardens all year, including ‘winter interest’. Perhaps we are missing something here.
If you want flowers from spring to autumn in your garden you are very likely to get the dotty look, as they appear one after another. Making a rather sparse look as they perform one by one over months. Most of us cannot afford the plants and the work involved in layering plants in our borders so that they never stop being full of flower, as I understand they manage at Great Dixter. So perhaps going for a major climax is a feasible and glorious alternative? Maybe my Crescent Border could have one amazing climax instead of several months flowering?
We could choose a time and go all out for it. Do a winter garden, following in Marianne Willburn’s footsteps. Or fill the garden with spring bulbs. Have a midsummer garden, with roses, roses and more roses. Or wait until autumn and focus your planting there – with autumn colours and flowering grasses.
I love autumn at Veddw
Forget all the rest.
You don’t have to go without treats – some plants in pots, bought flowers, houseplants….. but have a major time, when all is focused on a floral celebration. What a great way to enjoy a small garden, where you simply can’t grow all you’d like to. Focus your flowering instead. When is your climate best for enjoying the outdoors? That could be your time. Which flowers do you love best? Make them a speciality. Which flowers love you best? Get more! When do you have most time for tweaking and enjoying? Make that your time.
However, it would involve a lot of waiting…….
Waiting originally appeared on GardenRant on June 27, 2024.
The post Waiting appeared first on GardenRant.
