On Sunday I set my screensaver to flash through pictures of the 2015 garden and was rather inspired by how much I had managed to create in the weedy Hornbeam Gardens this year. Last year it was only a field, but this year it brought us quite a lot of joy (and vases … too many actually). I would have liked to recreate the same impact here, but can’t quite work out how to do it (I think you need Java something or other).
It was my husband, Nick, who suggested we should have a cutting garden at Châtillon. The hedges for the Hornbeam Gardens were planted in February 2013 and lightly clipped for the first time this autumn. They are only just beginning to make the two ‘rooms’ that I’m after. The top ‘room’ (nearest in the photo – bare soil) is the cutting garden. The bottom ‘room’ is much grassier in the photo and has the new shrubs I planted last year.
Signs of progress in the area where seed was sown.
The sowings started at the hedge (if you can make it out!) with sunflower ‘Harlequin Mixed’ and ‘Velvet Queen’. The first did badly, since it was sown too close to the hedge, but ‘Velvet Queen’ was fabulous in deep, rich reds and golds. None of them were staked and stood remarkably tall until some storms in September. Next year I might try pinching the seedling tips for lower, smaller flowers. (Although I would miss the pleasure of those first unbelievably luscious and massive blooms.)
Next in the rows were Gladioli ‘Safari’ and ‘Buggy’. Both in greeny-yellary shades and small-flowered. Definitely for the flower arranger (that’s me) who prefers what Nick calls ‘jazz plants’: in other words flowers that are green and uninteresting to all but the aficionado.
Then came Ammi majus and Ammi visagna. I was sorry that flat-headed A. majus failed to germinate, but the domes of A. visagna were a joyful revelation – lasting so long in water – and I’m never letting it go now. Am also dreaming of adding Euphorbia oblongata, which I recently read described as a kind of living florist’s foam. Sounds just grand to me.
Then came Cosmos ‘Sensation Mixed’. Due to the fact that I fail to pinch/space properly, cosmos are always ugly things here. They grow to 2 metre monsters without proper control and I’m continually disappointed by them. No change this year … must do better.
I have a yen to trial all available marigold seed strains in connection with a little sideline I’m planning, so I tried ‘Sherbet Fizz’ and ‘Touch of Red’, as well as ‘Greenheart Orange’ (all T&M). I liked ‘Sherbet Fizz’ a lot, but ‘Touch of Red’ was disappointingly similar. ‘Greenheart’ not as exciting as in my long-ago memories.
Then came Cornflower ‘Tall Mixed’, Larkspur ‘Sublime Mixed’ and Cornflower ‘Black Ball’. All lovely, but suffering badly from neglectful gardener syndrome. Could have done with pinching and supporting – unfortunately I was too busy strimming, mowing and generally hacking … elsewhere.
The larkspur served (with dahlias and others) as my contribution to a May event in Châtillon. They were, in all their breathtaking perfection, studiously ignored by the ‘real’ florists who concocted the bouquets. Florists like flowers that last a very long time – and they didn’t choose any of mine!
But back to the Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ sadness/collapse. I’ve discovered a fabulous trick for cornflowers and marigolds – keep reading …
Now we are down in the same area putting up supports for espaliered apples and pears – I’m regretting letting the weeds outrun me, but mentally preparing my annual seed list and corm/tuber list for 2016 (I have ‘collecting fever’ for dahlias and gladioli).
And I do wish that online nurseryman Jacques Briant had not sent me a special ’10€ off’ voucher for my birthday, just at the point when I am pondering planting the odd Hybrid Tea for long-stemmed roses in the future. How can you resist the lure of spending 60€ (that you haven’t got) in order to save money?
What cut flower could you not be without?
An absolutely stupendous post. What wonderful pictures, well done Cathy xxx
Thanks Paula – hopefully will be even better next year!
Cathy your cutting garden has done well, I love the cornflowers and marigolds best, I have found that seed I have saved usually grows better than bought seed and the plants are usually better in my garden conditions, I have wondered if it’s just fresher seed or if the seed has built into it the ability to cope with local conditions,
regarding climbing sweet peas, I have not succeeded here with sweet peas but have seen in books the use of netting on a frame, or wire would be stronger, not pretty I know, I use very twiggy branches pushed into the ground for my peas, Frances
Interesting what you say about your own saved seed Frances. I think the netting on a frame for sweet peas is a good idea and may well go for it (I think Julie at Peonies & Posies does it and looks v. nice). Helmingham Hall in Suffolk have a sweet pea tunnel (wrought iron, I think, with the sweet peas tied to it and then melons or something later on). That would be nice – but v. expensive!
Zinnias were my find of 2015, I will be planting more colours. My green wasn’t so successful last year, I like yours a lot. Great post, I look forward to reading about what happens in 2016. Happy New Year!
I so agreed about the zinnias Christina – I didn’t used to like them, but have already added a dark purple to my seed stock for this year (growing passion!) They have such very ‘modern’ colours, haven’t they? Will look forward to your 2016 vases on Monday featuring zinnias. Happy New Year to you too!
It is strange, I’d hardly heard of them at all, now like you, I have added several other colours to my seed order for next summer.
Cathy, I envy your green fingers and your energy! Wishing you a very happy and healthy New Year.
Kind comment Patsy – especially as I often imagine my fingers are less green than they could be. A terrific New Year to you too!
I love how wonderful your Cutting Garden performed and look at that last vase. I don’t know if I have a favorite cutting flower…so many to love! Happy Gardening New Year!
You are so right, Donna. An impossible question! I have to look at everyone else’s vases on Monday and make my own mind up!
Cathy, your garden is full of richness and color. I especially admire your cornflowers and will try them again after seeing their loveliness. Happy gardening to you in 2016 and good health. Susie
And I wish you a Happy New Year too, Susie!
What a lot of hard work but such a beautiful result. If you want to order Galanthus ‘Fly Fishing’, you can get it from Avon Bulbs in England. They ship to France. Tell them that I sent you. Happy New Year!
Thanks for your kind comment Carolyn! I so enjoy looking at your blog and drooling over your plants. I have normally bought snowdrops from Broadleigh Gardens (I find them just a little cheaper than Avon). But, like the rest of the world, I am currently deciding on 3 or 4 ‘must have’ snowdrops for 2016. I will definitely act on your suggestion and mention your name to Avon!
Ah ha! That’s how the green zinnias are supposed to look 🙂
I tried them a few years back and never knew what to do with them in the house, and they didn’t do much in the garden. Now I know and of course I’ll have to try them again.
I’m so glad to see this update. What a change from last year and the spring and I’m sure 2016 will amaze. I’ll be joining you in the weed battle. New beds here as well, but mine are much more overrun.
Happy new year!
Very sweet comment! I do hope that both of us make some satisfying inroads in the weed battle for 2016! But more important to enjoy, perhaps? Have a wonderful start to 2016 – shall enjoy looking at your progress over the coming months!
You are creating an inspirational garden, I love everything you are doing. I can see the amount of work you are putting in but what wonderful results you are reaping.
Thanks for visiting – and the kind comment. I feel I’m rushing things a little while I still have the strength for really hard work. So trees and slow-growing shrubs first – even before the structure I want – so that we have a chance of enjoying in the future!
I love the mix of cutting flowers growing with the Nigella. Also ‘Velvet Queen’, but there is hardly a sunflower I do not love. For myself, I love Zinnias (especally ‘Zahara Orange’) and ‘Italian White’ Sunflower.
Oh yes – ‘Italian White’ is definitely one for me to try – will google and search out your Zinnia ‘Zahara Orange’. Thanks Jason!
It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
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