Cathy’s meme at Words & Herbs is such a good idea (you show the same view of your garden as it changes through the seasons), but I’ve always hesitated to join in with it because I felt my pictures would be too boring! Now I’ve found a reason.
I’m not very happy with what I call the ‘Long Border’ in my garden. It’s ok, but it fails to please me later in the summer when all is baked hot and dreary with the 30 degree C temperatures we usually get at some stage or another.
Until 2013 it was just a slope of rough grass with three hazelnut bushes. I added cuttings of philadelphus and deutzia that I made in the town where we used to live. Then I started growing plants from the Hardy Plant Society seed list every year.
I was less successful than I used to be in the past, but I still had plenty of Thalictrum flavum ssp glaucum and Asphodeline lutea to plant out. I’ve added yellow and white irises and there are quite a few tulips.
Now I want to create a much hotter border for later in the summer – because of the clay soil and the heat, I am trying to bump up the grass and helenium population. Both seem to do well, even with little watering. Grey plants (which I love) don’t do very well here and I make the most of those that are thriving.
Currently a rather nice little ‘Canary Bird’ rose is finally getting away below the purple berberis, embellished with a little Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fern Cottage’ at its feet. The rose has died back a little each year since planting – this seems to be what always happens on this clay soil – but finally this year it is getting its toes in.
Last year the Long Border still didn’t look right. I’m hoping that in joining in with Cathy’s meme I can work out how to really change it so that I’ll enjoy it in the summer months too.
Anyway – here I am now, Cathy, with my boring border pictures!
The photos were taken on the last day of April – I took them originally to link in with Helen, at The Patient Gardener‘s End of Month View.
So there are a few more pics of two other areas in the top (nearly completed – continually evolving!) part of the garden.
In addition to the Long Border, I’ve taken a few of the Rose Walk (no roses yet!). I lost my four large bronze fennels in the winter … a pity, because they were so lovely when the alliums came along. Now replanted with the seedlings they threw all over the shop.
…. and my tiny little mini-woodland. This last is going to sleep now. I used to adore woodland plants in the past, and this little shaded area at the end of the Long Border is the only place I have (so far) to grow my favourite plants.
Do go and look at Cathy’s Tuesday View and enjoy what other bloggers are showing us.
Similarly, the great pictures of Helen’s front garden in her End of Month View. She’s renovated it in the last couple of years and I’m in awe!
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
This is going to be good, I can’t wait to see how this bed comes along through the year and goes from one peak to another!
Sorry to see the freeze damage. Were your yew damaged as well?
That’s quite the little woodland garden you’re growing. I know many a gardener who would be pleased to have that kind of variety in a garden ten times the size!
Always sweet, Frank! I do actually feel embarrassed when I post pictures of the garden because I have these stupid standards in my silly head. Yes, lots of frost damage on yew and box, but they’ll pull through. It’s a few much younger shrubs (two Hydrangea sargentiana, the Cornus ‘Satomi’ and a Magnolia that I’m worried about. Except I went to a friend’s garden today and see that we are all in the same boat.
We had two years where rather harsh freezes came late in the season, after most plants had leafed out. Some recovered remarkably fast… others just plain died. An established rugosa rose was the most surprising casualty, I didn’t think anything could kill them!
Good luck, once a few other things come along you won’t even think about it anymore 🙂
Thanks! Some shrubs (the cornus and the Cercis) are already looking a bit better. How astonishing for a rugosa rose to be killed by a freeze in spring … you can’t really guarantee anything, can you?
It looks like your garden is rapidly moving towards summer! Your border view is most definitely not boring Cathy! I will be interested to see what else is in there later in the year – my slope is not clay, but is very dry in summer and catches the worst of the midday sun too. So glad you are joining me, and I hope it will help you get some ideas for future planting. 🙂 Oh, and that yellow rose is absolutely gorgeous!
I am so glad to be joining with you too, Cathy! I am already panicking because I go back to Scotland next Tuesday for 9 days and things will flower without me! Hopefully they’ll last so I can join in again when I return.
Oh far from being a boring view Cathy! I’m sorry to read about your frost damage which has also hit gardeners and growers in the south of England. I imagine that you must cherish your little mini woodland.
Very kind Anna – yes I’ve been watching and seeing that our weather patterns are going in tandem. That little woodland is such a pleasant place on a very hot summer’s day – tiny as it is. So, you are right, I do cherish it!
I love your ‘Canary Bird’ rose but mostly I love how your garden is built adjoining those old stone walls. Makes it impossible to have a boring view. Also love the border with the grassy path leading to the stone steps.
The walls are quite a blessing. In fact the whole setting is a blessing, given the slow development of the actual garden.
I adore yellow single roses – yours is no exception! Beautiful!
Thanks Eliza!
Cathy, your views do look lovely, but I understand the desire for guiding the borders through hot summer. Will look forward to seeing what solutions you experiment with. I know it will be creative and lovely.
The views (not the border!) are certainly lovely. I’m going to enjoy watching/recording how it all develops.
There’s so much to admire already, but I know what you mean about your ideas and standards! And I’m very impressed with all your perennial seed growing- no mean feat!
Looking forward to seeing the border evolve, thanks for sharing.
It certainly has been harder here to grow perennials than previously, but I live in (great!) hope.
Most of us have been through or are still going through similar bouts of disatisfaction and having ‘warts and all’ posts shows this, so it will be good to follow the progress of your borders. I certainly enjoyed seeing views I had not seen before, especially the little woodland. Sorry to hear your greenhouse is not up and running yet
Still not up and running Cathy, but I live in hope. Yes – bouts of disatisfaction, and then you see something joyful around the next corner!
Your gardens are so beautiful! Very much like my “dream garden” (I’m a long way from accomplishing it!) I just discovered your blog and I love all the pictures!
I think my ACTUAL garden is a long way away from being a dream garden. But you are quite right, Joanna, the surroundings are amazing and they make anything look better!
Certainly not boring. Clay soil is such hard work but I know silver leaf plants struggle. Do you have dahlias I wonder. I shall look forward to seeing the view develop and change
Thanks for the comment! Yes – I do have dahlias and they seem to do ok although I had big problems with various critters eating the roots in the first two years. You’ve reminded me it’s high time I planted them out.
It looks like that border already has a lot of interest, but so many of us feel the same about sharing our gardens in all phases…! 😉 I love your Artemisias; “Powis Castle” has done magnificently for me here – in clay too! But I’ve not seen “Lambrook Silver”.
I’m pleased with ‘Lambrook Silver’, Amy – it is the same effect as ‘Powis’, but at a lower level.
Beautiful!
Hi Cathy, I have taken over from Helen to host the End of Month View. It would be great if you can join. https://glebehouse.wordpress.com/2017/08/31/end-of-month-view-august-2017/