Grow

Resistance was futile as I tried to reduce the amount of seeds I was going to buy this year.   36 new packets have now joined my ever-expanding collection.  Just a small matter of germinating, growing them on, planting out, and then sitting back.   I thought I would share a few of my chosen acquisitions.

Verbena bonariensis  –   If all goes to plan they will create an iridescent purple flowered semi transparent enclosure around our garden table.   I like to  propagate Verbena every few years as I don’t consider them as tough long-lasting perennials.   I cannot imagine my garden without them,  more importantly neither can the bees.

At this precise moment, Dahlia variablis Cactus Flowered Mix  and Black Beauty  are the two most important packets of seed in my possession.   If all goes to plan these dahlias will look resplendent growing through the pheasant grass which self-seeds madly through my paved garden.  I can envisage it now,  it looks fantastic !

I made two raised beds for my veg last  year and ended up  filling  them with flowers…  This year it is the giant tractor spare tyre look for the veg.

They will be filled with Climbing french beans, Courgette Tromboncino,  Squash ‘  Early Butternut’  and Pumpkin Munchin will be trailed around the rims.  A wire net around the edge will hopefully keep the rabbits at bay…

My garden is never complete without Tithonia rotundifolia Torch.  An incredibly vibrant orange flower sits on the most tactile green velvet like stem.

I may well combine it with  Ammi majus as orange looks suprisingly good against white.

My greenhouse will shortly be home to fast cropping salad.  I like the idea of  taking a small tray into the house, cutting it fresh at the table and returning the tray back into the greenhouse to grow on.   Aubergine Slim Jim looked interesting –  so I bought a packet.  Come mid summer they will be sliced and seared on the greenhouse stove and served  with a  feta cheese and combined Cucumber Diva and Crystal lemon salad straight from the vine.  Sounds delicious, I hope it works !

Sunflowers grew well last year… after sowing an entire packet I ended up with one –  due to slug attack. This year I  would like dozens and dozens, and intend  growing  them on for longer before planting them out to get over this problem.  My  choice –  Russian Giant,  Italian White and Shock o lat.

We  look after an acre of land –   I really want to start making more of this beautiful space.  With this in mind I  bought Oxeye daisy and  Gaura The Bride.   Artichoke Violet de Provence will be dropped into this mix.

Hardy annuals will be sown outside.  When do I do this ?  I wait until the previous years hardy  annuals have started re- germinating in my garden.  The containers will sit between my perennial plants and include the following.

I like the idea of creating a garden space where I will literally be immersed in all that I have grown.  Ultimately I am trying to create a visual enclosure of colour and sound.  I think it will be an interesting project.