I  find it fascinating watching allium, artichoke and poppy seed heads bleach in the summer sunshine.

 

I always have my eye out for a planting design course, and consider myself very fortunate to live relatively close to the dynamic Wildgoose Nursery at Millichope.  Last Tuesday was a truly memorable day as Jimi Blake, provided an inspirational course ” Hunting Brook through the season” and “New and exciting plants ”  at the nursery.  Jimi spoke for hours with passion, incredible knowledge, intelligence and great humour, it was an immersive experience, it was brilliant!

If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of his courses, you really ought to.  The garden view from your lounge window may well change severely and rapidly as a result.  I have now booked myself on a Garden Masterclass course to Hunting Brook Gardens in County Wicklow Ireland in September.

I came away with so many great new design ideas.   However, there is one really simple thought we should all take on board.  When making a new planting area decide what you DON’ T  want to see first, and then start thinking about what you DO want to see.  The number of times  I have renovated gardens retaining shrubs and perennials when really they were passed their best and should have been dug out.  I am now busy drawing up a list for all my customers as to what we will be taking out in the autumn to make way for new and exciting plants.

Why have old and boring, when you can have new and exciting? By growing annuals from seed you really can have the latter.  The majority of my seeds come via Sarah Raven and Thompson and Morgan.  They both offer a really great range, are good quality and well priced.   Here are a few I have grown this year.  Tithonia is looking resplendent.  Coreopsis x hybrida ‘Incredible’ Tall Mix is stunning and the cucumber Crystal Lemon is delicious.

 

I overwintered my Gladioli Black Surprise, and when tipping them out of their containers in late March they had produced vast amounts of cormlets.  I am really happy with the result.  They are looking resplendent with my dahlias and sunflowers.