I fully intended to plant early sowings of Cosmos White Popsocks, Verbena bonariensis, Gaura Lindheimeri “The Bride”, Coreopsis ‘Incredible’ Tall Mix, Spanish daisy and Ammi visnaga into my garden this summer. However, time was never quite on my side. I ended up donating the seedlings to my friend Judy – it was a wise decision.
On Monday the Cosmos went off for composting, and thirty new plants were finally planted in the ground – as my summer seedlings were directly planted into Judy’s containers (which we normally use for summer bedding). I am already visualising next years borders edged with the freshly autumn planted Spanish daisy, and spires of Gaura The Bride gently moving in a warm summer breeze. In future years I will definitely grow on more perennials this way. It is a really economical way to start to stock up your gardens in late autumn.
At home, my dahlia tubers and gladioli corms are back on the greenhouse benches, they sit alongside perennials which I need to divide up and grow on for next year. My gardening “to do” list is permanently never-ending… at least I have made a start.
A visit to Trentham Gardens is always one of my autumnal recommendations. I think I will need to include for a late spring visit to check on the newly planted stands of Magnolia.
Nigel Dunnett’s inspired large-scale landscape planting design was supremely beautiful as these late autumnal afternoon images show.
The autumnal structure of Piet Oudulf’s planting was magnificent.
Tom Stuart Smiths Italian garden has been continuously stunning for fourteen years. I was fascinated by the seedheads on this occasion.
There is now an entire winter to think about how I can incorporate ideas from these outstanding planting combinations into smaller gardens in my care. All my customers are becoming accustomed to hearing me say ” I have a brilliant new idea for your garden.”
Sally Wicks 