Alistair October 3rd, 2008
Probably the best of all Bi’annual flowers is the European woodland plant Digitalis, commonly known as Foxgloves. Grows in dappled shade and is well suited for the woodland garden, will also grow well in full sunshine. There are many varieties to choose from, but I am not so fond of some of the giant specimens that have been coming into the garden centres over the past few years.
Look out for Excelsior the most dramatic of all foxgloves. Flowers completely circle the stems and are held horizontally to show-off beautiful interior spotting.(Digitalis are toxic) Sow seeds in early Spring, and when plants are large enough either in the autumn or spring, plant them up in their flowering position. In future years they will seed themselves, and you will never be without these beautiful flowers.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Position - Full sun/Part shade/Shade
Height - 150cm
Alistair September 29th, 2008
Always keen to share with you, plants that perform particularly well in our garden.
This one is a true gem, (Cimicifuga Racemosa Atropurpurea,) Here in Aberdeen, Cimisifuga is a late summer/ autumn flowering Perennial. Further south I suspect it would flower mid summer.
Stunning deep red/black foliage, with white flower spikes towering six to eight feet tall. The butterflies just love this fully hardy plant which is also scented.
In our garden it grows in excess of eight feet, In spite of its height,don’t think that you have to place this beauty at the back of the border. The beautiful foliage only grows to about seventy centimetres tall with the airy flower spikes towering above, allowing you to see through the stems. Our Cimicifuga has a suitable spot right at the front of the border. Looking outstanding.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Height - 7/8ft
Position - Partial shade
Alistair September 25th, 2008
Always on the lookout for a plant that is a bit different. One Perennial which we have had in the garden for a few years now is Chelone Obliqua. Also known as the turtlehead plant, owing to the resemblance of the flowerheads, you will see what I mean if you check the picture that I have taken of this plant in our garden, looking a bit like something out of (little Shop Of Horrors)
The plant has dense spikes of rose-red flowers blooms in late summer and early autumn. Butterflies are attracted to the nectar. The deep green, glossy foliage is handsome all season long. Chelone Obliqua grows best in full sun and moist soil and is a great choice for the edge of water gardens.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Position - Full sun/Partial shade
Height - 90cm/3ft
Alistair September 22nd, 2008
Perennial Asters in Aberdeen tend to be very late in the season before flowering. Fricartii Monch however, placed in a sunny position should flower from late July through till October. The pale Lavender blue flowers are quite outstanding, and this one does not suffer from the mildew normally associated with Asters.
Three planted together will be more effective as I find Fricartii Monch although hardy does not spread. The Royal Horticultural society have given this plant there prestigious award of garden merit. Not that easy to find in local garden centres but definitely worth the search.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Position - Full sun (make sure it does not dry out)
Height - 90cm 3ft
Alistair September 15th, 2008
If in your garden there is a position where you find virtually nothing grows, perhaps it may be in full shade, or the soil may be very poor and dry. Whatever the reason don’t despair, I have the answer for you.
Aucuba also known as the spotted Laurel will grow in any position including where shade is at it’s most dense. The large leaves of this evergreen shrub are splashed with pale yellow. The purple flowers in April/May are rather insignificant, however once established clusters of large red berries are abundant from mid Summer right through till late Winter. It can take a couple of years for the growth to really get going, encourage this by pruning back straggly stems. The one position where Aucuba may start to look a bit sickly is where drainage may be poor and suffering from being waterlogged. An annual dressing of ericaceous compost will be beneficial.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Position - Full sun/Full shade
Height - Keep it any height you wish
Alistair September 8th, 2008
Crocosmia x Crocosmiiflora is known as the common Montbretia and was bred by crossing the 2 species C. potsii and C. aurea. The orange shaded flowers are borne on stems just above the strappy sword like leaves. Montbretia is free flowering from early August till October and looks excellent grown along with Phlox.
In all the years we have been gardening this is the first season we have had Montbretia in the borders of our garden, it will definitely not be the last.
This is a plant known to be invasive and may put some people off, however most of us can cope with splitting a herbaceous plant every two years or so. Crocosmia is found growing wild in South Africa, this one, first of the hybrids was bred in France in 1879 and was named after a botanist Antoine Fran’s Ernest Conquebert de Monbret who accompanied Napoleon on his Egypt campaign in 1798
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Position - Full sun/Part shade
Height - 60cm
Alistair September 6th, 2008
Summer in Aberdeen is drawing to a close, pretty poor season much like last year. Mind you a good spell in July fairly got the plants growing. Lots of work to do in the garden, in a couple of weeks time the Summer bedding will be cleared and the ground prepared for plants and bulbs which will give a good show in Spring.
I have just updated the website adding pictures of our front and back garden 2008. On the front page open up the link (Our Garden) and see what you think. The front garden this year is maybe a little more subtle than usual, not sure if I am quite as pleased with it. The back garden I think you may agree looks pretty good and having entered this for the Aberdeen competition we are reasonably hopeful. However the pictures were taken before the dreaded box blight ocurred. I will let you know next seson the extent of this problem, hoping for a recovery.
Our Back Garden
Alistair September 4th, 2008
For the past two years we have spent a lot of time transforming the back garden. Previously the emphasis was on a garden that looked good in Summer.
Our hard work has been successful and the garden now looks great even in the dullest of Winter days. However it seems our four seasons garden has taken a blow.
A major part of the new theme was the introduction of Box hedging and topiary, and as you have possibly guessed we have been struck with the dreaded Box blight. Part of the hedging within a couple of weeks of noticing the problem already appears to have died off completely. I suspect that I have been over enthusiastic with the pruning. I came across an article by Monty Don which covers this problem in an interesting and very helpful manner. Click on Montys link below www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/sep/04/shopping.gardens
