Several new plants were added to the garden last Autumn. Brunnera Jack Frost is the one I like best.

The plant above, Brunnera Jack Frost, after seeing how it performed in the garden in Spring of this year, just had to be my first choice as favourite.

It caught my eye whilst on a trip to the garden centre last September.  I had to have it.  When I got home I planted it in a position in the main border of the back garden, it did concern me that it may have been a spot that was too shady.

Well there was no need for concern. The dusty silver leaves with dark green veining was just stunning.  Autumn turned to Winter and the leaves were still hanging on giving the impression the plant may be evergreen.   However it is a perennial and the plant did indeed lose its leaves by mid December.

 Its quite clear to see how very special the foliage is.  I did receive an indication that Jack Frost may not be as floriferous as some of the other plain leaved Brunnera’s, I wasn’t that concerned, after all the foliage was the main reason for my purchase.

Anyway, much to my satisfaction the leaves started to appear in early Spring, and by mid April the pale blue flowers, which are very much like those on Forget me nots started to appear, and as I expected gave the impression they would be sparse.

The plant continued to look like this until mid May, and then we got an explosion of blooms, looking fantastic and lasting well into June, in fact by the very end of June she was still hanging on to a good few flowers.

To say I planted Jack Frost in a shady position would be a bit of an understatement, in fact it is in deep shade.

In our garden, this Brunnera will be finding itself in several other positions next year, and the good news is, that after a couple of years they are suitable for lifting and dividing.

I did receive some information to look out for leaves which revert to plain green, apparently this is more likely to happen if planted in a dry sunnier position.  Not surprisingly this plant received the RHS award of garden merit.

Hardiness — Fully hardy

Height — 45cm/18″

Position — Part shade– does very well in full shade in our garden

*** Brunnera jack frost – buy now ***

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In early July the weather continued to be very cool for the time of year, here is a little of what was going on.

  

  

Self seeded Digitalis scattered around the garden. Some left in situation and others repositioned in spots which were probably not as good as that which mother nature had chosen.

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An area of the woodland

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Plenty of lush growth in the main border of the back garden in early July, but still quite sparse of blooms owing to the unseasonally cold weather.  Nothing really suffering though.

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The hardy Geranium Max Frei above, is an excellent front of the border specimen. The west facing border where it is situated is really too dry a position for it, this Summer Max Frei is enjoying the wet conditions which we are having..     On the right we have the Portland  Rose de rescht braving the wet weather. I also see this Rose being referred to as a Damask, well I don’t think it can be both. Although reluctant to do so several other Roses did start to open in early July.

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Nothing seems to deter the Hydrangea Petiolaris from blooming its heart out.

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