Perfect perennials

So the grasses are sorted, how are the perennials doing? They’ve all been marshalled together in a site on Ladybrook Nursery so that I can come down on a regular basis to tend them, deadhead, defoliate and generally get them looking their best for arrival at the Tatton show site.

The plants are under the sprinklers when I first arrive so I can’t get near them unless I want a drenching! Most are looking great. Lots of growing has been going on since I was here last. The only ones that are not performing to show garden standard would appear to be the Echinacea ‘White Swan’ so I may have to swap them. Janine, who has been helping me with my choices, is going to see if she can source some that are producing more flowers and growing more uniformly. The Leucanthemum supurbum ‘Silver Princess’ are looking very good but I’m not sure they will be high enough to peep through the grasses.

 

The Achillea are doing really, producing lots of lovely flowers but I don’t want them using up all of their energy too early. I will be snipping off the more mature flower heads that are showing too early so that they can reserve their flower power for the end of July!  The Knautia are also flowering prolifically, although I still haven’t decided whether to use these or the Cosmos atrosanguineus (Chocolate Comos). I’m after a really deep colour to contrast with the soft pastels of the other perennials and I’m now leaning towards the Cosmos as the dark brown will look gorgeous with the grasses, especially the Anemanthele  lessoniana which have a touch of orange in them. So not only does it look yummy, it sounds yummy too!

I’ll be back again next week to check on progress, leaving my plants under the watchful eye of the local Blackbird!

Spoilt for choice

“Soft pastels conjure up a dreamy colour mix,

 interspersed with occasional spots of dark or bright colour for contrast.”

Last week I visited Ladybrook Nursery to discuss my choices and the likelihood of them actually being in flower for the last week in July. Unfortunately some of them are ruled out due to past experiences; one season’s worth of growth may not be sufficient time for them to be tall enough for the show. Its not like choosing plants for your own garden, when it doesn’t matter when they come in to flower, or don’t! I have to make decisions now that could impact on the standard of medal that the garden could be awarded. Can you imagine if no plants flower in time? That thought gives me butterflies!

Between us we settle on a short list of plants.

This includes the pastel shades of Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’, Achillea ‘Salmon Beauty’ and Linaria purpuria Canon J Went and for contrast, the dark purple of Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘ Black Knight’. I have left enough of the allocated plant budget to cover last minute purchases if I need to just before the show. I think I have everything covered, fingers crossed!

I now have to decide on exact quantities so am back at the office contemplating my options. I’ve erred on the side of caution and am going to order 70 to 80% of the perennials that I need, leaving 20% to be bought in a mad panic right at the last moment, choosing any plants that are flowering (in the correct colours!) in those last weeks of July. I will now confirm my order so that the nursery can set all the plants to once side and then its over to me to visit them regularly basis over the next eleven weeks to stake, deadhead and weed! I’ll enjoy getting my hands dirty!