Allium christophiiThe beautiful show of spring bulbs that we have had in the garden this year has made me think more about multi level planting and ‘see through’ plants.
I have just planted plenty of double Snowdrops in our green and white borders and although the leaves are looking sad at the moment, I am hoping for a good show of their enchanting flowers early in 2014! They are planted between and below deciduous shrubs to fill the borders with interest before the shrubs have even thought about coming into leaf or flower and will be followed by the white Daffodil ‘Thalia’ in March. Along with white Anemone blanda which is slowly seeding itself around these borders, there should be a good continuity of color from late winter onwards.
One idea that I will be trying has been pinched from a friend’s garden. On a visit last summer there was a small border in full sun planted with dark purple, jagged leaved Heucheras in front of several Agapanthus ‘Headbourne Hybrids’ a hardy deciduous variety of the African Lily that has huge ball shaped heads of blue flowers from midsummer onwards. Above these two plants were clouds of Verbena bonariensis flowers atop upright, leafless stems and the border was a picture of blue, purple and mauve. As well as the effect lasting through the summer, there was the added bonus of seed heads on both the Agapanthus and Verbena for autumn interest and some leaves left on the Heuchera through the winter months.
Tulips are another fine ‘see through’ plant, although their blooms are somewhat short lived in warm weather. The tall stemmed varieties are often used in bedding schemes to add height amongst Polyanthus and Wall Flowers. In our own garden they look superb in decadent clumps with the perennial Forget Me Not’s (Brunnera) foaming blue flowers at the base.
Many summer bulbs are ideal for giving another layer to plantings and one of my favourites are Alliums. There are many varieties of these members of the onion family available, from the lower growing A. christophii with huge heads of silvery mauve flowers on stout stems to the taller growing A. ‘Purple Sensation’ with tighter heads of flowers in a darker shade. Alliums should be planted in late autumn and need as much sun as possible and a gritty, well drained soil. I always plant the bulbs on a handful of coarse grit so that the roots can drain through the winter months and they come up each spring year on year. Alliums look beautiful mixed with fine bladed grasses such as Stipa tenuissima or Festuca glauca and also with Agapanthus where they echo the flower shape with their own ornamental seed heads that add interest after the flowers have faded and as the Agapanthus begin to flower. We have a dried flower head of Allium schubertii in our loft and each year it graces our Christmas tree as an oversized star.
So this year I am taking a long hard look at the garden through the seasons and banishing bare earth in the borders with multi level planting and ‘see through’ plants!
Happy Gardening,
Mr McGregor
