I've never needed to stake it @GardenerSuze . It's flowering now, which is a bit earlier than usual, but many things are early this year and many things are late.
I see it on verges when I'm en route to hills, which is why I like it so much. It reminds me of my hills if I'm not able to get out
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm really liking the Liatris, I think that might be the one for in front of the roses. Google is telling me I can leave the flower stems on for winter interest, is that right? Or do they completely die back?
I think in terms of losing herbaceous perennials, partly the problem is that I actually can't find them, rather than they die. So a hosta for example completely disappears in winter (hence why I have them in pots, or because slugs) so come spring, if it doesn't pop up early enough, I forget they are there, think the space is empty and plant something else, killing them in the process. But if something is semi evergreen, or at least doesn't vanish completely, I won't forget about it.
If I can leave the flowers spikes of a liatris until early spring that would be really helpful. I think I'll go for that if so.
Slowly building a wildlife garden, in a new build in East Yorkshire.
I've just been out and taken an up to date photo just to give you a better idea of the size of the border as think the first pic makes it look narrower than it is. You can also see what I mean by the unfortunate colour scheme I have currently 🫢
Excuse the battered roses, we've just had a much needed downpour. I should have given them some support when i planted them, obviously they are only young and too weak to hold their blooms at the moment, but I didn't and they are so flipping thorny I'm not doing it now!
Slowly building a wildlife garden, in a new build in East Yorkshire.
Jess91Pink and yellow are very much personal taste. A pale lemon/cream is good with a dark pink.
Another hardy Geranium is Bill Wallis[evergreen] down side it can set alot of seed if happy. You could also look at Origanum Herrenhusan but not evergreen.You could leave it over winter if you need to see where it is in the border and it will need to be to the left which I assume is the drier side.
I still think that long term you need to make the border larger. The addition of different leaf shape will add the interest you need. Liatris is not evergreen.
You will see the onion over winter you can just see small stalks. This is my upside down photo of it. Bottom left you can also see the black grass I mentioned earlier. This is evergreen.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
No - Liatris aren't evergreen, and presenters of TV shows love to bang on about seedheads over winter etc, but in reality - it depends where you live. Most of them look like a heap of sh*te here, because they get battered by the weather. They can be a slug target though, so you have to treat 'em mean so that they're sturdier and able to withstand the onslaught. They do spread quite readily too.
I took a photo of the Campanula to give you an idea. They're a reasonable height, so might be useful. If you have trouble with the perennials, it's always worth having a few short canes or twigs in the general area so that you know something's there. It can be easy to forget what you've planted, not that I speak from experience of course....
Aquilegias will definitely be worth trying. Plenty of colours which will suit. I grow William Guinness which is plummy purple and white. It gets to a good height too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl Thankyou for sharing your photo I am going to see if C rotundifolia is still at the GC next week it is very delicate. Aquilegias are great plants in that they flower end of spring early summer when there is a lull in flowers.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I grew mine from seed @GardenerSuze - it was quite easy I agree @punkdoc - some slim verticals are needed there. It's difficult to see exactly how much room there is, but there should be room for that salvia or a hebe, or similar, with those verticals in between.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I thiink it might be back to the slug snail problem with Salvia Caradonna IIv'e seen the leaves like 'lace curtains' early spring although new leaves develop as spring progresses and they seem to recover.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I did think about aquilegia but it's quite short lived isn't it? Mind you, apparently it self seeds so maybe not such a problem.
Think I'll probably go for Liatris under the roses and salvia under the viburnum. I can probably squeeze some spring bulbs in front as well if I widen it a bit.
Thank you everyone for your help, it's really good to get thoughts and opinions from experienced people.
Slowly building a wildlife garden, in a new build in East Yorkshire.
Posts
I see it on verges when I'm en route to hills, which is why I like it so much. It reminds me of my hills if I'm not able to get out
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think in terms of losing herbaceous perennials, partly the problem is that I actually can't find them, rather than they die. So a hosta for example completely disappears in winter (hence why I have them in pots, or because slugs) so come spring, if it doesn't pop up early enough, I forget they are there, think the space is empty and plant something else, killing them in the process. But if something is semi evergreen, or at least doesn't vanish completely, I won't forget about it.
If I can leave the flowers spikes of a liatris until early spring that would be really helpful. I think I'll go for that if so.
Excuse the battered roses, we've just had a much needed downpour. I should have given them some support when i planted them, obviously they are only young and too weak to hold their blooms at the moment, but I didn't and they are so flipping thorny I'm not doing it now!
Another hardy Geranium is Bill Wallis[evergreen] down side it can set alot of seed if happy. You could also look at Origanum Herrenhusan but not evergreen.You could leave it over winter if you need to see where it is in the border and it will need to be to the left which I assume is the drier side.
I still think that long term you need to make the border larger. The addition of different leaf shape will add the interest you need.
Liatris is not evergreen.
You will see the onion over winter you can just see small stalks.
This is my upside down photo of it. Bottom left you can also see the black grass I mentioned earlier. This is evergreen.
They can be a slug target though, so you have to treat 'em mean so that they're sturdier and able to withstand the onslaught. They do spread quite readily too.
I took a photo of the Campanula to give you an idea. They're a reasonable height, so might be useful.
If you have trouble with the perennials, it's always worth having a few short canes or twigs in the general area so that you know something's there. It can be easy to forget what you've planted, not that I speak from experience of course....
Aquilegias will definitely be worth trying. Plenty of colours which will suit. I grow William Guinness which is plummy purple and white. It gets to a good height too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Aquilegias are great plants in that they flower end of spring early summer when there is a lull in flowers.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I agree @punkdoc - some slim verticals are needed there. It's difficult to see exactly how much room there is, but there should be room for that salvia or a hebe, or similar, with those verticals in between.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Think I'll probably go for Liatris under the roses and salvia under the viburnum. I can probably squeeze some spring bulbs in front as well if I widen it a bit.
Thank you everyone for your help, it's really good to get thoughts and opinions from experienced people.