It’s OK to plan, but it’s better to be flexible
I’ve filled gaps in the main border, some created by wind and rain damage at the end of June, others arising naturally as spring plants went over. Any excuse for a visit to the garden centre! I didn’t buy much at all last year, trying instead to divide and spread existing plants as I think the cost of potted plants has increased by 10-20 per cent. Undeterred by this, I bought pink and scarlet achillea, dusky-mauve astrantia, sunny-yellow echinacea, white veronica and Shasta daisies. The pollinators are happy with these additions and the white stands out as dusk falls. As I prepared the ground, disturbing snowdrop and bluebell bulbs from their well-earned rest, I also found bulbs of an old, inherited crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, gamely sprouting spindly leaves. For years, it formed such a large spread in this small garden that I eventually dug it out. It deserves another chance, so I’ve rescued the remains and hope I can find them another spot. It’s a typical Scottish summer here, with warm, sunny days chased by spells of strong winds and heavy showers. No need to water the garden, and there’s plenty of rainwater in the collecting butt. Prolonged rain isn’t good for the young swallows and house martins though, if the insects they need to feed on aren’t flying. In the main border, orange-red heleniums are mingling with white and orange achillea. The first buds of white Japanese anemones and pink monarda are just opening.
For height, there’s one graceful, misty fennel (the other was a June weather casualty), globes of echinops, which seem like blue fireworks when they’re open, and more vibrant evening primroses than I can ever recall. In pots, various lavender, rosemary and agapanthus are looking content.
I can already see where I might change things next spring. That’s the fun of gardening. For me, it’s okay to plan, but it’s better to be flexible, because plans often don’t work the way I expected!