METALLIC TONES

The aim here was to conjure a woodland edge with the spires of the campanula and veronica pushing through dense groundcover. I was drawn to the particularly cool, blue tones of the veronica and omphalodes as well as the silver of the fern. The depth of the old tin trunk helps to retain the moisture that these woodlanders enjoy and the earthy tones of the tin lend a rustic, neutral feel, which is picked up gently in the purple midrib of the fern.

How to achieve the look

Container and composition

I’d had this wonderful old trunk knocking around in the shed for some time, just waiting for a time when it would come in handy, but you may be able to find something similar from a local salvage yard or auction room and it’s always worth searching online under ‘salvage and architectural antiques’. The container needed some height to balance its weight and I liked the elegance of the campanula, which almost looks better in bud than in flower. To extend the season, you could replace the veronica with Thalictrum Splendide White (= ‘Fr21034’), which gives a beautiful summer lift to a woodland planting as it flowers in July and adds height and airiness.

Cultivation and care

I use a peat-free compost such as Melcourt Sylvagrow or Dalefoot, but for plants that like a rich, woodsy soil I add some well-rotted leaf mould, garden compost and/or some top soil. Mole hills can be a great source of nicely friable soil if you have any nearby. Placing the container in the shade ensures that it doesn’t dry out too quickly. A dark background such as this yew hedge highlights the pale flowers, much as they would be seen in the shade of woodland trees. Cut back the tellima after flowering to encourage fresh growth through to the autumn. Omphalodes cappadocica

‘All Summer Blues’ is not easy to source, but you could substitute it with Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Cherry Ingram’ or even Brunnera macrophylla ‘Betty Bowring’.