Must say that the new gardens I'm meant to be planting this winter at Struan Farm are taking time. I'm making progress, but it's been slow going. While some of this has been due to rainy weather, a large part of it is that I simply haven't been able to buy an interesting mix of plants, very frustrating! The garden centres, even the better ones that are usually my salvation, all have the same things. Very little variety, few special things. I'm also somewhat challenged by my self-imposed height restrictions, especially for the one kidney shaped bed that we look out on directly. I don't want anything that is going to restrict views across the lawn.
Okay, yes, I have made a dent. I've planted Leucadendron "Mrs. Stanley" and "Julie," purple sage, Azalea "Pax," Eriostemon Profusion, Choisya, Penstemons, Daphne, Loropetalum Burgundy (not sure this really works as a topiary, which is how it is being sold this season--it's blown over three times now despite staking...), Acacia cognata "Limelight," "Bella Stella" Lily, Lamb's Ear, Coleosis "Sunburst," Cistus, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Nana, and Alstroemeria Inticancha Dark Purple. I've popped in poppy seeds along with runuculus and freesia bulbs. This week the "My Mum" roses arrived with some bonus "Friesia" I hadn't ordered. "Frilly Jilly" is on the way. Delphinium seeds are in trays in the glasshouse, I'm thinking I will plant a line of those along the inside curve even if this may test my height restrictions. In the other new bed near the fence I've also planted Escallonia "Gold Brian," Serissa Jap. "Pink Mystique," and Acmadenia "Pink Butterflies," as well as some transplanted rose cuttings and dahlias. I'm worrying about too much pink, I want variety of colour and texture.
So getting there at a snail's pace. I'll crank up the glasshouse with annuals in spring to fill the gaps. The way this is looking right now I'll definitely need to, but Mother Nature may surprise!
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