This past season I've been able to introduce some different flowering perennials into the new garden beds at our house here at Struan Farm. I'm striving for variety as well as flowers that support pollinators and butterflies and can be cut for arrangements for farmstay guests. These would be classified as "vintage" or "heirloom" by gardening fashionistas I'm sure.
Below are several that are thriving. I've hunted them down from nurseries selling online, purchasing them directly from growers, including Wake Robin, Ravenhill Nursery, Heirloom Perennial Nursery, and Blue Mountain Nurseries. There are others out there who also ship directly to gardeners, and sometimes the better garden centres test the odd unusual plant. The courier costs for internet purchases can get silly, especially for rural delivery, but I suppose it depends on financial constraints and how badly you may want something. Volume helps that to a point. I save seeds, take cuttings, and/or divide plants when and where I can to spread them around the gardens.
Veronica longifolia and 'Blue Finger'
Astrantia 'Star Bush' and major 'Rubra'
Echinops
Gaura 'So White,' with thanks to the Auckland Botanic Gardens for inspiring me.
I also planted Eryngium gourgatii and Eryngium Planum 'Blue Cap,' Monardi (Bergamot 'Prairie Fire'), and several interesting types of Aquilegia, all of which have finished flowering at the moment.
"Variety is the spice of life." Did you know that this well-worn phrase dates back to 1785, and the poem "The Task," by William Cowper? Despite my quest for variety I didn't know that until now.
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