Tag Archives: perennials

Autumnal Textures over Perennial Colour

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Michael

My trial gardens in Amsterdam have teetered on the edge of chaos this year as a result of moving house. Weeds are under control and wayward growth ruthlessly chopped down, but I long for a clean sweep and the fresh growing … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden moods | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Late Summer Colour in the Perennial Meadows’ Garden

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Michael

My trial gardens in Amsterdam seem to have waltzed through the colour wheel this year in spite of the difficulties that weather has throw at them. Spring was too dry, the first half of summer was cold and dry, then … Continue reading →

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An Ornamental Grass to Use in Shade

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Michael

Grasses are mostly used in our gardens in sunny sites to bring texture, contrast and movement to our planting schemes, but in shade their are few that will thrive and offer us the same qualities. Instead we tend to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Recipes for perennial meadows | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Using Hakonechloa macra Grass in a Perennial Meadow.

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Michael

This is an ornamental grass I have used mainly as a pot specimen or as a front of border edging plant in the past, but lets think about how we might use it as a theme plant within a mixed … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Recipes for perennial meadows, Top Perennials | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Plant Recipes for Perennial Meadows

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Michael

A single plant portrait can seduce us into wanting to own and grow it, but it is only by mixing, matching and contrasting different plants in our garden borders that we can fully appreciate their subtleties and characters. This is … Continue reading →

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Dry Shade

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Michael

Two words that seem to trigger instant depression for gardeners: dry and shade. Yes, of course, plants need water and light to grow, but some can do with less. In some ways dry shade can offer opportunities that more clement … Continue reading →

Posted in Practical gardening | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Hemerocallis dumortieri – the earliest flowering daylily

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Michael

Hemerocallis dumortieri is the earliest flowering daylily in my garden and for this reason alone it deserves our attention. Daylilies are deservedly popular as they are easily grown perennials that flower over a long summer season. In America their popularity … Continue reading →

Posted in Top Perennials | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Blue Tulips

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Michael

My recent post on red tulips was intended to make a serious design point about using tulips as complementary plants in perennial meadow planting schemes; what follows is more of a celebration of what this incredible flower has to offer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs for the Garden | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Pachyphragma machrophyllum a white flowered ground-cover perennial for spring gardens.

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Michael

Some plants are recommended time and again whilst others, even though they are better, are completely ignored. This is I suppose not only the province of plants, people are also victims of such narrow vision. It is time to sing … Continue reading →

Posted in Top Perennials | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Look Perennial Plant Borders

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Michael

There is a lot more to the idea of a perennial meadow than simply the random arrangement of a group of compatible plants to create a matrix of vegetation to replace an old lawn. In the series of posts – … Continue reading →

Posted in Meadows 101 | Tagged , , | 6 Comments