PHLOMIS, STACHYS AND ASTELIA

Phlomis russelliana (Jerusalem Sage?), Stachys byzantia (Lamb's Ears), Astelia Silver Spear. Three of the most valuable plants for any garden. The foliage texture and contrast of these three is my idea of a perfect combination. All evergreen, and tough, tough and tough!! They haven't blinked an eye in the horrendous winds this month. Clearly great for hot, dry windswept locations!! 

This is the driveway to our Hut. The Cerastium tomentosum is also terrific in the same conditions. Right now it is a sea of white flowers, which I will be weed-eating off in a few weeks. Simple! Add in a few accents like Stipa gigantea, Miscanthus Morning Light etc, and you have a super easy care and effective garden. 

CLIVEAS UNDER MATURE KANUKA TREES

Sunlight filtering through the huge Kanuka onto my own seed-raised Clivea. Just loving this view of an area that was paddock just 3 years ago. In fact, we used to come and sit under the trees on the hottest of days. Now it is even nicer to sit under, with the planting of lush foliage shrubs in behind to hide the ugly pine trees across the river. But at the moment it is all about the Cliveas. Oh, the Cliveas!  

It can take about 4 years for a Clivea to have it's first flowers, so I am extra excited to see some of mine doing this for the first time. At some stage we will hopefully put a couple of bath tubs under the trees, but for now, it is just a lovely view from both outside the planting, and within. And aren't the tree trunks are fabulous, too? 

 

MY OWN GARDENS

These days I am leaning toward a more natural and loose garden style, definitely influenced by the New Perennialist Movement from the Northern Hemisphere, and my undulating site.  The style suits the site we have been on for 2 years, compared to the more conventional formal gardens and hedges at our old house. Add to that the fact I cannot access the vast majority of the garden with any form of water other than that provided by Mother Nature! So tough, beautiful, drought and wind proof are the main prerequisites! Plus STRUCTURE STRUCTURE STRUCTURE!! Doesn't matter if it is hedges or evergreen shrubs, the garden has to look great 12 months of the year - and preferably with seasonal variation. 

Here are a few snippets from my nearly 2 year old garden nearest our wee house (hut). Main structure is Muehlenbeckia astonii balls, Astelia, Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Stachys, Phlomis, and Libertia grandiflora. Then seasonal variation from Scabiosa, Strawflowers, Achillea, Bearded Iris, Artemisia, Dahlia, burgundy Cornflower, Poppies, Sanguisorba, Anemone, Knipofia and of course - Alchemilla mollis (Ladies mantle). We have a 'no mow' lawn of Leptinella and Pratia alba, which is gradually winding its way into the main garden. Not sure if I will leave it or not. This will eventually be an accommodation hut, so not looking for too much maintenance. 

WILDFLOWER UPDATE - MID SUMMER

 The predominant colour out here changes as the season progresses. The earlies were all blue - Echium, Borage, Cornflower and Phacelia. Then the purples and red of various poppies. Now the yellows are having their moment. Actually, it will be more than a moment - as these guys will see me through until the first frosts. Yay! That is Coreopsis and  Rudbeckia, with a background softness of Queen Anne's Lace and pops of Verbena bonariense. Then there are a few randoms in there, including self seeded Achillea (yarrow), chives, Nigella, Salvia patens etc. This is one area of the garden I am not terribly fussy about colour coordination!! 

Where the poppies grew en masse, it left a big hole when I removed the dead plants (in about December), so I have planted a patch with various things I had on hand - Amaranthus, sunflowers, and this great blue lupin. 

I save seed off everything! Then use it to resow patches each autumn and spring. I never want it to be bare, but patches are ok. 

I am happy to answer any questions. It has been a huge experiment, and I am still learning. 

Oh - and by the way - ALWAYS have a path (mown or mulch, or pebble) through the flowers. Such a neat feeling walking in amongst the flowers. I have seats in mine!