Herbaceous planting begins

It's time to start the planting of the main beds with herbaceous perennials. These plants will provide the colour palette of the garden in all its many shades and tones. Over the coming weeks and months we will be busy creating layers of colour that will define the garden here at Ordnance House. Today's planting included:

White

• Stachys - bzantia (lanata) and Wisley White
• Hyssopus officinalis Albus
• Sisyrinchium stiatum
• Rose var: Noaschnee
• 3 x Salvia turkestanica Alba
• Scabiosa caucasica Alba

Blue

• Eryngium planum (Sea Holly)
• Salvia xSuperba 'Adora Blue'
• Campanula perisicfolia Blue
• Campanula Prichards Variety
• Scabiosa caucasica Blue

Green

• Helleborus foetidus
• Luzula nivea (a grass)

Purple/Red

• Geranium cantabrigiense Karmina

Almost black

• Aquilegia Barlow Black

We have been lucky with the weather as it is both dry and sunny; thankfully this has allowed us easy access to the beds and borders. Let's hope we have such good weather for the rest of the planting.

In addition we were able to create a new border at the bottom of the mound at the south west corner of the garden. This curved bed was planted solely with Portuguese Laurels. Over time this will develop into a solid mass and contrast with the green mound behind.

Finally, we mulched and fed with mushroom compost one of the original borders which we have enlarged. This should do no end of good to the soil composition and the plants we have in place as well as those yet to be added

So, all in all a busy but productive time.