What you see is what you get

The vast majority of plants I have planted here at Ordnance House were small, only 1L and 2L pots.

We needed so many plants to create the garden it was sensible, on cost grounds, to buy small.  But I also believe that small plants establish much better and that has certainly been the case.  These small plants that came in such small pots are now big enough to fill 3L and 5L pots. 

However, it is still instantly rewarding to be able to extravagantly buy the odd plant or two as eye-catchers or fillers in the borders.  The advantages are instant effect and gratification along with the knowledge that what you buy is precisely what you get.  In a year's time the plant will be bigger but it will look pretty much the same but on a larger scale. This luxury was not available to me when I planted lots of small plants in Winter and Spring when all that I could see was a whispy green shoot or brown clump.

This weekend I have been buying plants for Autumn colour.  These included Anemones and Crocosmia among others and all fit the very specific colour palette I am working to for this time of year.  This ranges from deep blue, purple and vibrant pink through to yellow and orange.  We have no red in the garden to speak of as I have edged the palette toward purple which I think is richer and more refined.

I purchased two Hibiscus syriacus 'Lavender Chiffon' for the much extended original border which butts up against the Orchard.  I love the volupuousness of the flowers and rich subtle colour of Hibiscus and these two plants, both in full flower, will work well in this part of the garden.  They will also get quite large 1.8m high and just as wide.  But they will provide a natural screen to divide one area from another.

But the effect created in planting these and the other plants that have gone in the ground this weekend is instantaneous and rewarding.