Miss Katherine

From the very outset, Lavender was always going to be one of the signature plants here at Ordnance House.  I confess that two years ago I was a novice when it came to Lavender.  Our old garden at Linden Barn was mostly north facing on cold, heavy, damp clay soil.  Not conditions condusive to growing Lavender and any efforts we did make to grow it ended miserably.

But at Ordnance House, with its light bright south facing garden and sharp draining soil, it was obvious that Lavender would have a large part to play in the new garden.  I also think it fair to say that I have become slightly obsessive about Lavender too.  I have become something of a collector and whenever I have the chance to add to our collection I do so.  The new western beds are an example.  I excavated these at the turn of the year.  The colour scheme is pinks and dark reds and I was keen to add a Lavender to line both sides of the grass pathway that splits and divides the two beds.  I hunted around and was recommended 'Miss Katherine' which has a strong pink colour and a pronounced scent.  Twelve plants have been purchased and planted this weekend and the results will be seen in Summer.

We have many Lavender plants now.  Many varieties were planted in late 2011 in our main Lavender bed.  Row upon row curve in a ripple outward from the central round bed which is at the very centre of the garden and around which the whole garden design revolves.  Before a single Lavender plant went in the ground I was determined to research how I could have the longest possible flowering season and the widest array of colours (pink to white to blue to lilac).  I also wanted to gain a genuine understanding of how to care and tend the plants and this included the right time to prune.

Another ambition was to have as many unusual Lavenders as possible, hence the use of a wide range of intermedia varieties which you seldom see in conventional garden centres.  Richard Norris at Long Barn, a Lavender specialist near Alresford, has been immensely helpful, supportive and a great source of information and knowledge.

Now we are awash with Lavender.  They intermingle with stone and box balls in our parterre.  They line pathways proving perspective and a sense of journey.  They are used in pots to punctuate certain spaces.  They work well with the colour of our house as a backdrop.  But best of all is that they are thriving and certainly love the conditions here at Ordnance House.  As they say, the right plant in the right conditions.