Making a List

Hello Friends!

No, it's not "that" time of year, this list is what I want to encourage growing in my garden.  As I read it, the names on it seem very familiar, so I find some comfort in that I am not changing my mind often, I still like the same things.  With a bit of luck it means no expensive purchases that are impulse buys and end up not working out.

Many of the plants that show up repeatedly on my list are freely self seeding, so even if I have to buy a packet of seed or a couple of plants to start me off, future years are generally taken care of.  Here's a little of what my list of "must haves" looks like:

Umbels of any kind, I am a lot in love with umbels!  I like edible ones, such as dill, fennel, and angelica, and I allow any that just drop into my garden from the nearby countryside to grow where they seed, such as Cow Parsley and Alexanders.  I could wax lyrical on umbels, and they are so photogenic oo.  I adore the pop of the purple Verbena bonariensis against the yellow green of this dill.  The dill is growing where it was put, the Verbena is a happy interloper from the flower garden into the herb garden.

Aquilegia, preferably the old fashioned, single colour ones, although I am happy to have some of the multi coloured or double ones if they happen to show up.  As followers of this blog will know, I have them in so many colours, from almost white, to pink tinged, and right on into deepest purple.  Another free seeding plant, and they look so pretty and old fashioned in Springtime. 

Daisies  I love anything daisy, or daisy looking. Osteospermums, Marguerites, Feverfew, and my lawn is full of those tiny, bright and star like ones from which we made our childhood daisy chains.  Such a simple beauty, full of innocence and joy.

Lavender.  My garden would not be my garden without fragrant lavender.  Preferably the long stemmed type, so I can make my lavender wands, but any type of lavender will be just fine.

Not forgetting the fabulous fathead lavenders!

Roses.  There have to be roses.  Shrub, patio, rambler, and the more fragrant, the better.

Ladies Mantle.  A great all rounder, the acid yellow flowers and lime green foliage are a perfect foil for whatever flowers they have as neighbours, and they big, cushiony mound perfectly fill in so many gaps.  Above, it highlights the pink rose, here it is a fabulous foil against a red verbena.  It's froth of flowers looks spectacular in a border or in a cut flower vase, and the leaves are amazing in the morning dew.

Poppies of any sort, from the humble wild field poppy, the Icelandic and the Californian, to the big and blousy short lived, but spectacular Orientals. I just adore poppies, any colour.  As for the seed heads, they bring so much interest to the border later on.

Plants such as Foxgloves, Mullein, Evening Primrose, Borage, Verbena Bonariensis, and more, all make me so happy, especially when they give of their seeds so freely!

I don't only have all of these, they are my must haves, my go to plants, and everything else just sort of falls in around them.  Then there's the clematis, camellias, hydrangea, pinks, cranesbill geranium, Japanese wind anemones and so many more.  I wouldn't think I could cram so much in, but somehow I do!

Over the years, I have paid attention to what does well, and what doesn't.  That sort of diligence helps me establish what works and will bring year after year of joy. 

I don't usually turn to a lot of annuals. I don't know why.  I do have a few, mostly pansies and violas, I am partial to lobelia, and purple alyssum {when I can find it}.  Just this morning I pushed a few Empress of India nasturtium seeds in pots and borders where it looks a bit bare. They should grow and make a pretty, and edible, filling in plant.  I usually buy a tray of violas or pansies every few years and they just continue to self seed and I leave them alone to get on with things.

Until next time
Stay Safe, Stay Well!
Take Joy in the Little Things
Deborah xoxo