April: Perennials Near the Pond

More time has been devoted to planting up any last remaining herbaceous plants in the the new huge perennial area near to the pond. It is a massive project and should be spectacular. It’s amazing to think that after all these years we have a surfeit of plants to find homes for.

Today I’ve half buried another four big slices of conifer trunks to make an asymmetrical seating area to overlook the pond through the flowers. It was hard work but will look good. Today I dug more Phlomis russelliana, which grows prolifically from seed.

As well as the Phlomis, there is the usual abundance of Fennel which is a prolific seeder, and a generous selection of Daylilies from near the house.

Cephalaria gigantea, with its 6 foot pale lemony cream scabious flowers on seemingly invisible stems will do well here. In habit, it always reminds me of Verbena bonariensis because the flowers of both appear to float above the border.

Inula magnifica, far more imposing with silvery leaves as big as my hand and shaggy golden daisy flowers will stand out from a distance. After I’d dug and split the original Inula from next to the other side of the pond and moved the laden barrow to the new site, I found a tiny newt in the bottom. Very sweet. It must have been hiding in the roots. G picked it up and let it go at the pond edge amongst some sheltering Hosta plants.