Garden note #1

what I've been collecting

It’s Wednesday afternoon and it is raining. A rain that is quietly building in intensity foreshadowing the heavy rain warned by the Metservice. There was talk of thunder. I am sitting waiting for the clap that will break the muggy air that has been sitting for most of the day. It has been hot. The rain is welcome as the garden is starting to dry out. I have been collecting plants the last few weeks for planting. They sit waiting until it cools and the soil softens. I thought I might share what I have purchased, offering perhaps inspiration for your gardening self.

Delphiniums - I must confess I really love delphiniums. I love them growing in a mass, like tall swaying spires creating a small forest in my garden. I have found a space where they are thriving rather happily where I add a few more each season. A friend gave me this plant and I will be having a go at growing more from seed. They are called Light Blue Butterfly. I’ve added them to a bed of silvers and crimsons which I will share more about in the coming weeks.

Coreopsis - this is a small version. I had brought some seedlings earlier in the year but I suspect they may either be in the wrong place in the garden and are overshadowed by other things or I planted them out to early and the colder climes of down south was too much for them. They are a first time grow for me and I was curious to see how they would go. I have planted these little ones in a bed where I thought they might work if I planted them on mass with other plants of similar shades. I do like the idea of using annuals as a trial plant to see what they look like as part of a colour scheme before you commit to using more permanent flowering plants.

Franco Appendiculata (Pink Form) - We were give a voucher for Blue Skin Nursery for Christmas so a few weekends ago we went for a look around. They had some beautiful displays which much to my delight had attracted many bees, both honey and bumble. This plant is new to me and had many bee friends seeking it out so I thought it would be an excellent addition to the garden. I brought one plant which I will divide up later in the season.

Zinnias - I have been a bit unsure about Zinnias knowing that they like a good hot climate to grow in. I grew some last season, in a very absent minded way, planting seeds in a pot just to see what would happen. I must admit to being surprised to see them thrive. Spurred on by this, this season I purchased some Floret seedlings from Gray Floral which arrived late spring last year. I suspect it was a bit chilly for them as I lost a few. The remaining plants have been a wonder, flowering solidly for months now. The seeds I planted, in contrast, around Christmas have only just started flowering in the last day or so, which gives an indication as to how cold it has been here this year. They sat as buds for a long time. So note to self, start these early but not too early. I need to keep working on my timing sweet spot. They do look fabulous in a pot I must admit.

Echinacea - I love these as much as my bees do. I have a growing collection and having been adding more and more the garden. I picked up a few last year in the Bunnings sale section and have added a few more from Crafted Earth. I love the Pink Hulu version as well as this vibrant pink one. I like to plant them in spots where they become a bit of a late summer attention grabber.

Dwarfed Pink Salvia - not the best photo, it was a late night dash but I really love this salvia. It creeps along a border rather nicely filling in gaps at lower levels. I have a few already and wanted to create a seas of pink in one bed.

All these plants are beneficial plantings for pollinating insects in the garden which as always, is my main reason for adding them to the garden. At the moment the garden is humming with bees as the main honey crops of Manuka and clover have past. Gardens at this time of year are so vital for bees as they build up there stores for winter. With having such a wet and cold summer they will have been eating a lot of the honey they have been creating. So do think of bees when adding something new to the garden.