Memories

5 plants I want to see back in the garden

I am continuing to review my photos in Lightroom. The grumpy little cloud representing how much storage I have left is no more. I am pleased to say that cloud and I have entered a new, slightly more harmonious relationship. The cloud now spins with a blue circle indicating it is doing something, what I am not sure. I have learnt the sweet spot number for a happy cloud is 58,000, go over and my grumpy cloud is back. I do still have a lot of tidying up to do but having said that I do love how the reduction of numbers feels like a sign of progress. Looking back over photos has been a journey of discovery and re connection. There are photos of old haircuts and shoes, as well as many delightful puppy photos of Eos and of course, an ever evolving garden. The photo above is from 2020 when the garden and I were still learning about each other. In this photo I can see the bones of the garden taking shape. As I write, the sun is beginning to fade. It is late in the afternoon and I am thinking of the plants that have come and gone in my garden. Looking back at old flower photos has reminded me of old friends that I would like to see in the garden again. Here are a few that I hope will return to the garden in the coming season.

White lavender

Once upon a time there was a swarm of bees that landed on a white lavender which was big and abundant and one of my favourite things in the garden. Despite many attempts to shake the swarm into a box, the swarm would not move which resulted in the lavender being dug up and the bees shaken into the box. While the bees eventually embraced their new home, my lavender never fully recovered from it’s up ending and was no more. I have missed it. I have a bed that I am expanding and I think will be the perfect spot for some white lavenders.

Hollyhocks

One of my most favourite things in the garden is a hollyhock in flower and it is spilling out pollen from it’s centre. The bees oh, they love it too, often flying off covered in the pale lemon pollen dust. I had in the garden some deep maroon almost black in colour hollyhocks which seem to have packed up and left. I noticed while I was weeding some plants that will hopefully flower next season but what I really want is to add some vibrant pink hollyhocks to the garden.

Larkspurs

In a few corners of the garden larkspurs have been encouraged to self seed and I am sure at some point I had some pinks ( I must have because there is photographic evidence). Anyway I have noticed their absence over the past season and suspect that a rather enthusiastic weed has meant that any new generations have been removed. Soft blue grey versions are still about but I will be adding some vibrant pink varieties to my seed orders.

Poppy - Hungarian Breadseed

I do love poppies as do the bees and they are one of the many self seeders, that once introduced to the garden, have free range to self seed where ever they wish. I had some of this variety a few years back but again I suspect over vigilant weeding has meant they have disappeared from the flower beds. I do love the vibrant colour especially on mass and so it will be another one I will be buying seeds of again to welcome back to the garden.

Tree Peony

Oh how I wish I could say I have had this in my garden but sadly no. It wasn’t until I was flicking through photos from past springs that I was reminded of the single beauty that is a tree peony. It has long been on my wish list and with plans to move the garden shed over the winter I will have space to potentially add one. Just need to locate a delicious version like this one.

Have you got plants that have come and gone in your garden and you are keen to see return in the spring - I would love to hear your plans.