…In the natural world fallen leaves and plant debris lay where they fall. And until that leaf litter breaks down its a mulch that conserves soil moisture, deters soil erosion, protects plant roots from fluctuating air temperatures and suppresses weed growth. Thus, supporting the soil. …Leaf litter eventually breaks down. The break down material is organic matter or humus. Organic…
Category: gardens
Borage officinalis
Borage officinalis – Borage, Bee Bread, Common Bugloss and Starflower are a few of its common names. It’s a self-seeding annual herb that grows 2 feet tall and wide. Its mature foliage is covered in prickly hairs. The pretty, star-shaped flowers in blue, lavender and pink bloom from May to hard frost. Bees, butterflies and moths prize its flower nectar.…
Coloured Foliage in the landscape
Incorporating coloured foliage in your landscape can add contrast and heighten visual impact. Green and blue are very restful and soothing, red is more arresting and less soothing and in between is purple. Experiment with a colour in your annual pots. Research the plant you want to add to your landscape and confirm it suits your site by knowing its…
Perennial Portrait – Cat Nip
I chose to profile this perennial to clarify if catnip and catmint were one and the same. Experts say that Catnip usually refers to the medicinal plant and Catmint refers to the ornamental varieties. The ornamental varieties available have more and larger flowers, deeper colours and a tidier growth habit. Used medicinally for 100‘s of years, Nepeta cataria aerial parts…
Defining Space
Our need to define space started when we had to protect ourselves from invaders. Food and water, essential to life had to be protected as well, hence the ancient “Walled” or “Medieval” garden. In our homes we have the walls and ceiling to define our space. In our landscape we may have large trees or the sky as the ceiling. …
Perennial Portrait – Thyme
Perennial Thyme in the garden All Thyme, annual or perennial like full sun, good drainage, and lean to poor soil. Perfect for a Prairie garden. Their tiny leaves reduce moisture loss and contrast well with larger leaved plants. Thymus vulgaris grows 15cm high and spreads 45cm. A common name is ‘English thyme’. It has an upright growth habit and tiny…
Do you have a garden journal?
I know it is difficult to find time to update your garden journal, but even if it’s a couple of weeks after the work, making notes which you will understand a year from now can help you in the long run. Some of the the things I record are dates of transplants and the health of the plant at that time; new…
Ornamental Grass
For drought tolerance and few pest problems, Ornamental grasses are a low maintenance, beautiful addition to your garden. Not only do they provide year around interest they require minimum care. This is a short list of what is available. Types to choose fromClump forming, the slow expansion of a well-behaved perennial. Suitable for mixed beds. Rampant spreaders. Unsuited for a mixed…
