‘Mind the gap’ is a familiar term with those of us who've been on the London Underground, but it's also become a common phrase here at Genus HQ in recent years. It seems no matter how much care and attention we heap on our plants whether through mulching, pruning, watering, or staking, several plants never seem to make it through the winter and gaps appear.
Lupins are always a great performer for us when newly introduced but simply seem to dwindle and are then suddenly not there! Other parts of the garden produce mysterious gaps with no hint of the previous inhabitant. All very disappointing but also very exciting. After all who doesn't love a visit to a nursery or garden centre on a bright spring morning?
That's just what we did last week and came back with a boot full of plants to fill the vacant spots and a few extra plants for which a space would somehow have to be magically created. Lupin ‘Legendary Blue Shades’ a slightly stocky variety was planted in the sunny south facing border along with the ever popular Geum ‘Lady Stratheden’ and Erigeron ‘Wayne Roderick’. To the front of the border we found a nice warm spot for 30cm tall Salvia nemorosa ‘Marcus’. We’ve enjoyed seeing oriental poppies in other gardens so have added two varieties here with bright red ‘Allegro’ and the beautiful tall white variety called ‘Royal Wedding’. Our final planting was the simply stunning foxglove Digitalis x mertonensis. With its peachy-pink spires it will make a welcome addition to the entrance of our woodland garden.
