The semi-circular border beneath the pergola was very overgrown when we came, and has been completely replanted with a range or both common and less usual plants. The early display begins with aquilegias, paeonies, and various hardy geraniums, punctuated by the round heads of Allium hollandicum. We are very fond of pincushion flowers (as are the bees!) and have planted various astrantias. The pincushion theme is picked up with the deep red of Knautia macedonica. Height is provided by lythrum, veronicastrum, verbena bonariensis and various thalictrums, as well as the feathery foliage of bronze fennel. We find it difficult to grow delphiniums because of our heavy slug and snail populations, but grow a variety of aconitums instead. Two grasses, Stipa arundinacea and Miscanthus ‘Rotsilber’ provide some late season interest.

 

 

 

 

The long border against the road was originally much narrower, and home to six large Leylandii conifers (and very little else). This border now contains mixed herbaceous planting as well as two shrub roses, ‘Buff Beauty’ and ‘Roserie de l’Hay’. Although this border really comes into its own from mid to late May, a backdrop of Garrya eliptica and Viburnum x bodnantese ‘Dawn’ provide some interest in winter and early spring, along with oriental hellebores and an underplanting of spring bulbs. The border is backed by more “deer-defence” trellis, which hosts a selection of clematis and honeysuckles as well as the chocolate vine, Akebia quinata. A large Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ provides a focal point in the second half of the summer. The colour scheme is predominantly soft, using lilacs, blues, creams and whites, spiced up with a little magenta (such as geraniums g.psilostemon and g. ‘Ann Folkard’) and the deep burgundy of Knautia macedonica.