Catching-Up With The White Garden – Part 2

The White garden is at the very end, where it eventually goes to a point.

It is split in two by a central path, dividing the white shrub border on the left and the perennial border on the right.

The Holly Border – White Perennials

The right border has the holly hedge running down the side of it. This means we had to plant perennials on that side, so that they die back in the winter. Allowing us access for the annual hedge trim.

Conditions in this border are quite tricky, because it’s dry from the hedge. It’s also reasonably shaded as it faces North West.

Although I do believe in reading up on, which plants, like which conditions, it’s not always a hundred percent accurate. Sometimes within reason you just have to try things.

With this mentality, most things have survived but some haven’t!

January

The snowdrops and hellebores are the first to appear very early in the year. They seem to thrive in the conditions and are always so welcome after the winter.

When I ordered the white hellebores, I also received three free, nearly white hellebores. They have a white background, with a spotty burgundy centre. I wasn’t sure at the time whether to plant them in the white garden or not, as I really didn’t want any colour. I decided to put them in and they have been beautiful.

Unfortunately they had seeded everywhere and taken over a big area. They had also swamped quite a few other plants.

It was time for a sort out and so my husband dug them all out last weekend. The intention was to get him to put some back. However once they were out, I decided none were going back in. This decision was also influenced by having a few new white plants waiting for a space!

I’m a bit sad to see them go, but they did break my white only rule!

My new plants are Sanguisorba, which grows to around six foot with mini bottle brush flowers. Also Actaea racemosa AGM, it was previously known as Cimicifuga, it’s funny when they change plants names. It grows to around four foot with longer bottle brush flowers. I planted an Actaea five years ago and it didn’t survive, but it was only a tiny plant. I’m hoping this larger plant does better.

February – March

Next to come up are the Crocus, Fritillary’s, and Hyacinth bulbs.

I only planted white crocus a couple of years ago and I absolutely love them.

The white fritillary’s, were bought mixed in with the purple ones. As they came up in the Hosta bed I moved them down here. It’s still only a small clump, but gradually getting bigger.

On my visits down to the compost bins, the scent from the hyacinths is amazing, in the cool early spring air.

April

Following on are the White Daffodils, Tulips and White Blue-Bellls, that always makes me laugh.

This year the all white daffs called ‘Thalia’ have suddenly bulked up and will probably need thinning next year. On the other hand I still only have five tulips, so note to self – plant more this autumn.

The white bells have clumped up well, so they will also need splitting soon.

April – May

The white daffodils with a yellow centre called ‘Pheasant Eye’, are so late. They are the last of all the daff varieties in the garden, coming out when most are long gone.

Iberis sempervirens (candytuft), is a great ground cover plant. It’s evergreen and flowers for at least two months, with bright white blooms.

The white Muscari (grape hyacinth’s) come later than the blue variety, I don’t know if this is normal or because of their position.

Ferns, obviously no white flowers, but I do love the architecture of them, especially when they are unfurling.

Disappearing Aquilegia

I planted a white Aquilegia five years ago, after two years looking beautiful, it just vanished. I think of aquilegias as almost like a weed, once you’ve got them, you’ve usually got them for good!

Anyway, luckily a friend gave me one from her garden last year, so I’ll try and look after it.

May – June

By May the Polemonium caeruleum – commonly known as Jacobs ladder, are coming into flower. They don’t last long, but I love the delicate flowers atop of the long stems. They are great for seeding themselves around everywhere too.

The Lupin is a sad story, as I had the plant from a dear lady that is no longer with us. I brought the plant with me when we moved and once it was planted in the border it romped away. Until last year when it didn’t appear. I went straight out and bought one in her memory.

The small hardy Geranium, has been a great success spreading out. I’ve even just taken a few pieces for the shrub side of the garden.

Although I love these commonly know ‘Canterbury Bells’ – Campanula, they are a bit floppy. I never remember to stake them until they’ve already fallen over. Must try harder this year!

June – July

Hurray, I’ve finally got a Clematis in the garden! It is of course white and it’s called ‘Prince George’. All the plants I’ve bought since we moved here and this is my first Clematis. I’m sure the first of many… It isn’t really in either of the borders, it’s before you get to the white garden, but it is a perennial, so it’s snuck in.

Digitalis (Foxgloves). A gardener on Twitter recently said, “you can’t have too many foxgloves in the garden”. And I have to agree.

I’m reasonably new to Penstomen, but a total convert now. They are one of those hard working plants that once they start flowering they go on and on and on. You can’t ask for more!

July – August

The white Agapanthus actually live in a pot. The is for two or probably three reasons. One they like a lot of sunshine, so the pot stays in sunny spot until they start to flower. Two, agapanthus flower better when their roots are restricted. And three, I only found out last year they are best protected from excess cold and wet over winter. As a result they spent winter in the greenhouse.

Lysimachia clethroides, the gooseneck loosestrife. I’d not heard of this plant until researching plants for the white garden. They seem to love the conditions and have now formed a large clump.

The tall but delicate Thalictrum. This is one of those plants that isn’t supposed to do well in this border, but I took a chance and it loves it. The pink one on the other hand is planted in perfect conditions up in the Magnolia border and hasn’t done well at all.

August – September

Again the Echinacea are not really suited to this border, preferring full sunshine, but more of their daisy type flowers come every year.

Japanese Anemone, well what can I say, they’d grow anywhere! I once saw them coming up through tarmac. As they romp around the border, I wonder if I’ve done the right thing, but when they flower in late summer, what’s not to love?

The slightly straggly Percicara, does have the look of a weed, but it has a long flowering period and is very reliable. Also it was the most prevalent plant at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show last autumn, so you can’t argue with that!

Watering

I’m not in favour of watering your borders, it feels like a terrible waste of purified drinking water to me.

My primary school drilled into us the importance of not wasting water. It has never left me and I always feel guilt when using the hosepipe.

When I plant in the border, I give the new plant a thorough soaking. I periodically water it for the rest of that season, but then it’s on its own. The theory goes, that if you water regularly, it encourages the plant to keep its roots higher in the ground. On the other hand if you don’t water, it’s sends its roots down deeper to find it.

If we have an exceptional dry spell and I spot some plants in the border actually drooping. I will give them some water to tide them over. So far this has worked reasonably well.

Stay safe & happy gardening.