Happy Accidents

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Many of us often plan where to put the plants in our garden, but sometimes nature knows best, and we get something we hadn’t bargained for. The results can be surprising and inspiring. Here are some accidental combinations in my own garden just now.

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Valentine’ is a fairly new variety, with red flowers rather than the more usual deep pink. A white polyanthus appeared in front of it.

The young foliage of spiraea ‘Goldflame’ contains yellow and orange hues. Tulipa whittallii in the background is darker, but combines the same colours.

This is heuchera ‘Circus’. The brown grass is an uncinia, which self-sows in my garden. I think they go together well.

And the flowers of epimedium x warleyense pick up the young foliage on the acer further along the border.

Sometimes, there is an unexpected view in the garden. A gap between two shrubs gives a glimpse of these tulips.

This time, dicentra spectabilis, in its white-flowered form, is the unplanned arrival. I would never have thought of putting it in front of a camellia, but they both enjoy the same conditions, so why not?

I had some pansies in this trough last summer. Theses seedlings came up this spring.

While Spanish bluebells obviously like growing through rhododendron ‘Princess Anne’.

Finally, a happy accident with the light. The far end of this vista always used to be in shade. When I was able to buy a piece of next door’s garden, and take down the fence, light flooded in at the end of the day.

What happy plant accidents have you got?

• 17 Apr, 2014
• 16 likes

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