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Time for a change

annella

By annella

25 comments


Over the past couple of weeks I have slowly progressed around my garden removing what was dead or damaged after the harsh winter. All five of my Escallonias have gone from the back garden. Although the large one in the front has been cut back hard and is now showing some signs of life.
On Sunday I decided to have a closer look at Hebe ‘Pink Goddess’ in the top side border. This time last year she had started to make a come back after losing all her leaves in the winter, Sadly this is not to be this year. Every branch just snapped away so I had to cut back to a stump.

Hebe ‘Pink Goddess’ last summer, centre border

One of my favourite Hebes, I loved the pink/bronze foliage and the neat bushy habit.
This is the same border on Sunday before and after my attack.

At this time of year the Geranium macrorrhizums that were an underplanting for the Hebe are just about to flower so I will leave digging the stump out till autumn and access if another shrub needs planting then.

Walking back and forth to the bin I discovered a new vista from the top garden, between Rosa ‘Flower Carpet’ and the Mahonia you can now glimpse the bird bath in the bottom garden.

These were taken as the light was fading

Using this new view I have planted Knautia ‘Melton Pastels’ to the left and Malva moschata to the right for some height. One of the plus points is I have gained a sunny site for some taller perennials.
After last winter I noticed Hebe seedlings on the slope so maybe she knew to prepare herself for another bad winter. I will move them as they get bigger and hope to put one in the warmer front garden.

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Comments

 

That is rather sad Annella, such a beautiful shrub. But as one door closes as they say..... and your garden does look lovely.

12 Apr, 2011

 

Thanks Cinders, there are a lot of new planting opportunities around the garden this year. I shouldn't get so attached to my plants.

12 Apr, 2011

 

what a lovely blog; your garden looks beautiful.

12 Apr, 2011

 

Thank you Sticki :o))

12 Apr, 2011

 

It is looking good Annella shame about the Hebe :-)

12 Apr, 2011

 

Beautiful garden Annella:))))

12 Apr, 2011

 

wonderful blog great to see how this wonderful garden is shaping up. your attack seemed a success, enjoying the new vista too does the picture actually feature the Knautia ‘Melton Pastels' of is that yet to show??

well done anyway and thanks for sharing

12 Apr, 2011

 

Thanks Mavis & Michaella
Skip the Knautia is new and should flower early summer, it was intented for the front garden as was the Malva. There will be more height here come midsummer. Thank you for your lovely comments.

12 Apr, 2011

 

like you i get upset wen i lose stuff , wen it new and hasn't even established yet ............... i have lost a few things , but now it all coming up its not so bad !!!.
ur garden still looks gud . ;0)))

12 Apr, 2011

 

Your garden looks as if it's thriving - despite the loss of your hebe - like Cristina, I hate losing things as I get so attached to them, especialy if I've growm them from seed or a small plant.

We have had an exceptionally cold winter this year though, so hopefully next winter won't be so bad.

Happy Gardening.

12 Apr, 2011

 

Some plants are so special though and I can understand why you were so sad. The bronze and pink together was lovely and as you say, a nice neat plant. However, like my Pittosporum, your space is now available for other things. Lovely new view of the garden Annie, great to see it a different way.

12 Apr, 2011

 

You have a very pretty garden Ann. Pitty about the hebe though, but maybe you'll replace it. There have been so many losses this year. I hope we never get another winter like that. But your garden is still pretty :)

12 Apr, 2011

 

I echo your hopes Hywel!

12 Apr, 2011

 

beautiful garden..it is sad when we lose plants that we like..but we soon find something else to go in its place..

12 Apr, 2011

 

Thanks Karen :)

12 Apr, 2011

 

I think your garden is looking really nice,Annella..and you will soon come to love your new plants,as much as your old ones that you lost..gardening is just like life..it goes on...Enjoy..! :o))

12 Apr, 2011

 

Thanks all for the lovely comments, I do hope that the Hebe will live on through the seedlings but in a warmer part of the garden. I agree too Hywel, hopefully this is the last bad one for a few years.

12 Apr, 2011

 

Like you Anella I lost two of my escalonia just when they were really getting established .Still this is sadly the way of gardening changes come and go and we move on. You have got such a beautiful garden to be proud of, and these pics show how much care you have put into it.

12 Apr, 2011

 

Your garden is still a delight even without the hebe, it is hard to lose a cherished plant, but, as the saying goes worse things happen at sea....lol. have just put in Knautia Melton Pastels and a Malva from Spritz, a white one, we grow the pink which does very well here.

12 Apr, 2011

 

I'm looking forward to seeing them flower Dotty, I haven't tried them here before. The white Malva sounds nice.

13 Apr, 2011

 

Your garden is very pretty, Annella...
... and.. yes .. losing shrubs is a good opportunity for a slight redesign :o)

13 Apr, 2011

 

It's sad TT but I talk to them like friends, when I write about them they are all female! Lol

13 Apr, 2011

 

The colours in your photos are ravishing, look at the sky in your first pic - how do you do it?

15 Apr, 2011

 

Thanks Gurth, I would always have the sky that colour if I could :o))

15 Apr, 2011

 

I just love your garden Annella, and I bet it will look brilliant this summer. I too lost all my hebes and I loved my purpley leaved one, it was quite large:-( Still..means I can buy more plants at Malvern...always an upside:-)

4 May, 2011

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