Unstructured border
By arbuthnot
10 comments
When I read the post from Tonyl about his narrow borders and saw his photo I did a double take as it could have been mine. Then I had a proper look and knew I didn’t have white lupins.
However, while some people may say my borders are unstructured it’s not my fault! This year has been so peculiar that things normally planted at the front of the bed because they are the right size have grown much larger than they should. The lavender is close to 5ft tall and is hiding the lower plants behind; a dwarf Michaelmas Daisy is three foot and even the pinks are twice their size. On the opposite border there are more M Daisies which are well over 3 feet. Again, supposed to be dwarf. I know because I bought and planted them.
Then there are the annual rudbeckias which turned out to be tall sunflowers (yes, that’s what they are) which are at the front instead of the back of the bed. I know what sunflower seeds look like and would definitely have questioned the size when I sowed the seed so I’m baffled.
Last year on a walk I picked a teasel seed head (at great risk to my uncovered fingers!) and scattered the seed in the hope that a few would grow and provide bird food. Only one took. Where? Right at the front of the back border, of course. I shall leave it until it’s scattered it’s seed a bit then dig it out.
So, unstructured my borders might be but not by design. These photos aren’t great because it was too cloudy and windy but I’m sure you’ll all get the picture!
5 Jul, 2016
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Comments
Snap! At the very back of our small suburban garden there is what I call a shrubbery, it has some stepping stones for a path but until I prune some shrubs there will be no way to get through!
Paul, I pulled up some tiny Verbena that had self set in the block paving and now have about twenty strong plants. Tough little things :o)
5 Jul, 2016
Don't call it unstructured, just say its a cottage garden...
Everything's been a bit odd this year.
5 Jul, 2016
Lol at the cottage garden comment Stera ...
5 Jul, 2016
My Verbena is growing strong too, but not seven feet Paul. I love tall plants and don't keep them all to the back of the borders.
5 Jul, 2016
Of course. Mine is definitely a cottage garden!
6 Jul, 2016
Mine too...
6 Jul, 2016
Now "unstructured" is just the right word for my borders, too! I love the cottage garden look. Your plants look lovely, Arbuthnot. I see no reason why tall plants can't grow at the front of the border.
6 Jul, 2016
Unless they are giant sunflowers!
I thought you had a large garden but at 64ft x 35 it's probably about the same size as mine. I'm having the borders widened in the autumn and would love a circular lawn but with the pergola on a circular paved area across one corner it can't be completely round and might look odd. My borders are wavy but that might change too.
7 Jul, 2016
My grass isn't a full circle - bits stick out into it, and the top edge is cut off by the patio. If it was drawn as a plan, the edge would just about form a circle with bits missing if you see what I mean.
Yes - you're probably right about the giant sunflowers!
7 Jul, 2016
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Yes, lots of plants seem to have reached fr the sky this year. My sea hollies and Verbena Bonariensis, in particular but lots of others.....all the water in the ground combined with a mild winter, I suppose. The verbena Bonarienss werent cut back by the frosts as usual so they started the spring 4 foot high and just kept growing.I now have some over 7ft tall.
5 Jul, 2016