Before and during...

now what do you think you'll do????
all that space for new plants. its a no brainer. get it dug :o)

Nearly missed this amongst the spam. but I have flagged everyone of them :o)

all set for opening or has it been and gone?

Ooh. Continue with what you're doing. It looks lovely.

That's looking really nice now Spritzhenry.

Sbg I have flagged the spam as well. Noticed a lot of this recently. May also be 'phishing' and contain viruses in the links, I would suggest don't go near them.

I think you should carry on digging for victory Spritz. :O) it looks so lovely and hasn't it filled in well. :O)

You were certainly a rose amongst the thorns of rogue blogs Barbara. I flagged lots, but getting r.s.i:-) Why can't you integrate the osteos into your border? Will the colours clash? I love the top picture, but I'm sure your renovated border will look every bit as lovely when it fills out and I love your choice of plants:-)

What you`ve done so far looks stunning Barbara but It would be nice if you could leave a few of the osteos and hopefully blend them in with any new planting. I was thinking of you today as I planted out my new Salvia `red velvet` which I took a photo of ... it had one flower spike on it and yes after planting I managed to snap it off, hope it throws up more.

Lovely choice of plants , keep going !

I'd keep going as well Spritz.... far more colourful and interesting than the Osteo's. Love the Agastache!

There are still some healthy Osteos at the far right hand end of the border, so I'm biding my time now. If they die off, I can extend the new planting.

Ba and Stroller, yes, you're right. How well you know me! I've deliberately gone for co-ordinating colours so that the remnants of the Osteos 'fit in' with the new plants.

I agree with the idea of keeping some of the osteos. I'm sure I got a photo of them in full flush when I came to one of your open days. I find them easy to propagate by splitting but I'm wondering what kind of soil they favour. I know they like well drained but maybe not too rich. The floods may well have changed the chemistry which has affected them very badly. I do like the new planting but I love to see great swathes of a single plant in the way you had used the osteos.

Thanks - it's a great shame and I'm sure all that 'orrible wet weather and flooding had a lot to do with it. :-((

Although we grow Osteos and sometimes they actually survive the winter, two did this time, I have to admit I prefer your mixed border, love the selection of plants, we have the rose Pretty Polly and the allium seeds all over the garden which I do not mind, I would still keep the Osteos but move them somewhere else and create another combo perhaps with them?

Errrr...Dd, The rest of my garden is full to bursting, so moving them isn't an option. I think what I shall do is to fill any gaps with different plants and as and when the remaining Osteos turn up their toes, the bed will develop.