Thinking Ahead

Be prepared - something I find rather difficult but I have finally completed my bulb order for spring and ordered more perennials to bulk up the permanent planting beds from which I have removed the space wasters that weren't pulling their weight - out go the globe artichokes, anchusa, some hybrid tea roses, mathiasella bupleroides Green Dream (a beautiful plant but too precious for the cutting garden) and monarda (too scruffy!).

To fill the gaps, I am planting more of the star performers - phlox, veronicas, asters, toad flax, achillea, delphiniums and lysimachia.

I will also like to try something new each year but must not get carried away by the promise of something lovely in the seed catalogue, for instance, this year I tried achillea sibirica Love Parade. Basically, just like achillea ptarmica, the central "button" looks dirty when fully opened.

Bulbs for spring include more lovely multi headed, scented narcissus, some tulips and ranunculus for the tunnel.  And lots more alliums which are fab!

Pink ranunculus, Thalia narcissus and cherry blossom from spring past.