It was hard enough choosing my Plant of the Month each month, but almost impossible to choose a Plant of the Season. It needs to be on a points basis, I think.
I have my favourites of course, like Ribes, Lilac, Clematis Dr Ruppel, Rhododendron Mason, Ceanothus, Fuchsia Genii, Cistus, Hebe, Perovskia, Lavender, Hydrangea, Buddleia and Michaelmas Daisies which all at one time or another dominated the garden. Even Knopfia made a massive contribution for quite a while. I will give them all a point for being my favourites.
Then there are those plants that always seemed to be there doing their bit, like Valerian, Geranium Little Fairy, Loosestrife, Erysimum, Campanulas and even the little Sisyrinchiums. I will give them a point for being long lasting.
I must not forget the massive contribution to the colour in my garden made by the annuals:- Petunias and Busy Lizzies. The vivid pink Pelargonium on the wall by the patio steps has been blooming all summer long, although the rest of the Pelargoniums have been a bit disappointing. Little Diascia Barberae has been in flower since May. What about the dear little white Cyclamen, quietly blooming away on the patio wall? What about the two bright yellow Potentillas? I will give them all a point for being vibrant.
Without the various grasses, herbs and bamboos, the back area of the garden would have been nothing special. Oregano has been especially magnificent most of the season. The variegated Sedum has also been drawing my eye to it constantly. The two Acers add their individual charm to the garden, but without the conifer arrangement there would have been an empty space in my vision, and I would have been overlooked in my lounge by the houses in the road opposite. Out the front I have been protected from prying eyes by the trio of Buddleia, Viburnum and Tamarix on the left, by Photinia, Rosemary and Sambacus on the right. Then there is the graceful silver birch waving away in the wind, with her wind chimes jingling on her lower branch. I will give them all a point for adding structure.
I think I need a spreadsheet to work it all out!
My choice will be made from all of the above, and with or without a spreadsheet, I am sure my choice should go to Fuchsia Genii.
Plant of the Year
Other unsung heroes never even get to qualify for a plant of the month award 😦
Then there are those plants that have not yet had a special monthly accolade, but are there in my garden all the time, doing their bit to delight me, especially the evergreens like bamboos, conifers, grasses and heathers. What about my trees? My ash trees in particular. My Snow Queen Silver Birch, my Grey Alder, my Prunus Serrula, my tiny Japanese Acer, my Eucalyptus, my Magnolia, my huge conifer in the middle of the garden and my pear tree I have yet to write about. What about all the little succulents dotted around the place? These will all also qualify for a Plant of the Year award. That is a really difficult choice because all of my plants seem to contribute some sort of interest.
However, there is one plant that has been in my vision all year, flowering away quietly and getting bigger and bigger. Surely that deserves my plant of the year award. I am sure if I were to study the spreadsheet I started and never finished, I would find that it would be the most deserving of all my plants for the plant of the year award. That plant is my Erysimum which is just always there, and has been ever since I planted her when the new garden was finished in 2014.
My Garden Transformation 