Around late May to early June the growth of plants can take you by surprise. Weather permitting we have a morning coffee in the garden, standing in the greenhouse if it is too cold or sitting on a bench if it is warm and dry enough. This is followed by a walk round the garden. Even in one day the change can be noticeable– a bud burst open, seeds germinated or early blossom fading. In a week it can be dramatic. Observing the changes throughout the year reveals how each plant contributes to the garden.



Evergreen trees and shrubs are supposed to provide structure to the garden but in an informal garden like Sidelands they act more as isolated points of interest when deciduous plants have lost their leaves.

After evergreens deciduous foliage has the longest presence and contrast in leaf shape and colour provides interest while flowers come and go. The existing cedar and weeping pear provide a commanding glaucous silvery presence. I have tried to echo this with the silver leaves of a Russian Olive tree (Eleagnus angustifolia) and perennials such as Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) and Senecio candidans ‘Angel Wings’. Silver foliage plants often come from sunny dry areas and can struggle in the clay soil here, even if it is improved, as they do not like their roots sitting in winter wet. In contrast purple is provided by a cut leaved elder (Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace’) and a smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple’). Golden dogwood (Cornus Alba Aurea) and golden Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea') complement with yellow foliage. Heucheras work hard low down offering foliage in shades of purple, peach, orange and lime.



Paeonies and rambling roses put on such a spectacular display of flowers that these few weeks of spectacle justify their permanent presence. But there is also a need for hard working plants with longer periods of bloom. This has been a goal for plant breeders so new varieties of herbaceous perennials often have longer flowering periods. Some of these require constant dead heading of spent blooms to prolong the display. Others are sterile hybrids that do not set seed. I would not be without some annuals and biennials that self seed freely, even if they can spread too vigorously. Annual nigella, including varieties such as love-in-a mist (Nigella damascena) or the more stately Nigella papillosa pop up every year. Biennials such as foxgloves (Digitalis varieities) , sweet rocket (Hesperis matrionalis) and honesty (Lunaria species) flower early and fill a gap before annuals.