We try various plant
combinations in our gardens. Some work
beautifully, others are not as successful. However, I think that the best
combinations are the result of a stroke of luck. Many planned combinations,
even when they are successful, have a slight staginess about them, whereas the
ones nature creates prolifically, in or outside our gardens, can be just right. This is, no doubt, because our aesthetic sense was learned from nature in the first
place.
In some cases, it is
difficult to say whether the result you achieved was due to planning or chance.
It can be a mixture of both. It is the case with these regale lilies and California poppies. I planted them next to each other, but
without remembering that the lily's yellow center is a perfect echo to the
poppy.
California poppies and Regale lilies |
Serendipity plays an
even more important role with this double Papaver somniferum that not only
seeded itself right in the middle of these lilies, but opened just at the
moment when the lily pods, on their way to turning red, were on the same wave
length as the poppy. This kind of timing would be almost impossible to plan as it would vary from year to year.
Lily and double Papaver somniferum |
Just outside one of
the garden doors, in makeshift beds where I let garden plants fight it out with the weeds, there is a perennial
candytuft (Iberis sempervirens). Under it, one of the creeping veronicas has
decided to seed itself creating an interesting layered effect. Both happen to
bloom at the same time as the buttercups that are all over the field. The three
of them make for a dynamic combination.
Another combination
outside the garden proper is made up of Iris
sintensisii with bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), a European
forage plant that has naturalized in North America.
Somehow, all these seem to get along year after year, the iris able to fight
off the grass.
A flower of peony Sarah Bernhardt poking through a clump of catnip (Nepeta
Walker's Low).
Some plants are usually best left to seed themselves. This is the case
of the tall mulleins (Verbascum spp.). They turn up in unexpected places,
but it is very often the perfect spot. I would not have seeded them right in
front of the coldframe but somehow, it seems just right.
As Beverley Nichols puts it in his book, Garden Open Tomorrow: "The gardener can provide the frame, set up his easel, and sketch the pattern, but as time marches on he must constantly step aside and hand over his brush to Nature."
Lovely photos! You can take some credit for serendipity, I think. It's the gardener's sense of knowing when to leave well enough alone and let nature do her thing.
ReplyDeleteLovely combinations. I have tried and in some cases it has worked, but I think more often than not the good combinations appear by chance.
ReplyDeleteThe display created by Lilium regale and Californian poppies is awesome. I wouldn't have dared putting those two together but I think I'll copy it :)
ReplyDeleteI guess you're right it seems that the most beautiful combinations is a game of chance. My experiences agree with you.
A bientôt
Plants do seed themselves in some unusual places. You've chosen some interesting examples of nature as a designer.
ReplyDeleteThe first photo looks like a painting, and I love the teeny-tinies of the fourth photo. I can't wait till my plants live long enough to look interesting!
ReplyDeleteThe rose nestled in with the catnip is almost a classic these days isn't it. What really caught my eye is the bird's foot trefoil and the irises. An unusual combination , that is quite visually striking.
ReplyDeleteI think nature knows exactly where to put her seeds. Your photos show wonderful combinations, they are all so beautiful. Lots of self seeding goes on in the garden here,only occasionally do I have to step in and do a bit of editing.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and colour combinations.
ReplyDeleteSerendipity is one of my favourite words. You are right plants often put themselves in just the right spot. I have to admit that when garden visitors congratulate me on a winning combination which is none of my doing I have been known to thank them modestly. Oh dear; am I the only one to do this?
The combinations you show us certainly look very happy and I agree, it's sometimes most succesful if we let our plants have their way. I often put a plant somewhere and after a while it tells me it found a better place by moving somewhere else. Only goes to show how much we can learn from them and how much fun it is not to be in control all the time. Have a good week, Alain :)
ReplyDeleteI loved that quote. I am going to put it in my blog or in my garden diary. So, true and perfect. I made each of your picture larger size and saw them. I have to agree that they are all looking so perfect and beautiful. I really want those in my garden.
ReplyDeleteLove the California poppies with the regal lilies.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty combinations. I love the poppies in the first one.
ReplyDelete