Light in the Garden

Perovskia

It always amazes me how a garden can look quite different at different times of the day depending on the light. Our back garden faces east and when the morning sun shines down the garden the plants are back lit and have a completely different appearance. I took some shots the other day first thing. The blue plants above are Perovskia blue spire. I am not sure where the name comes from but it sounds Russian to me and I imagine an elegant ballerina dancing in the sunlight. They are sort of shrub like I suppose and can be cut back in the spring. I am not sure I always cut mine back hard enough and perhaps should cut them down a bit more but worry they will not grow back. The knautia that were growing in amongst it are almost over but the pink patio rose behind makes a bright backdrop.

Buddleja White Bouquet

The white Buddleja davidii White Bouquet is in full flower and looks more dramatic lit from behind and these sunflowers Key Lime Pie (the ones not eaten by snails and slugs) are now in flower. They grew to about a metre in height and have small pale yellow flowers all up the stalk. I am quite pleased with them and may grow them again another year.

Sunflower Key Lime Pie

Today has been very dull outside  and only some plants are shown off to their best, perhaps bright yellow ones such as sunflowers or white like this gaura. This is Gaura lindheimeri which grows to about a metre in height. It flowers for weeks on end from now until the autumn and is easily propagated from cuttings. At Hampton Court there was a different variety called Gaura sinuata which was also white but considerably taller, maybe 2metres. They were from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants. They also like a sunny spot in well drained soil which in our chalky garden suits them quite well. I would quite like to try growing them.

Gaura lindheimeri