The following are just a few memories of two of the beds of this exciting ever-evolving garden. Although blooming period is primarily Feb through October, there is always something to admire in this wonderful garden. The creative combinations of plant structure, foliage texture and colour, as well as special plant attributes such as buds and seed heads, combined with an excellent sense of colour and timing of blooming periods, provides year round interest.
In March, centre stage is taken by the Acacia Oven's Wattle, (Acacia pravissima) with its accompanying bronze leaf phormium and magnificent ironwork sculptures interpreting alliums by local artist Mac Tipton.
By mid-summer the golden yellow of the acacia will be replaced by the golden locust Golden Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia frisia). As you enter the path there is the billowing Stipa arundinacea (pheasent grass) underplanted with the hardy black-leaved clover (Trifolium Pentaphyllum)ground cover combined with a tender potatoe vine (Ipomoea) whose lime green foliage provides an extra ‘zing' to the planting.
As you follow the path, which has been accurately described by the Hardy Group as a secluded valley between lush plantings surrounding the architecture of trees and shrubs, there is a repetition of golden oregano, deep purple Euphorbia dulcis chameleon foliage and dark purple leafed ajuga which pulls the border together. Down the path your eye is caught by tall stately spires silvery felt leaves (one of the carefully edited biennuals Verbascum bombyciferum (Giant Silver Mullein).
You continue on to a rich tapestry of hardy sedums combined with tender sedums and succulents including Echeverias and the black leafed Aeoniums. Again there is an integration of grasses for added texture and the slightest breeze provides movement by the Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass).
At the end of the path you look back again to the golden locust and there is an architectural planting of arundo grass. At its feet is a group of bronze carex one of which has been given braids while another has a ponytail.