This is a style of gardening that reflects the influence of Northern Europe. It focuses upon utilizing plants that are more closely related to their original species that can be left standing through the winter with plant form and seed heads that will be etched by whore frost. T here is not only the colour of bloom but also the interplay of colour, shape and foliage texture, which has been enhanced through a great use of grasses. This approach to design also meets the growing trends for 2005 of low maintenance, bio-diversity, environmental sensitivity, wildlife habitat, gaining winter interest and designing gardens that more closely replicate nature
This planting from the Heritage House and Garden is an excellent interpretation of this design style. The ethereal cloud of the small burgundy button blooms of Sanguisorba ‘Tootsi' rise about the red spikes of Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firedance'. On the left is the drought tolerant Digitalis ferruginea ‘Gigantea' with its elegant spire of thimble-shaped yellows flowers with rust accents. right are the pink blooms of Diascia 'Elliot's Variety' The violet purple whorls on the Salvia verticillata Purple Rain contrast with the soft pale yellow of Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam' (1992 Plant of the Year) while stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) provides movement. The allium seedheads contribute further interest to this ethereal combination
At the Horticulture Center of the Pacific Hardy Border in front of the lush green foliage of a tree peony Paeonia lutea , the dark leafed foliage of a cimicifuga and the gold foliage of Lonicera nitida ' Baggesen's Gold ' ( Gold Box Honeysuckle). forms the backdrop for ' Moonshine ' Yarrow (Achillea filipendula ' Moonshine ') with its finely cut grey foliage and canary yellow blooms. Providing extra contrast is the silvery-purple metallic stars of the large spherical heads of A llium christophii.
The romance trend for 2005 can be interpreted in this form of landscape design. The soft pastels of these combinations speak of romance. In the first picture there is a combination of soft creamy-white clouds of Thalictrum polyganum (tall meadow rue), the silver white spires of Veronicastrum viginicum roseum, the spherical reddish purple blooms of the drumstick allium ( Allium sphaerocephalon) , the soft pink of a monarda and a yarrow, the bluish lavender blossoms of Nepeta Pool Bank All against a background of contrast provided by an orange and brown helianthus.
Here the burnished yellow of the stately spires of Digitalis ferruginea Gigantea combines with the pale pink of Lavatera Barnsley with a baby's breath like lavender cloud provided by Thalictrum delavayi.( Yunnan Meadow Rue or Chinese Meadow Rue) .
Planted infront of this combination is Persicaria amplexicaulis Firedance while the background is the large felt leaves of Hydrangea aspera.