This new border, which I planted up this Spring, has saved my sanity this summer- well, almost. There must be water under here, which I never noticed before as it used to be a jumble of messy shrubs- but water there is, throughout our burning temperatures, it has looked pretty much like this. This photo was taken yesterday after rain, so the greens are all refreshed, but the plants are in great shape. And I adore the self-sown wild carrot, which is frothing up at the back, so I have bought a packet of Daucus carota ‘Dara’ seed to amplify this effect myself next year with any luck. Monarda fistulosa has been torched in other parts of the garden but is still looking good here. And I will definitely be growing the annual purple millet again, it is fabulous- I may even go for broke and grow the super-tall one, Pennisetum glaucum ‘Purple Majesty’, which can get to 1.5m. It is super-easy from seed and then blows itself up in purple till the frosts see it off.
Here is another bit that has done really well, although the Miscanthus is about 2/3 of the normal height. The Bupleurum fruticosum has really hit it’s stride this year and is an insect cafeteria complex all on it’s own.
This plant is always a surprise, Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Fuji White’. It just soars above the rest of the planting undeterred, and is such a cool customer. Probably at it’s best in green surroundings, I love it. It is helped by the fact that there is running water nearby no doubt.
A slightly breezy-looking Salvia ‘Didi’, only in it’s first year and so still quite small, is nevertheless quite delightful with delicate pink and light apricot colouring.
Only about 10 cms high, yet this Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Mesa Yellow’ really does work hard in very dry conditions. I managed to grow three decent plants from a small packet of seed last year, and I have really come to appreciate this plant, and will be growing more.
I love this combination, and it is brought to life by the stray Rudbeckia. This is another really good shrub, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Tiny Wine’, which I planted in last year and it has gone on and on, with tawny new growth that then colours up mauve or wine-coloured. The Sanguisorba menziesii was grown from seed about 4 years ago and is now a great big clump, which I always forget to prop up until it’s too late.
And lastly, not out yet, but cheering me up, which has been the point of taking these photos really, (proving it’s not all burnt out there!), are the architectural buds of Hibiscus palustris….to come.
jardinecofriendly 
Amazing for such a hot year! Love the raspberry and peach on your Salvia ‘Didi’.
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