THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Great Roses
A client has asked us about some great roses we could plant in their garden. We have spoken about our portfolio …
Bee Friendly Plants
When choosing bee friendly plants the key ideas to look out for are: 1) Grow plants that are nectar rich and full of pollen. (So stay clear of overbred double flowers…) 2) Provide a number of flower shapes – flat disks and tubular flowers are great. 3) Plant in blocks – bees, being oh so efficient, want to fly to one spot and pick up as much nectar as possible. Don’t ask them to work hard, group your flowers together. We interviewed nursery woman Rosybee about the top 5 plants for bees. She said, “… borage, phacelia and echium are all …
Plants for a Shady Border
Plants for a shady border… be aware, some can cope with deeper shade than others, but all are worthwhile garden plants. For more plants, try Dan Pearson’s list… Scilla Snowdrop Narcissus Leucojum Liriope Hakonechloa Deschampsia Foxgloves Aquilegia Honesty Campion Forget me not Campanula Clematis Cephalaria Thalictrum Epimedium Gillenia Alchemilla Hellebore Japanese anemone Trillium Brunnera Trollius Bergenia Tellima Hosta Pulmonaria Aster Primula Rodgersia Asarum Kirengeshoma Gallium Convallaria Buxus Hydrangea Daphne Sarcococca Ribes Ilex Rosa Cherry Polypodium Dryopteris For books on what plants to use for a shady border, try these… Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Gardening in the Shade Planting the …
Verbena Bonariensis
We know we know – Verbena bonariensis is so well known, planted in so many gardens, that it has become uncool to use it these days. Its ubiquitiousness means it gets judged in harsher tones than other plants, as if its popularity has made it offensive. This is not the Verbena’s fault. It became popular for a reason – it weaves its way around the garden but doesn’t out compete other plants, it provides height and structure, encourages wildlife, is a gorgeous purple, looks good with other plants and fits into schemes as diverse as a country meadow to urban minimalism. Who wouldn’t want a …