Perfect pair

I don't think I've ever visited Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison without seeing something inspirational that might also work in my garden. I saw the two plants below used as adjacent ground covers on my most recent visit to Olbrich when the regional garden bloggers were in town.

Now I'm trying to figure out if I have a sunny enough spot where this combo could work in my garden as nicely as it did at Olbrich. That's Tanacetum vulgare crispum in the rear, beautifully contrasted with Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' in the foreground. 

Comments

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

As you know, I'm a nut for texture, so this is right up my alley. Nothing better for garden inspiration than to get in someone else's garden!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

That first one is a long skinny flopper if it doesn't get full sun. I have found that if you are diligent in cutting it back it will do well though. I am not so diligent. I have floppers. I have never grown the other one.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Lisa — I was afraid that Tanacetum was a tall plant. It looks so good short that I would consider clipping it but I know how hard it is to actually do those things. Really it would just be adding unnecessary maintenance!