Fergus Garrett, the head gardener and current inspiration behind the famed Great Dixter in the UK, was in town earlier this month for a lecture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. He didn't really say anything most of us haven't heard before, but it was all worth repeating — so I will share it.
He stressed that 70% of the garden should stay the same while 30% changes. This is essentially the same idea that Piet Oudolf espouses: 70% structural plants that provide visual interest until autumn with 30% filler: plants for flower or foliage color which get untidy after midseason. I think the photo (above) of a tiny corner of the gardens at Dixter shows what he means.
September is the perfect time in our region to look at our gardens through the eyes of Garrett or Oudolf. I think my combo of Arailia 'Sun King' with ferns and Hostas is a reasonably good example of Garrett's idea. This looks the same all season except for when the Martagon lilies or Hostas are flowering.
Garrett emphasized that "contrast is critical." He shared images of endless plant combinations with color, shape, and textural contrasts including both flowers and foliage. I think I've managed a nice contrast of color and shape in the Carex/Hellebore combo below, but the textures are a bit too similar.
But the reality is the fact that I have four plants nullifying each other: two yellowish grasses and two plants with sharply serrated leaves. A redo of this spot is definitely on my September "to do" list.
Garrett gave a great concise mantra for me to keep repeating as I try to redo various garden spots this fall: Provide the bones, create contrasts, then soften the picture. Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta is one of my favorites for softening.
