Colourful gardens this summer

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 23, 3 November 1987, Page 6

Colourful gardens this summer

The sunny spells of weather over Labour Weekend saw many of us busy in the garden and judging by the amount of planting being done Ohakune gardens will be very colourful this summer. Summer flowering annuals give such a lovely display all summer long but it is the perennial plants which flower year after year which are such good value in the garden. To mention just a few particular favourites among the hundreds to choose from liatris the 'gayfeather' is quite a striking plant with tall spires of rosy purple flowers growing to two and a half feet or more. Filipendula the 'lace plant', pretty fern-like foliage and sprays of dainty flowers with fluffy stamens. The flowers are naturally white but there is a pink form filipendula rubrum. Platycodon the 'balloon flower', balloon shaped buds open to flowers about one and a half inches across in blue or white and are quite outstanding, the white one particularly so at night when it shows up a brilliant white. Kniforphia the 'red hot poker' in dwarf and tall forms, in a colour range from greeny yellow through to deep orange red. The tuis love the 'pokers' and will visit regularly while they are in flower clinging to the stems and sipping the nectar from the flowers. Astilbe, tall feathery plumes of pink or white are an ideal plant for a damp situation. Campanulas of all types from tiny rock forms to the tall stately 'canterbury bells' so beloved in the English country garden. For rockeries and edging

try rhodohypoxis a tiny plant only three or four inches high with brilliant star like flowers in red pink or snowy white. Tucked in a sunny spot beside a rock or by a path they will make a brilliant clump of colour. Iberis the perennial alyssum will form quite a dense mat and flower for a long period. Armeria the 'pincushion plant', thick grass like foliage and rosy pom-pom flowers will make a really thick clump and are most attractive. Solidago the dwarf 'golden rod' is quite showy on a rockery, and coreopsis will give a brilliant display of golden yellow flowers for months on end. Quite low growing, it is ideal for a border or a rockery plant. Dianthus the border 'pinks' have a place in any garden. So many colours and varieties, always something new and all are very fragrant. One of the old favourites with a delightful fragrance is the double white variety 'Mrs Sinkins'. A border of these on a summer evening is delightful. Another great favourite of mine is the variety 'Maori Warrior', a deep red purple flower, again with a lovely heady perfume. Mine is from a plant given to me by the late Mrs Allen from her garden in Raetihi. Gentian aucalis will love a spot by a brick or cement path. A tiny leafed creeping plant the brilliant blue trumpet like flowers are quite outstanding. Gentian septemfida is similar in colour and character but blooms a little later than the aucalis. The new hybrid forms of aquilegia are very pretty. Quite a dainty plant with large flowers in quite a range of different colours, ideal to fill in between taller growing plants.