Softening our gabion seating area with plants

Right from the off, back in May when our plans were hastily redrawn after just happening to buy a pizza oven, I planned to have a second row of gabion baskets and plant them up with plants from our garden. MOH was less sure about this part of the plan, but as he wanted a pizza oven he went along with it.  I thought that adding at least a tonne of hardcore at the back of our garden would need some softening and I think the two photos below show that I was right.

GABION BASKETS INSTALLED AND FILLED, BUT STARK...

PART OF THE SECOND ROW OF GABION BASKETS PLANTED UP WITH FERNS, CROCOSMIAS, SEDUMS AND DIGITALIS

The difference is amazing isn't it? I'm pleased I persevered with this as not only did it help us lose some of the soil we've been collecting but it helps the new structure stand out less, which may seem an odd thing to say but it gives it a more natural feel. 

So how did I turn them into planters?

The answer is membrane. I could have used plastic but that's non-permeable and so they would eventually become like mini bog gardens, that's fine if that's the look you're going for, and if you're planting plants that like those conditions, but I wanted to use the plants that I'd displaced - the ferns, as well as some other plants from around our garden. Crocosmias seem to grow two a penny and I had a pot of those from where I laid some of the old patio paving slabs under the cherry tree. I'd also been collecting sedums and so those were destined for their too.  The final plant I wanted to include was a foxglove that was growing in a pot. Not the usual place for foxgloves but I wasn't sure if it was a weed or a plant (it was a plant) so had moved it there for observation. 

But first things first, membrane.

I cut two ultra-long lengths and used them to line the baskets in a cross form. I found that securing them with string worked well and quickly found a way to do this so the string was out of sight. On seeing them MOH said they looked like waste bins... Hmmmm.  With soil added, less so I think?

In went the plants, and more soil to top up the baskets. And as with any planting they got a good long water.

And they seemed to thrive. Even the foxglove that was moved while it was flowering seemed happy - phew. 

I'm a fan of dense planting and especially in this kind of space it's worked well. Nearly two months later and the plants have settled in really well, filling out and softening the space as I'd hoped. 

We've still a little more to do, as I want to add a further gabion basket planter on the end so that each of the three seats have plants behind them, but that's just finding the time to level the soil, line the basket and fill it with soil. I've a couple more ferns and crocosmias waiting to go into that space, so the plants are sorted.

I also want to line the three triangular spaces between the seats with membrane in the same way and plant those up with camomile, penny royal (a ground covering mint variety) and thyme, so that when you sit there and brush against the herbs you get a waft of scent too.  This, alongside sorting out the front of the baskets - I think it needs some kind of step - and then I'll happily declare this part of the garden finished.

What do you think?

A succulent in a tin

A while back I bought a tin of strawberry tea in a fabulous pink tin from Fortnum & Mason. It turned out that the tin was indeed fabulous, but the tea not so much. So saving the best of it, the tin has been in my cupboard for a while as I knew, one day I'd have a use for it. I vaguely remembered seeing succulents planted in tins on Pinterest and I thought, as you do, how hard can it be?

In short, pretty easy - the hardest and most laborious part was removing the paper labels from two sides of the tin. There'd been plenty of cycles through the dishwasher, some scoring and some soaking, but some of the label remained. Last weekend I decided the paper labels were going once and for all.  Cue more soaking - and a new trick - some nail varnish remover to remove that sticky residue that some glues leave.

And finally my tin was ready.

I decided not to pierce drainage holes in my pretty tin, but also didn't want the succulent to sit in water. But instead of crocks and stones I added some corks to the bottom of the tin before filling with earth.

I hadn't planned to plant a pink succulent, I'd wanted to use one of the ice white ones that I'm propagating from a fallen leaf as I thought that'd make a nice contrast to the pink. However when I looked at the leaves, they weren't quite ready and I couldn't quite bring myself to uproot the ice white plant that's still establishing itself in my succulent trug. 

And instead this pink succulent called me.

I added some vermiculite to the top - I think I'd used my grit laying the base for the pizza oven - and that adds a textured addition to the soil, which glistens in the sun and will, I hope help with moisture retention. 

The results though were stunning, a pretty succulent in a pretty tin, and a great garden table decoration that'd look equally good in the conservatory, or well anywhere really.

What do you think?

If you want some more succulent inspiration, why not join me over on my Succulent Love board on Pinterest:

An irresistible hibiscus

Almost too irresistible, but also so very beautiful and delicate. This beautiful hibiscus was one of our gifts at our 110th party the other weekend.  It's also known as a rose of China and is a tropical plant which is tender here in the UK, most often seen as a houseplant in conservatories or greenhouses. They're plants I look at in wonder whenever we visit the big houses with these, but now we have our very own.

It's beautiful, and it's blooms are exquisite.  The leaves are waxy like a camellias, but shaped more like a rose - it's a crazy, mixed up kind of plant, I guess.  And one that's been enjoying the warm spell, so long may that continue.

The flowers only last a day or two, and with the weather last week it's thrived in our garden. 

However, it looked as if it could do with a larger pot.

And, I had one in mind. One that while it was full, it was full of self-seeded plants. It wasn't long before these were moved into the compost and the hibiscus was planted in their place.

I think it looks great in this pot and it's flowers add a real pop of tropical colour right at the edge of the patio. Reading more about its care I suspect I'll need to repot it so I can bring it inside over winter, as while that pot also needs protecting it's normally dragged under a nearby bush and covered in bubblewrap, and I don't think that'll work now.  

The buds start as tiny little things nestled in the leaves, and our plant is covered in them.  As they grow the flower develops and becomes visible bit by bit.  And then boom! the flower is revealed.

Once the flower has faded, all that's left is the unfurled bud, and the intrigue as to which bud will flower next.

So hours of fun for me watching this plant develop, and a really thoughtful gift - thank you.  And a new plant to learn how to look after, if you've tips for caring for a hibiscus, then let me know.