My poor back garden has been sadly neglected. While I’ve been pampering front gardens along the street, behind the house has had to play second fiddle not only to our front garden veg growing project, but I’m also writing (and growing veg for) a book (more on that later in the year!).
Euphorbia palustris has been busy colonising most areas, but with such pleasing results that I can hardly complain. It provides a perfect foil for this self-seeded Aquilegia and purple and green has to be one of my favourite colour combinations.
Before venturing out for a day’s work this week I spent a contemplative 10 minutes gazing at the plants that had popped up and was amazed at the amount of bees this self-seeded Cerinthe major attracted. I’ve grown some more of these strange beauties this year and I plan to plant them in our community front garden soon. I’ll be very happy if they self seed in such a joyous fashion in this spot too.
In shadier areas this Luzula nivea has teamed up well with Hellebores, bluebells and the creamy marbling of Arum italicum,
and I’d forgotten I’d planted this Anthriscus sylvestris a few years ago as I’ve never seen it flower since! This year of neglect has given me some gorgeous plant combinations and shown me that my constant rearranging of plants may not always give them the opportunity to really settle into the  garden. Having said that, there are a few gaps too. So unless I want a whole sea of lime green Euphorbia palustris, it may be time for a small amount of interference.
Gosh it looks pretty wonderful to me. I like it when nature does its own thing but I’m also aware from my own garden that a bit of timely editing is helpful. And yes to purple and lime green combinations whether in the ground or on the table in a pot. Looking forward to your book news- I have always thought you write very well.
Hi Sue, Purple and green used to almost be a mantra for me, but visits to gardens far and wide have hopefully broadened my horizons a bit. Thanks for writing encouragement-much appreciated. Plectranthus cuttings on their way soon.Naomi
I’ve got a self-seeded Cerinthe major on my allotment, and I noticed the same thing! And it’s such a lovely plant. And I totally agree about these colour combinations looking wonderful. Sadly I can’t come to your Chelsea Fringe event because I am doing a (horticulture-related) training course that weekend, otherwise it would have been nice to say hello. I’m not from your neighbourhood but from Stamford Hill but I have noticed the brilliant work that’s been going on whenever I was in the Finsbury Park area.
Hi Martina, Sorry you can’t make it to our Cake Sunday-we now have a 10 minute play about smashing pumpkins in one of the front gardens too!
Stamford Hill isn’t far away. Will let you know when our next event is happening. Thanks for dropping by. Naomi
It’s thanks to your cuttings of Euphorbia palustris that my garden looks stunning this year – thank you! The other naomi xxx
Hi Naomi, delighted to hear that your garden looks so good this year! Coming to Cake Sunday on the 27th? N x
Looks pretty amazing from those photos. It’s amazing the perfect combinations that nature creates for us.
Hi Anna, Yes nature spookily planting my favourite colour combinations for me. It’s great!
So pretty! The self seeded aquilegia against the euphorbia is just lovely!
Thanks PJ Girl, but can’t take the credit for nature at work in the garden!!
Your garden looks pretty beautiful to me. I love the naturalistic look, with plants self seeding here and there. I love the acid green with so many colours. My alchemilla is just coming into flower and provides the same zingy colour and is such a great foil for so many plants. The book sounds really exciting, will look forward to further updates.
Hi WW, I second your appreciation of Alchemilla. We have some in our community corner plot with lots of Allium ‘Purple Sensation’. A few days of sunshine and everything should really get flowering. Here’s hoping!