Long Border

In 2013 the corner of the Long Border abutting the left patio bed was dominated by a rather large conifer tree.  Within days of moving in we had it removed (along with several other conifers)

This left a boring strip of soil with a couple of scraggy hardy fuchsias and some clematis of uncertain heritage which were tidied up.

We had brought many plants with us from our last garden and this strip of a border nursed them for a while.

Eventually the fuchsias were removed, mainly because despite being useful and pretty in their own right, they do attract quite a number of wasps.

The clematis remain however.  One we think may be c. Comtesse de Bouchard, and another is possibly c. Alpina blue dancer.  There is a further large pink and finally a beautiful rich deep purple.  We've added a c. Montana rubens for an early display. 

The Long Border has interest from highly scented Sarcococca confusa and hellebores in winter, Galanthus nivalis (snowdrops) and narcissi in various sizes, with pools of blue Muscari in the spring. 

Height has been introduced with Magnolia George Henry Kern, acer Crimson King and acer Aureum. 

And during the summer astrantias, peonies, hardy geraniums and astilbes join in.

And finally in the autumn, a hydrangea fades gracefully while the foliage from the trees turn to vivid shades of orange, yellow and red.

In late summer of 2021, we added a Monarda Balmy Pink, Rudbeckia summerdaisys Double Gold and Star of Life Smileyz, Helenium Short and Sassy, Echinaceas Sympathy and Mooodz Awake to extend the season. 

Sadly, following a very cold, prolonged winter, we lost all of these.  Gardening is a process. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don't. 

In 2022 and 2023, we removed all of the clematis in the Long Border as they took a lot of maintenance to keep them on our side of the fence, time we would rather spend in other places.

In 2024, we planted a large red flowered rhododendron into the Long Border, along with a red hydrangea that we had bought an aunt in her final weeks. Both of these had spent a couple of years in large containers but as we age, we're trying to create fewer areas of maintenance.