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Late Summer Perennials, a heretic view

© Gay Klok

Perennials and the late Summer Garden

The summer garden is in full flush and the perennials are flourishing and filling the garden with colours. Why is it that this time of the year is my least favourite? Is it that the colouring, so bright and cheerful, is too bright to satisfy my love of the romantic garden? Then, tell me, what is brighter than the yellow daffodils gleaming in the vivid green grass? Are not the forget-me-nots and granny-night-caps cheerful as they thrust themselves into all kinds of impossible places?

Certainly, the perennials need constant attention with dead heading, but I am never one to complain of having to work away the hours in the garden. Maybe it is the actual plants that come to their own in late summer? The Gladiolus, the Chrysanthemums and the Dahlias are all classified in my mind as "funeral flowers". Do most people die in the summer months? Or is it that these late summer plantsl stay in bloom for long periods? I hope that when I pass on to the real Garden of Eden it will be in the Winter [Christmas Roses] or Spring [a bunch of daffies] or Autumn [a bouquet of Autumn leaves] It is interesting to note that none of the first mentioned and reluctantly-grown plants, have a good perfume. Neither do most Camellias so that is not the answer.

The Summer flowering lilies are so beautiful but you cannot fill your long borders with just lilies, the perfumes may over power you. And there are many other beautiful and gentle flowers that like the warm weather; the simple Daisies of the fields, Hydrangeas I find useful, Violas, the many Verbascums that are now available, Euphorbias help fill the borders too, the gentle Woodruffs, the Catnip and the shrubs that respond to the drier, hotter weather such as Gordonia, Hoherias and the many Buddlejas are doing their best to cheer me up. The blue and white Agapanthus, almost considered weeds in Australia, are cheerful for many weeks and need little care and the cimicifugia are into their second showing. The water loving plants, Astilbe and Aruncus are fast fading as is the Crambe

Maybe it is that the garden begins to get an over-blown appearance, the trees are top-heavy and the shrubs are encroaching onto the paths and constantly reminding me that the same thing is happening to me in my "late summer" years! Ah! Vanity, thy name is w--, no, I cannot write that sexist saying.