October and the garden at Cambo is still full of colour and interest. The gardeners are busy digging over vegetable production areas and planting up new borders. We do most of our planting this month, although September is also a good month for moving the more robust herbaceous plants. The more tender, and plants from drier countries, such as Eryngium, Agastache or anything with silver foliage, are best moved in March and grasses should be divided and planted in spring while in active growth.
After a few years of developing we are now focussing in on sharpening our existing borders, correcting any errors and making the most of them. Autumn is a good time to do this as the structure of the plants is still visible.
In the woodland garden (1) the trees and shrubs are turning to vibrant tones of red, orange and yellow. Due to the lower light level, pastels and soft colours are more dominant and the lower trajectory of the sun provides shadow. Outside the potting shed enjoy the brilliant red shrub, euonymus aculatus, with its ‘winged’ stems. Yellow seems to predominate with the yellowish tones of the Acer cappadocicum, the yellow daisy flowers of the Rudbeckia and the pale yellow flowers of the tree lupin which is flowering for the second time this year.
In the woodland garden the trees and shrubs are turning to vibrant tones of red, orange and yellow. Due to the lower light level, pastels and soft colours are more dominant and the lower trajectory of the sun provides shadow.
The Calendar Bed (2)
Late interest is supplied with asters and grasses in this long season border. Planted this time last year we will be making adjustments this month. The large sandy-coloured grass, Stipa calamagrostis, various asters and the small purple Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ supply late season interest.
Steppe Planting (3)
Although well past its peak in June-July, interest is maintained with grasses and persistent seedheads. This planting brings together plants from drier habitats. Key grasses are: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ with its upright green leaves providing rhythm through the border; the small curved flower spikes of Pennisetum orientale along the front; the lush large grass Miscanthus Transmorrisonensis at the back.
The Annuals (4)
After a beleaguered start this summer, the annuals are finally getting under way. We have introduced a different range of plants this year, putting emphasis on cool pastel colours. Pink cosmos drifts through the border contrasting with the blue spikes of Salvia Farinacea ‘Strata’ and Agastache. Verbena bonariensis provides the upright transparent element.
Traditional Border (5)
This border has a final flush of flowers this month, with pink and white Japanese anemones. Look under the apple tree for the orchidlike flowers of Tricyrtis formosana and note the reddish flower spikes of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ and the red spikes of Persicaria amplexicaul1s ‘Firetail’. We will be making adjustments to the planting during October.
Cut Flower Area (6)
We aim to tighten up this area and will be removing some species which didn’t prove too successful for picking. The fine low grass that catches the wind is Stipa tenuissima, the large purplish heads of Eupatorium purpureum bounce around the perimeter of the planting.
Early Flowering Area (7)
To the left of this area is our old standing bed which has been redesigned with an earlier emphasis. To the right of this, Assistant Head Gardener, Andy Korovics, has prepared another early border and we are looking forward to planting these areas this month, with the remainder of tender plants being planted in spring.
Naturalistic Potager (8)
The natu ralistic potager (ornamental vegetable garden) continues to help lift the garden and early October will see us taking notes for next year’s design. Enjoy the generous drifts of the yellow and brownish Rudbeckias and the tall red spikes of Salvia confertiflora. Beetroot, cabbage and kale provide purple tones which tie into the hot scheme.
Double Prairie Borders (9)
The double prairie borders still look good this month with the grasses in full flower. The upright tall grass is Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ and there are various Miscanthus sinensis cultivars. Most of the flowering interest comes from the pink, red and white spikes of Persicaria amplexicaule, the large purple heads of Eupatorium purpureum and the pinkish heads of Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ and ‘Matrone’. These borders are interpretations of a prairie without attempting to be too accurate – a natural prairie consists of up to 90% grasses.
Potager Entrance Beds (10)
These were designed this year by our student, Jennie Sinclair, to provide a foreground for the potager and help unify it with adjacent areas. Click here for more details.
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