Chiaroscuro

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon
 verdure is the most perfect refreshment."
 - Jane Austen

I have to admit there are times when we're sorely tempted to dig up what's left of the verdure and turn it into pathway instead.  Don't look too closely at what we laughingly call "lawn" because what you'll see is a network of daisies and clover, knit together with some coarse strands of couch grass. (There are those who resort to astroturf in this climate and I can well understand why!)

Parasols and strategic seating areas

But Ms Austen does have a point.  Our little oasis of remaining green wouldn't seem quite so cooling if it became just another area of gravel or oyster shells.

The layout of the driveway and resulting grassland was already established when we bought our property.

Few people have the opportunity to design with a blank canvas but it's vital to work out early on just where you want to place those all-important seating areas. They may be dependent on sun, wind, views and time of year. Then you can plant your trees and shrubs accordingly, perhaps using them to provide shade where required. 

Planting under the olive tree

We recently put in an olive tree just for this purpose, hoping it will provide us with dappled shade on evenings when the low sun can still burn quite hot.

Although midsummer isn't a good time for starting a new bed, we had some leftover compost and a few dianthus seedlings, so it just remained to gather a bunch of rocks from nearby fields...  In a month or so, it should fill out and look quite natural, providing a few more scented plants without needing much water or maintenance. 

Catanache caerulea

I love growing different pinks because they really thrive in our chalk-based driveway and provide neat cushions of green-grey foliage - echoing the leaves of the olive tree.

Also happy in chalk is the delightful catanache with its silvery, papery flowers and a basal rosette of narrow drought-resistant leaves. It only grows about 50cm high and would look at home in a rock or scree garden, given a bit of space to display itself to full advantage.

Verbascum hybridum 'Snow Queen'
(more primrose than snow white!) 

For long-lasting flowers, I've been impressed by a verbascum which I grew from seed last year.  Two of the plants I put in began blooming some six weeks ago and are still being visited by bees, so I'm loathe to cut them down whilst there are more buds to open.

Occasionally they need re-staking against strong winds and I've now removed their main stems, leaving the outer branches to keep flowering. 

By chance, there happens to be a Stipa gigantea growing nearby and its gilded, grassy panicles tend to prop themselves rather fetchingly against the verbascum.

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'
with red Cosmos sulphureus

Also grown from seed this year is the sturdy Rudbeckia hirta which I ordered from Chiltern Seeds. These began fully flowering at the start of July and provide two bold splashes of colour where I've planted them in groups.

I particularly like this variety with its raised green centre and it makes a long-lasting cut flower which contrasts well with the orange or red Cosmos sulphureus. 

This type also seems to have greater drought resistance than its more common cousin with the brown centre - but, then again, I might just have given it better growing conditions this time, in areas which do get some shade!

Border with Garden House

In the midst of this hot Charentais summer we're always relieved to come home to our garden, where we park in the shade of our old ash tree. Odd to think we actually contemplated cutting down some of these mature trees when we first moved here!


Luckily our French neighbour, a wise old agriculteur, sounded a note of caution saying that les anciens had planted them for 'a reason'. We certainly appreciated that reason in 2004 when a severe heatwave struck most of France - and England too - making it uncomfortable to spend any time outdoors after about 9am. 

But being on the coast helps to keep the heat down and we often notice how much warmer it is just a few kilometers inland. Although our mornings can be quite cool, even without wind, we find there's usually a 'lunchtime breeze' which springs up and may continue through the afternoon or else disappear until about 5pm when it blows up again to cool things off for the evening. A civilised climate.

Lythrum salicaria

Our back lane provides some shade for evening walks and the water channels are currently adorned with spikes of purple loosestrife which likes to grow in boggy places.

Another reminder of English country walks is the wild arum whose poisonous berries glow in dark corners, here framed by a tasteful arrangement of convolvulus.

Arum maculatum

Alien Invaders

Our waterways attract other less welcome plants like the invasive Mare's Tail (Equisetum arvense) which has gradually been spreading its way into a particularly damp field of sunflowers. Apparently these horsetails are descended from ancient treelike plants of some 300 million years ago, so they're worthy of respect for simply having survived!

Equisetum arvense - flora from a lost world

I must confess to a certain fascination with them as creatures from the Carboniferous period which are eye-catchingly architectural, like tree ferns and monkey puzzle trees.  You might not want them in your field or garden but I'm glad they can still spread their rhizomes through areas where they do relatively little damage.

Far worse, in my opinion, is the acid-yellow water primrose, a type of Ludwigia, which was probably introduced as an ornamental plant and now infests many waterways. It spreads quickly, clogging up drainage ditches and adding to the risk of flooding.  

Back in our garden sanctuary, the herb bed continues to fill out and those hard working salvias and hyssops are now joined by a couple of sedum, to provide some variation in colour and texture.

Sedums are another of those plants which can often look better in development than in maturity when they have a tendency to fall over in an ungainly fashion!

A ripe crop and impending rain on the Estuary

Shady Corners

"Land really is the best art" - Andy Warhol

Vineyard view on a morning bike ride

I finished my last posting rather abruptly as there was simply too much to report!  Once again we've had a wet weekend - great for the garden, not so good for "les grands departs" when everyone races to their holiday destination in order to enjoy the July 14th fireworks...

Artichoke table decor

Since then, I'm glad to say, it has gradually warmed up so that people can escape to the beach, whilst we aim to do all our gardening by midday so that we can collapse into a shady corner for the afternoon.

Now it's pay-off time for all that weeding earlier... I find there's just the odd bit of convolvulus to be plucked out as we stroll around admiring and dead-heading.

A kind friend gave us one of their handsome artichokes which had been allowed to flower. For those with more spacious gardens, it's an architectural must-have (as well as being fab with vinaigrette).

Oenothera odorata
 'Apricot Delight'

Early morning is such a wonderful time to meander around the borders, especially if Christina has activated her watering system and given everything a refreshing shower. It prompts all kinds of insects to alight on plants for a drink before they start the day and we might come across newly-hatched moths or butterflies that need to warm themselves in the early sun.

Last week the waterway which runs behind our house was visited by some unusual damselflies which actually rival the resident kingfisher with their iridescent blue wings.

Demoiselle Agrion

I notice from the picture that this one appears to be eating greenfly off a blade of grass, in which case it would be extremely welcome in our garden!  Having said that, the aphid population seems to have practically disappeared this month and we're no longer having to clean them off new buds on the roses - maybe those great tits are finally getting to grips with it all ?

Alba hybrid: "Scarborough Fair"

I've said before that I find roses a bit of a pain because they require a lot of pruning and general maintenance, partly because they perform so well in this climate and are fairly free of any diseases which might hold them back.

However I make an exception for those few which aren't too vigorous, despite proffering an endless succession of perfect blooms which make excellent cut flowers. This one, Scarborough Fair, is a fairly recent introduction from David Austin and is described in their catalogue as "A rose of modest beauty and simple charm".  

It exudes the musky scent of old roses, complemented by the light, airy growth of a wild rose.  Its flowers are delicate and beautiful at every stage, transforming from dark pink buds to near-white petals as they open fully; what the French might call "ravissant" - and a delight for the photographer too!

Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora'

Shrub of the Month

Equally light and airy, if not actually billowing, is this hydrangea planted a few years ago in one of our awkward shady spots behind the remains of a partial stone wall. 

Its glory has been somewhat eclipsed in the past by other foreground plants but last week we chopped down a branching fennel which threatened to obscure its lovely flower panicles.  Sometimes you have to be drastic in 'editing' your plants!

Shrubs of all sorts tend to take about three years to establish properly, and whilst they're developing it's an idea to put annuals in front, or a dispensable plant like fennel. 

We'll probably keep this area for foxgloves in future as they will have finished flowering by the time this hydrangea sails forth.

Hydrangea serrata

Having shady borders is certainly not a disadvantage in this climate!  Chances are they will get sunshine at some point in the day, without the soil drying out unduly.

Flowers, like the attractive mauve lacecaps on the right, last much longer and keep their subtle colours when not blasted by too much direct sunlight.

Hydrangeas are happy in most soil types and only need a little pruning and tidying at the end of the season. Their dried flower-heads can be left in place until spring to protect the bush from frost damage.  

Scabious 'Chat Noir' and
Gaura lindheimerei

July is also the month when clumps of gaura, the 'wand flower', spring into action after being cut back by half in early June to prevent their stems growing too long. The pink variety isn't quite as manic as the white one which seeds readily and seems to have colonised several parts of the garden!

Gaura's loose, waving flowers contrast happily with the tall stems of dark red, near-black scabious which have flecks of pale pink scattered through their petals.

Campanula carpatica

For an airy edging plant in sun or semi-shade, I can recommend this campanula from the Carpathian mountains, which is also known as the American Harebell and stands at about 30cm, forming a little clump with heart-shaped leaves. 

Its delicate, cup-shaped flowers look almost translucent in sunlight, but are a surprisingly rich blue when viewed in shade or at dusk. Like many small campanulas, it's a versatile addition to the garden, able to withstand quite dry conditions.

Green Echinacea and Nicotiana

Aside from cool-blue passages in the garden, we've planted some creamy-green sections this year: namely Echinacea 'Green Jewel' and Nicotiana 'Lime Green', both of which came into flower at the end of June and are still going strong.

In previous years we've grown the taller Nicotiana affinis which has lots of delicious white flowers and is excellent for attracting moths. 

Its seedlings still come up in shady corners but we tend to pull them out because the leaves get big and ungainly. (Almost as big as real tobacco leaves which you might see growing in the odd field near here.)


Whilst it might not be top of our list for a tree-like shrub, there's no doubt that hibiscus is a popular choice in this part of France and we've inherited a medley of three colours grown together in our front garden. 

It's apparently frost hardy and easy to manage - except for the fact that it will drop sticky, spent blooms onto the paved pathway which can be messy when it rains. (Hey, at least it's not a fig tree...!)

Pink and blue Hibiscus syriacus

Oysters and Herbs

"All flowers go together: God isn't a decorator!" - Michael Tolliver

Herb bed top-dressed with oyster shells

This quote comes courtesy of Armistead Maupin and seems apposite in July when the garden is a firestorm of competing colours, offset by some surprisingly cool areas where the lush greenery brings a sigh of relief.

Verbena rigida

But first to the raised bed which was created for low-growing herbs such as thyme and oregano, regularly picked for use in salads. 

These creeping plants certainly appreciate sharp drainage and we decided it would be effective to top-dress with oyster shells 'recuperated' from the shores of the estuary. They are beautifully cleaned and graded in size by the constant movement of tides.

- after weeks of flowering!

Whilst these herbs were establishing themselves, I added a couple of Verbena rigida grown from seed and they've been in flower for over a month now.

The blooms are a similar shade to Verbena bonariensis but, interestingly, they start out rounded in shape and end up as spikes where the old petals have fallen off.  Its foliage is definitely 'rigid' and the bracts (or corymbs?) stand about 50cm tall, which perhaps makes it more suited to prairie-style planting.

Hyssop being visited by
 Hummingbird Hawkmoth

In the larger herb bed behind this raised area is a selection of Agastache (hyssop) and Salvia (sage) which have also been in flower for weeks.  Many of these types come from Brazil or Mexico, where their long tubular flowers are pollinated by real hummingbirds, and they seem to thrive in this climate where they will over-winter if the temperature stays above -10'C.

Having lost its original label, I have to guess that this hyssop is Agastache mexicana 'Acapulco Rose' - but, at any rate, it's produced lots of flower stems, reaching a height of some 2m and making quite an impact in its semi-shaded corner.

Santolina rosmarinifolia

When it comes to neat, mounded herbs from the Mediterranean - especially those with a delicious scent - then look no further than this green santolina which we picked up from a plant fair a couple of years ago. I've since taken many cuttings and used it for edging in dry areas where it grows well in sand or chalk.

The foliage is quite soft and exudes a strong smell of olives when rubbed - another candidate for the salad bowl or for use as an attractive garnish!  It has the same button flowers as grey santolina, but these are a paler yellow and really glow against dark foliage.

Salvia pratensis

Something we often admire in nearby meadows at this time of year is the wild sage which grows almost a meter high and has fabulous gentian-blue flowers. I've tried collecting seed and sowing it in the garden but without any luck so far.


Although I've managed to raise some salvias from seed, we've come across newer South American varieties at plant fairs and garden centres where there's a wider selection on offer these days.

Our latest purchase was an unusual one with small glossy leaves, now producing a succession of bright magenta blooms.

Salvia buchananii

Like a few other exotic sages, the flowers of Salvia buchananii are distinctly furry and prompt you to stroke them!  There's something lush and tropical in the way their velvety buds push out from the shiny calyx, adding to a sense of anticipation before each bloom emerges, bright enough to stand out even when they're in shade for part of the day. 

Another variety which is doing well in semi-shade is the striking Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue', which is somewhat taller at about two meters but similar in colour to our wild sage, with a distinctly black stem and calyxes.

Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue'

Lovely though these tall sages are, you do have to watch out for thuggish tendencies as many of them produce runners and will quickly spread under neighbouring plants.

We found this with the bog sage, Salvia uliginosa, which is supposed to be a moisture-loving plant although we grew it successfully in a hot and dry position.  

Its flowers are a paler blue and it's great for filling an awkward sunny spot where you want something tall and long-flowering, but it can grow aggressively in the same way as mint and be difficult to eradicate if you change your mind...

A riot of Cosmos sulphureus

By way of contrast, we decided to throw caution to the winds and plant up a really 'hot' area in the middle of the new border which Christina dug in spring. 

For instant colour, I ordered a mixed packet of Cosmos seed - not the 
usual pastel shades but the bright Cosmos sulphureus, which is also popular in this part of France and looks great with blue or purple flowers.

Unfortunately I made a mistake on my order and found I'd got the short-stemmed version, but the effect is just as dazzling, especially as I still had a few seeds from last year's taller orange variety to add to the mix!

Helenium or Sneezeweed
'Sahin's Early Flowerer'

At this vivid end of the garden, we also have a clump-forming perennial helenium which is equally showy and makes a beautiful cut flower, if you can bear to remove any of the stems.

This is Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' and it lives up to its name by coming into bloom towards the end of June.  It's earned the RHS Award of Merit but I have to admit I nearly killed it a couple of years ago by planting it in a particularly dry part of the garden, shaded by shrubs.  

Happily it has responded to its new location in deeper soil and brighter light by giving us a dramatic floral display.

Echinacea 'Green Jewel' 
with Catanache caerulea (left) and Campanula carpatica (top)

Our cuttings vase is regularly updated with new arrivals from the garden. Although it provides a ready-made table decoration, it's also useful as a way of observing flowers in close-up whilst munching your way through dinner. And it does give some insight into which plants might complement one another...

An overview of the herb bed,
including a few grasses and sedums for variety!