Flowers and Foliage
I thought I’d use this blog to share a few photos taken in gardens located on the north Aberdeenshire coast where SeeHow is based. For anyone who loves growing flowers or veg, this is a great area to live. This whole coastal strip, from Fraserburgh in the east to Inverness in the west, has a unique microclimate which few people are aware of. This is created mainly by the presence of the Grampian Mountains to the south, which protect the area from the prevailing south westerly weather systems that hit the UK, meaning we are in a ‘rain shadow’. As a result, it really is no exaggeration to say that in many respects the average temperature is not too dissimilar to Cornwall, except that the seashore is not washed by the warming Gulf Stream.
This year we have enjoyed an abundance of flowers from springtime onwards. The summer stars of the flowerbed have been Kniphofia, self-seeded Valerian, Geraniums, Lupins, Alchemilla mollis, Delphiniums, Roses, Cosmos, Snapdragons, Wallflowers, Penstemons and many others creating a riot of colour and varied foliage texture.
The sea may be cooler but it still has an ameliorating effect on the north Aberdeenshire climate, meaning we rarely experience frosts in winter (even if the ground is frozen 5k inland). We also rarely experience excessively high temperatures in the summer, which can stress many plants. The main issue we face is wind, which means many plants need to be staked or planted in sheltered positions. But while we may not have the Gulf Stream, the higher latitude means summer days are over one hour longer than south coast days – great for plants … and for veggies too during the key growing period. As a result of all of this, most plants thrive here. If any reader has a passion for gardening and wants to escape the polluted air, the traffic jams and the rat-race of city life, the Morayshire coastal strip is worth a thought – fantastic countryside and beaches and property that is actually affordable! Come and join our community.
The bright yellow Brachyglottis flowers attract bees and other insects and the leaves are perfectly edged in silver with a furry underside – a beautiful plant that thrives in coastal conditions
Marigolds sown from last year’s seeds; white and blue Salvia; self-seeded poppies (have appeared everywhere!). The range of foliage types and heights add to the density of the bed providing garden structure as well as shelter for biodiversity
Tall Crocosmia planted last year using corms dug up from what is now the veg patch, set the front garden on fire in the summer sunshine with searing red flowers above lush green foliage.
Size sometimes does not matter! In complete contracts to Crocosmia, little common daisies make a great contribution growing in small clumps along the edge of the border. They are very tough little plants. This one has been producing flowers continuously for months on end. When is a weed not a weed?
Salvias come in so many shapes and forms. @Kew_Gardens in London has over 100 species in their Salvia border which showcases their huge variation in form, colour and foliage. The forms we have selected are relatively low growing with a dense habit.
This small bed was previously just pink gravel on a horticultural barrier – no planting whatsoever. Two years later and it is full of plants flowering from early springtime onwards. Kerria japonica provides early yellow blossoms along with bright green leaves and stems that contribute to the garden throughout the year. Marigolds, Lupins, white and blue Campanulas, 3 different hostas, Geum, Spirea, Sedums and of course Valerian (self-seeding everywhere, from garden borders to roof tops!) are some of the summer stars of the show, all with a wide variety of form and foliage.
Lupins come in in a wide range of bright colours. They have a tendency to self-seed and need to be controlled. They are tall structural plants and may require staking to cope with the fluky wind gusts.
Plants come and go throughout the year, each one making its own contribution to the ‘garden fuse’. But this contribution is much more than just a few colourful weeks … it is also about plant foliage. Foliage gives form and structure to gardens over the whole gardening year. And sometimes forgotten, foliage also provides all sorts of nooks and crannies for our struggling biodiversity. Supporting biodiversity is not just about growing nectar-bearing flowers. SeeHow illustrations actually show the whole annual cycle of each plant including the growth of foliage. Use SeeHow to help understand the annual life-cycle of your whole garden!
The above Text and all Photographs are copyright of Wincenty (Wicek) Sosna. Please contact SeeHow (07939 226417) for permission to reproduce in any way, in part or as the complete text.
Exciting Opportunity!
SeeHow is looking for investors / crowdfunders to help it grow. We would like to develop a SeeHow App, further volumes of flowers and other product ideas to become part of the SeeHow product range. Please spread the word to friends and colleagues you think may be interested. For anyone who would like to become part of the SeeHow adventure – in any capacity – please contact Wicek Sosna on +44 (0) 7939 226417 - Director, SeeHow Designs or click to the SeeHow website and leave a message.