There are groundcovers and there are what I call “ground huggers”. The ground huggers are the carpets of the garden. The tighter and lower a groundcover hugs the ground, the less chance a weed can sprout. I mulch these xeric plants with gravel. The natural limestone holds a bit of moisture making an ideal culture for these lovely purples.
At about 11 o-clock you can see Globularia cordifolia dwarf. It’s flowers are little puple pom poms. In the middle you can see a prickly ball which is, Prickly Dianthus, Acantholimon hohenackeri. Blooming up front is Bressingham Thyme
The lovely, larger purple flower is: Silky Rock Jasmine, androsace primula “chumby”
This is a view from the back garden. On the left you’ll notice the purple kool-aid scented Variegated Iris. Next to it our native white Penstemon Grandiflorus. Up close on the right side is a Meadow Rue, Thalicturm . The fragrant purple rose is Reine de Violettes. But the “star” of the post is the Lavender Thyme (thymus preacox skorpilii) growing in between the pink limestone path. The Lavender Thymes started with two or three tiny plants. It is a delight.
I previously did a post on this 33 Foot Long Arbor. The beautiful purple ground cover is Blue Wooley Speedwell, veronica pectinata,
Gardens need destinations. And if that destination is slowly revealed even better. An arbor not only is beautiful but it can fill a need. In this case give shade and shelter and a place to rest. And, less you think it is all work and no play for Ted, I have found him asleep on the comfy cushion swing bench., that sits under this arbor. When you first enter the garden you cannot see this arbor. You have to walk down the path and turn to the right behind the Little Pink and Yellow Garden House.
At this point there are hops growing on the arbor. They rise from the 2 front post. The arbor sits on the north west corner of the garden. The problem was that hops want to follow the sun as they grow. So every few mornings I would be out turning them back to the north onto the arbor. And, hops leaves have little hairs on them that are irritating to some persons. I found them to be very irritating. So a couple of years ago, I dug them out. What a workout!
BressinghamThyme carpets the area around the arbor. I love this low growing thyme. Notice the, recently planted hops.
You can see the design in the just finished arbor
I removed the hops and have let grapes grow over the arbor. I’ll show better pictures later this year. Yes this is my arm. I didn’t like the rest of me in the picture.
