Blog

Stressing Over Seasonal Aridity
By Michael
Apr 24, 2019
I’m set up for the dry.  The only water available is from our tanks, and we really only have enough for the house. For this reason, I don’t grow vegetables over the summer, an
Puncturing the Plateau
By Michael
Feb 11, 2018
I knew when setting out to do the perennial planting for a client that what I wanted to achieve was a big undulating plateau of colour and texture between about 800 and 1200mm, pun
Steppe Update
By Michael
Dec 17, 2017
You may remember, from earlier posts, my ‘steppe’ planting (a misnomer that will remain until something better presents itself) from November 2015.  Back then it looked like t

Puncturing the Plateau
By Michael
Feb 11, 2018

I knew when setting out to do the perennial planting for a client that what I wanted to achieve was a big undulating plateau of colour and texture between about 800 and 1200mm, punctured by taller and ...

Steppe Update
By Michael
Dec 17, 2017

You may remember, from earlier posts, my ‘steppe’ planting (a misnomer that will remain until something better presents itself) from November 2015.  Back then it looked like this: The intention w ...

The Steppe: Then and Now
By Michael
Jan 5, 2017

Back on the 4th April, I gave a quick run down on my latest bit of trial planting of very low plants.  I almost gave up on it in early spring, when it looked like being overrun with weeds, and I star ...

The Ways of Stone and Succulent
By Michael
Aug 29, 2016

I planted as I built my stone wall, following good Gertrude Jekyll principles. Some things succeeded and other things failed.  Some, like the honeysuckle and the dianthus, grew really well initially, ...

Foliage vs Flowers: Winter
By Michael
Aug 1, 2016

Well-planted pots can pack a punch totally disproportionate to the number and volume of plants involved. A couple of times a year I replant the largest of my pots, which then sit in prominent position ...