Miscanthus
The sound of Miscanthus rustling in the breeze can be a calming influence.
By Sue Fisher
Our gardens continue to provide wonderful socialising places even as lockdown restrictions ease and hospitality venues reopen, as having somewhere quiet to relax and de-stress is equally, if not more, important. The benefits of the outdoors and reconnecting with nature have proved hugely beneficial to well-being and mental health through the stresses of the past year, so have a look at your garden and see how best to create your own quiet and tranquil space.
Plants that soothe the senses never fail to delight and relax. Listen to rustling stems of bamboos or tall miscanthus grasses that move in the slightest breeze, or bring in the sound of moving water with a little feature like a self-contained fountain. Grow your own aromatherapy, with fragrant flowers such as roses, lavender, jasmine, honeysuckle, lilies, and chocolate cosmos, as well as plants with aromatic foliage that are deliciously scented when crushed. Herbs like camomile and lemon balm can be made into calming herbal teas, too. Watching wildlife provides relaxation and fascination, and you can easily entice bees and butterflies with their favourite plants like cosmos, verbascum, hebe, hyssop and butterfly bush (Buddleja). This latter plant is renowned for growing large, but newer varieties like the ‘Buzz’ series are compact in habit and suit even the smallest of gardens. Add a comfy seat or two for relaxation and wildlife-watching and you’ll have a perfect wind-down spot right on your doorstep.
A great way to save work and encourage wildlife is to have what’s become known as a ‘lazy lawn’. If you have a lot of grass and don’t need it all regularly cropped, simply go easy with the mower, and this year you could be listening to the buzz of bees and chirping of grasshoppers rather than the humming of mowers. A real win-win route to relaxation in the garden.
Gardens to visit
One of the big post-lockdown joys is being able to visit gardens again. Some have restricted hours, or require visitors to pre-book, so always check websites or phone before you travel. As well as our local favourites such as The Garden House, Buckland Abbey, Cotehele, and Keith Wiley’s plant paradise at Wildside, there are private gardens opening for charity under the auspices of the National Gardens Scheme: www.ngs.org.uk and St Lukes: www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/opengardens.
The pent-up demand for getting out and about means that gardens are likely to be bustling, so a recent project to create quiet spaces will be of particular interest to those seeking peace and quiet. The Silent Space project (silentspace.org.uk) encourages open gardens to offer an area that is quiet and technology-free for peace and reflection. So far there are three Devon gardens offering ‘silent spaces’: RHS Rosemoor at Great Torrington, Dartington Hall, and Stone Lane Gardens near Chagford.
Seasonal jobs
- Start taking cuttings of this year’s young growth from plants such as tender perennials. Also, look for rooted shoots on woody-based perennials like penstemon and anthemis, which can be detached and potted up.
- Lavender should be lightly trimmed after flowering to remove dead flower stems and shoot tips.
- Finish planting up containers of summer flowers and water regularly during dry spells.
- Focus watering on any border plants that are newly planted, and ensure fruiting plants have an even supply to give a good crop.
- Sow biennial plants now to flower next year, like foxglove, forget-me-not, sweet rocket and wallflower.
- Put out fresh water for wildlife in shallow dishes, bowls or bird baths, and refresh regularly. Continue to provide food for birds, but do use the correct feeders as young fledglings can choke on large items such as peanuts.