Sunday 30 September 2012

Coming around....



... to grasses. I've never been very taken with them before, think I saw too much pampas grass growing up in the 70s. I'm sure I remember it dried in the house? But going to Trentham's Italian Gardens on a crisp autumn afternoon I think has changed my mind.
The borders were glorious in a sort of faded grandeur way; mounds of sedums, clouds of asters and fronds of stipa gigantica that seemed to be on fire in the low afternoon sun.
I've only got a tiny garden but maybe a little stipa in the front border might just be the thing for a bit of autumn glory.

17 comments:

Razmataz said...

I've just put a few in my own garden. What's nice about them is they dry and stay all winter and look lovely in the snow.

Unknown said...

I love grasses. I.once went to a garden, although frustratingly I cannot remember where, and it had grasses planted in between roses. It was really beautiful.

Katy Noelle said...

Then, the grasses last through the winter and are SO beautiful with the light shining through them! The gardens sound like a refreshing outing - beautiful! =]

xxo

...Nina Nixon... said...

I know how you feel about grasses, but they do look really beautiful especially with the sunlight filtering through.

Nina x

Tea with Prudence said...

Aaah, the pampas grass phase of the 70's - often displayed in an oversized glass urn.

but it does look lovely in an Autumn border.

cheers
Fi

Annie Cholewa said...

And she begins another comment with 'when we lived in Stoke' ... I swear Trentham Gardens had a lot less to offer!

J9sHappiness said...

Ooooh, I love the Rudbekia (not sure of spelling tho) in the first picture. I'm a fan of all thing daisy like!! Lovely pictures, J9 x

Emma Herian said...

If you ever visit Sussex you really should visit the Sussex Prairies, http://www.sussexprairies.co.uk/ gorgeous examples of grasses, Ive been converted!
Emx

rusty duck said...

The nice thing about grasses (Like the Stipa) is that because you can see THROUGH them you don't feel they are taking over the garden, even when it's small.

I've grown Stipa gigantea once, and loved it, but so did the cows in the field next door...

Christals Creations said...

I do look forward to the day we have a garden we will be inhabiting for long enough to make it our garden. I begrudge spending money knowing we will be moving on and it will be turfed up for the next family. We do have pots though. :o)

driftwood said...

we have two stipas and I love them, and anything that can survive the weather here is worth growing in my garden!

driftwood said...

we have two stipas and I love them, and anything that can survive the weather here is worth growing in my garden!

purple-roses-country-cottage said...

Dear Steph, I never give thoughts to grasses. I have some in my garden but on your pictures they looked really viewy with the special autumn sunlight. Thank you for showing us. Nicole

Country Rabbit said...

While growing up on an island with sandy sea winds- i noticed a lot of the homes a long the sea front where we grew up had lots of tough long grasses instead of flowering shrubs.
I loved all the varieties and colours and the ones that looked like bottle brushes ;0)...all swishing in the wind!...I love how you have captured the sunlight through the grasses! stunning! x

Sue said...

Steph,We've just returned from our and your favourite bit of Cornwall,the property that was next to us had HUGE pampas grass in their garden,straight away i thought of the 70s, but loved it at the same time,maybe grasses are the way to go eh?
Hope all's well
Best Wishes
Sue xxx

melanie said...

gorgeous photos! your garden is beautiful! :)

Tins roser said...

You have really a beautiful blog!