|
Mrs McCandless - Dromore,Co Down
It is with deep regret that I report that Mrs McCandless passed away in November ‘02.
What a sad loss. I spoke to Betty, Mrs McCandless’s daughter, and explained that I would like to acknowledge the pleasure her mother’s fantastic garden gave me, and the people of our town.
Betty was
delighted with this suggestion. We agreed on the notion of “A Mrs McCandless Border”, and for gardeners to dedicate a sunny and showy strip of their garden to this great lady.
Here’s the background, and the specification.
Mrs McCandless was a remarkable lady. Her borders always seemed to have a continuation of bloom. Don’t be under any illusion, many hours of love and
attention were dedicated to keep the garden weed free and to achieve the continuous and breathtaking floral display.
Long lines of pretty plants in a row, as is often found in a narrow border, was
not her style. A mixture of perennials and small shrubs provided permanence and basic structure. The trick was the use of annuals and bedding plants (tender and hardy), which could be bedded out
throughout the seasons, and discarded when past their best.
Plants were repeated at intervals, but in a subtle way, and the borders always seemed to be vibrant. There never seemed to be an
abatement in any area of the borders.
This feat was the result of years of experience in the selection of performance plants, and forward planning in setting out the bedding plants to ensure that
when one flower took a rest, another would burst into bloom to maintain the balance.
Every gardener has room for a “Mrs McCandless” border. In memory of this great gardener, I’ve initiated a
thread of that name in the Ideas for Gardens forum. Gardeners are encouraged to dedicate a border in their garden to this great lady, and take up the challenge of “Perpetual Flowers”
Note: For a list of the plants used in this garden, and better quality photos, treat yourself to a copy of Ideas Genie and a copy of the Swap CD “Gardens in Ireland”.
BACK to other Gardens in Dromore
|
