Regular readers of my blog may have gleaned that I am an inveterate seed sower.
This spring I sowed a variety of annual ornamental grasses, and I am rather pleased with the results.
The feather reed grass Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster (pictured above) which I bought last year is one of the plants that triggered my interest in ornamental grasses and I wanted to try out a variety of annual grasses in the garden this year.
Briza maxima (Greater quaking grass) is a beautiful grass for flower arrangements. In the spring I direct sowed this delicate looking grass along the edge of one of the beds in the cutting garden.
I have been reluctant in the past to introduce this Briza into the garden, because if it likes you, it can self seed quite prolifically, but the earth in the cutting garden is cleared every year as I only grow annuals there and it is surrounded by slate paths, so whilst there are nooks and crannies where the briza may self seed, fingers crossed I wont get too fed up of the nodding heads.
I also sowed Bunny Tail Grass – Lagurus Ovatus.
I planted a great clump in a pot for the steps – and it has worked very well.
It is hard to resist touching the soft heads every time I go down the steps to the garden.
The grass that has stolen my heart however is Hordeum jubatum, squirrel tail grass.
This year I have planted it together with white cosmos “purity” alongside one of the grass paths and I love it.
The slightest breeze sets it dancing and although it has a tendency to flop down onto the path when it rains, it soon bounces back when the sun comes out, adding movement and interest to the planting.
This one will definitely have a permanent place amongst my planting.
All these grasses are lovely for drying or flower arrangements, or, if you are like me, not so much flower arranging, and bundling a few stems into a jam jar!
I am 95% sure that the grass in the first picture is Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foester’, but my garden database is still stuck on my defunct computer – but whichever grass it is – I am very pleased with the way it is looking and growing in this garden.
PS – Ooops! I am aware that sometimes my rotating header shows images of snowdrops – quite inappropriate for July!
Loving the grasses particulary the Hordeum – will add to list for next year
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Forgot to tell you earlier that the Hordeum is just beginning to poke its flowers through the Aquilegia and looks lovely. I think this will become a permanent succession in my top terrace border :0
I bet you and Helen are most surprised by that statement!
And I was photographing grasses at Hampton Court yesterday…
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Hi,
Wonderful, I do love the Quaker grass and have considered it myself, but I do think you’ve convinced me now!
Oh and that Squirrel tail grass – gorgeous.
I’m loving my Pheasant’s Tail Grass and Pheasant Grass at the moment as they are now showing their ‘flowers’, very pretty in the evening sunlight!
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Love the grasses! Bunny Tails is fantastic, as is the Squirrel Tail! The names make me laugh~perhaps I should use their botanical names to keep me from saying things Like “Isn’t that Squirrel Tail gorgeous!” gail
Gail´s last blog ..Here Comes The Sun
I absolutely love ornamental grasses. Purple fountain grass is one of my faves that I photo often. I can’t get enough of it!
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Love the grasses and the wonderful texture and interest they add to your garden.
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Wow, with gorgeous grasses like these, I could see me getting into them more.
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I love grasses in the garden. You can’t get too many for me. I have grown bunny tails before, but not the others.
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That last photo of squirrel tail grass – Hordeum jubatum – is a stunner. Beautiful photo work, and a lovely grass. I need more movement in my gardens, things that move and dance. I have some switchgrass – panicum – but it’s very upright and not in an area that catches a breeze. You’ve got me interested in the squirrel’s tails to add motion and softness.
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Gorgeous photos, Karen, especially that last one. I’d love grasses in my garden, but they’d give me hay fever, unfortunately
I see nothing wrong with snowdrops in July though
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‘Karl Foerster’ was the grass that hooked me years ago, too. It gets about 7 feet tall here and I love that no staking is involved. Grasses are quite a passion now and my tiny yard probably has too many….
Hordeum jubatum is very cheeky up here (and a roadside weed) so I don’t dare plant it in my yard but it is very beautiful and catches the light wonderfully. I wrote about my fave grass for June a couple of days ago. Great minds think alike, no?
Christine in Alaska
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I think I could just have grasses in a garden, they are so graceful,long lasting and have such beautiful movement.I planted Karl Forster last week,replacing a big group of yellow irises. I love its stature and soft colour. Your photos are stunning Karen. I shall plant annual grasses next year.Or is the autumn better?
They look beautiful. I did have the small Briza years ago (when I was a very tidy organised gardener!) but it seeded everywhere so I got rid of it. A pity as it is a very graceful dancing grass. My problem is not being able to tell what kind of grass a seedling is until it flowers – then I find I have been cosseting an unwanted monster and not the interesting flower head I was expecting.
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Have a look at my flowers on facebook, ive put some others up for my karen so she can see I havent killed them either. You have so many grasses now, Ill let you have some lambs for your birthday, Im sure they could keep them trimmed right down for you.
I have never really liked grasses and still don’t feel the love, except for that squirrel’s tail, oh and I bought some bunny’s tail at Malvern. Oh no, I may be weakening.
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Karen:
So glad you’re back. I reviewed your blog along with two other artists’ blogs on June first. Also, added you to my blog list. Keep writing and be good to that computer! Have a look: http://www.mofflymedia.com/Your-Garden-Matters/May-2010/Artists-Gardens/
Regards, Gerard
I love the bunny tail grass. Grasses add so much grace and elegance to a garden, I think.
What beautiful grasses! I seeded Bunny Tail Grass in spring, and have little guys looking very green but being too small to be planted in the garden. I love your idea scattering the seeds directly in the garden.
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I read this post already on blotanical and don’t think I left a comment – so here’s a pat on the back for capturing beautiful shots of the grass flowers. I’m sorry that your computer was a loss, how nice to have you back up and running.
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Your photographs are really nice. The white grains of pollen against the white grass are crisp and sharp. I do not have as many different grasses as you, but enjoy taking photographs of plants.
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