There is something comforting buying plants from a  nursery rather than a garden centre.  There’s no glitz and glamour or bright labels to distract you but row upon row of plants.  You can keep focused on what you’ve come to buy rather than being enticed into buying the latest new plant release.  Also, nurseries are generally more systematic grouping their plants together in distinct groups and ordering them alphabetically.  Perfect for someone who suffers plant name dyslexia.

Armed with our landscaping plan and list of plants we wheeled up and down the acres of plants.  Every time we found what we were looking for it was sheer relief.  I couldn’t bare the thought of having to start making decisions about substituting plants.  With trolleys, yes plural, full and the plant list systematically ticked off we were confident that we’d be able to make significant inroads into planting out our new bed.

As we decanted the plants packed into the car it was clear that many more planting buying trips are going to be needed, the bed to be planted is roughly 60 square metres. Undaunted though by the enormity of the task we have started to put in the main shrubs and natives that will form the backbone of the garden.  We’ll then be filling in with more ornamental perennials using the list of plants I liked in my parents garden.

It’s a start.  We’ve planted hydrangeas in the top corner and some viburnum which should bulk out considerably behind the fence and gate.  MT measured the spacing so hopefully we’ve got that right.

Moving to the other end of the bed we’ve planted a mix of other natives which are colourful and should withstand the wind that whistles past.

When planning this planting it became abundantly clear that we’re going to have to have a large proportion of low maintenance natives if we are to cope with the upkeep.  I can also see a massive mulching job coming up soon.  Luckily our planting plans put together as part of the landscaping master plan have meant we can keep the overall theme of the garden going.

All this reminds me of when we first started the garden and put the flower beds in around the house and then planted them up.  We’ve learned from that experience that you need more plants than you think and they look small and out of place to start with but over time start to get established and look a little more like a garden should.

I’m determined we’ll have lots of colour in this new bed and we’ll get this from a mix of shrubs and ornamental plants.  We have our first flower already.  A rock rose which should withstand the harsh sun and wind that the plants in this bed will have to tolerate.

It’s a start and I’m looking forward to documenting how this garden grows.  MT has taken a more than usual interest in planting out this bed so I have high hopes that he’ll continue to take interest when the mulching and weeding duties start.

We’re off to another nursery tomorrow to fill up the car with more plants with the aim of getting the main structural plants in place over the weekend.  Just in time for some rain to water all those plants into their new home.  For once I’ll be pleased for a drop of the wet stuff.