Someone asked me recently for advice on what plants to grow in the Alps, in mountainous areas. I’m still reflecting on this and will write about it later, but two things came to mind immediately, because they have been so easy to grow: pumpkins, which love to run down a slope, and wild grasses, which thrive on our sunshine, general dryness and good drainage.
I then realized I have a small space to fill in my garden, and I headed for Schilliger Garden Center in Gland. It is the perfect time to buy grasses, for you can see them at their glorious best, with twirls and frills and long curly bits.
The variety is astonishing, from small ground-huggers to plumes that are more than two metres high. The contrast of textures and tones is a visual treat, especially this time of year when flowers are past their best and the eyes long to settle on something peaceful in a garden. Grasses waving in the breeze are perfect for this.
GenevaLunch photo album of Schilliger grasses, images from 5 October 2009
Hi Ellen. Many grasses really do begin to express their true majesty in the fall and can hold on to it well into winter, adding great texture to the blank slate of snow. I promised myself I would not divide all the Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ this year and let most of them reach their full size so I could finally see the vision in my mind that has taken three years to grow from continually dividing a single purchased plant. Maybe I could divide just a few. I have a lot of ground to cover in my new mountain top garden.
The GenevaLunch.com garden is looking good and showing the results of all your effort.