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A weekend the colour of high summer
<h4>You're browser does not support iFrames - here is an exerpt of the content</h4> <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/environmental-gardening/plants-for-dry-gardens/">Click here to read the article in full</a> <p><a title="French lavender " href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/4607088304/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/4607088304_0edfdbb352.jpg" alt="French lavender" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Hosepipe bans and talk of drought conditions turns <a title="gardeners" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/gardeners/">gardeners</a> minds to plants that can still thrive in those circumstances. I have suggested several types of plant to consider in the lists below.</p> <p><strong>Mediterranean Originated Herbs and Oil Producers </strong></p> <ul> <li> Lavender has pungent foliage and makes a scented oil. The dried flowers retain scent indoors.</li> <li> <a title="Rosemary" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/rosemary/">Rosemary</a> and Thyme are both herbs that will survive hot dry conditions. The sun even makes the flavour stronger.</li> <li> Oregano or Origanum laevigatum is blooming fine in my herb bed. The deep pink flowers are a bonus to the aromatic leaves.</li> <li> Other aromatics that will do well in dry conditions include Sage and Achillea.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Silver Leaved (sun reflecting) Plants</strong></p> <ul> <li> Pinks and carnations have fine thin leaves so they do not desiccate easily.</li> <li> Santolina with fluffy yellow pompom flowers are good dry spot shrubs.</li> <li> Cistus is a family of flowering shrubs that has developed an oily leaf to protect against water loss.</li> <li>I like the silvery Sea Holly <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/flowers/growing-ghosts/">Eryngium</a> giganteum which is a good doer in the dry spots.</li> </ul> <p><a title="Cistus Albidus " href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/4533932491/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4533932491_d0e888822d.jpg" alt="Cistus Albidus" width="500" height="375" /></a><span id="more-8154"></span></p> <p><strong>Water Storage Plants</strong></p> <ul> <li> The cacti and succulent families most readily spring to mind for dry gardens and there is a wide variety to choose from.</li> <li><a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/flowers/growing-sedum-or-stonecrop-2/">Sedum </a>and Sempervivums are easy to grow and the fleshy leaves retain moisture.</li> <li> Plants with long tap roots like Verbascum and several poppies can reach moisture deep down.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Tips For Dry Gardens</strong></p> <ul> <li>Gravel is a good substitute for a mulch and it provides a reflective background for your plants.</li> <li>Putting new plants in a dry garden can be a problem. Autumn and early spring are the best times but some watering may still be needed.</li> <li>If it is so dry watering becomes necessary soak plants so that they are not encouraged to grow surface roots.</li> <li>A canopy of leaves can keep the worst of the drying sun off your garden but then a lot of dry <a title="garden plants" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/garden-plants/">garden plants</a> are sum-lovers.</li> <li>The famous<a href="http://www.bethchatto.co.uk/gravel.html"> Beth Chatto gardens</a> have a gravel garden worth visiting</li> </ul> <div style="display: none">VN:F [1.6.3_896]</div><div class="ratingblock"><div class="ratingblock "><div class="ratingheader ">Rate this Article</div><div class="ratingstars "><div id="article_rater_55373" class="ratepost gdsr-soft gdsr-size-24"><div class="starsbar gdsr-size-24"><div class="gdouter gdheight"><div id="gdr_vote_a55373" style="width: 0px;" class="gdinner gdheight"></div><div id="gdr_stars_a55373" class="gdsr_rating_as"><a id="gdsrX55373X5X0XaXarticle_rater_55373Xarticle_loader_55373X10X24" title="5 / 5" class="s5" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX55373X4X0XaXarticle_rater_55373Xarticle_loader_55373X10X24" title="4 / 5" class="s4" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX55373X3X0XaXarticle_rater_55373Xarticle_loader_55373X10X24" title="3 / 5" class="s3" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX55373X2X0XaXarticle_rater_55373Xarticle_loader_55373X10X24" title="2 / 5" class="s2" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX55373X1X0XaXarticle_rater_55373Xarticle_loader_55373X10X24" title="1 / 5" class="s1" rel="nofollow"></a></div></div></div></div><div id="article_loader_55373" style="display: none; width: 120px; " class="ratingloader article"><div class="loader flower " style="height: 24px"><div class="loaderinner" style="padding-top: 2px">please wait...</div></div></div></div><div class="ratingtext "><div id="gdr_text_a55373">Rating: 0.0/<strong>5</strong> (0 votes cast)</div></div></div></div>
