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The New Romantic Garden - a book review

The New Romantic Garden by Jo Thompson Rizzoli, 2025 Jo Thompson is a noted UK garden designer who has won numerous awards at RHS shows. Her style is the epitome of the "romantic English garden" idea - sumptuous borders packed with perennials in pastel colors, arches covered with roses, idyllic meadows and garden rooms. But what is the "new" romantic garden? Described as a fresh perspective of utilizing this lush gardening style into the present-day world, it places an emphasis on organic gardening, biodiversity, plant and soil health.  A scene from the author's own garden... Photo: Rachel Warne In this gorgeous book, Thompson showcases thirty of her gardens, all beautifully described and photographed.  From estate gardens to a London penthouse roof garden, they provide sumptuous eye-candy and inspiration. A peek inside... A London city garden filled with roses and iris (Photo: Jason Ingram) Writer Justine Picardie's garden in Norfolk evokes a feeling of a ...
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The Winter Pruning Begins

 

I usually wait until the end of February to cut back the ornamental grasses and prune the roses but the mild temperatures that we'd had so far this year prompted me to get a head start. Of course, after I begin, we get a threat of real winter weather headed this way later in the week. 

I started cutting back some of the ornamental grasses but only finished some of the smaller ones. The largest that I cut back was Miscanthus 'Fire Dragon'. I use a bungee cord to tie around the grass and then use my hedge trimmers to cut them off. It makes it tidier to clean up.





Still to go are some of the larger grasses but I will wait a few weeks before tackling those. The biggest grass in the garden is Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'. I think it still looks spectacular.

Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'

Also Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' is a favorite. There are several of these outside the fence near the street.

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

Miscanthus 'Little Miss' was a standout in autumn -

Miscanthus 'Little Miss'

 

Pennisetum 'Red Head' was nice last year as was 'Red Buttons' (in the top photo).

Pennisetum 'Red Head'

Last but not least is Calamagrostis 'Overdam' which is such a useful plant for narrow spaces.

Calamagrostis 'Overdam'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonFebruary 8, 2021 at 7:03 PM

    You have a lot of great ornamental grasses, Phillip. I'm going to try your bungee cord approached to cutting back my Pennisetums this year, although I'll probably leave them alone through the end of the month - not that winter cold is a big factor here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:56 AM

      I usually wait too. I actually only cut a few of them back this week.

      Delete
  2. chavlinessFebruary 9, 2021 at 8:09 AM

    I must remember the bungee cord for next year. Since winter was mild, I too felt being pulled into the garden to do minor trimming and cleaning... and wouldn't you know it, a cold front is upon us; better now than in mid March.
    I planted Miscanthus 'Gold Bar' one year, I loved the blooms that reminded me of papyrus, but it expanded so much I took it out. I now have my eyes on Calamagrostis 'Overdam', appreciating its narrow habit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:55 AM

      I always think of that commercial that I saw as a child with the woman saying "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature".

      Delete
  3. chavlinessFebruary 9, 2021 at 8:09 AM

    I must remember the bungee cord for next year. Since winter was mild, I too felt being pulled into the garden to do minor trimming and cleaning... and wouldn't you know it, a cold front is upon us; better now than in mid March.
    I planted Miscanthus 'Gold Bar' one year, I loved the blooms that reminded me of papyrus, but it expanded so much I took it out. I now have my eyes on Calamagrostis 'Overdam', appreciating its narrow habit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. chavlinessFebruary 9, 2021 at 8:13 AM

    or is it calamagrostis-karl-forester?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:54 AM

      'Overdam' is very similar to 'Karl Forester' but has some variegation to the foliage.

      Delete
  5. Lisa at GreenbowFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:51 AM

    Your grasses are quite the winter wonders. It is good that you don't prune them all at once. They still seem to be looking good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hoover BooFebruary 9, 2021 at 4:32 PM

    The bungee cord was a great idea. You have a choice collection of grasses.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gardener on Sherlock StreetFebruary 9, 2021 at 5:17 PM

    Much still looks good. I start cutting back plants in the winter when they start breaking and if I have decent weather. This year, lots of warm days let me get everything trimmed after some crazy wind beat up what was left.

    ReplyDelete

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