Border Patrol July 17-22 2009
of The Seasonal Walk Saga
By Tovah Martin
More on Stage
But there’s much more on stage than merely echinaceas. Aster frikartii ‘Monch’ has everyone oohing and aahing with its strong network of felted green leaves topped by clouds of electric blue blossoms each with a yellow bull’s eye. It reads particularly clearly near Phlox paniculata ‘Blue Paradise’ (another Oudolf introduction).
Although Sedum ‘Sunkissed’ hasn’t opened yet, its elongated yellow umbels are the size of cotton candy balls and full of promise. The two-toned brick and yellow blossoms of Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ have been blooming for weeks. Although the helenium is an incredibly effective combination with the orange-centered echinaceas, one mass of helenium is being obstructed by a block of Pycnanthemum muticum and Oudolf has requested that the two should be interchanged next year. Otherwise, the tiering is pretty much spot-on.
