The terrace of the nine Aubretia 'Beards'

Nestling in wall crevices and billowing out of rockery cracks, I have always thought of Aubrietia plants as beards. On close examination, these purple flowering lumps are often held on by the merest of stems and yet somehow withstand winds and the heaviest of settling snow.

Having created a series of swooping wood curves as an oak slat wall to retain earth, I felt that a "beard" in each swoop would look great so planted all nine locations. Somehow I think Aubrietia has a mind of its own for it has favoured 5 of my plantings and rejected the others. I keep trying the other swoop but seeds don't like them.

As a solution, I have been secretly growing four aubrietia plants to maturity and will thus be able to finish off the 'terrace of the nine beards' instantly.

I shape the plants once a year in January to keep them trim – now all I have to work out how I can keep my own chin growth down with only a once yearly shave!

Waves from the top terrace ~~~ <+))))))))>< ~~~ Grant

Posted by : Grant
Filed in : We Produce