An A-Z of 2024 in the garden: Borders

There are seven distinct borders in my Dumfriesshire Garden. How I allowed this to happen, I do not know. When all is going well in ‘borderland’, there is always the temptation, if you have the space, to add something more. So here’s a brief tour of the borders, in what I mostly consider a below par kind of year, 2024.

In the sunniest part of the garden diarama (angel’s fishing rod) and some succulents did well, likewise thalictrum. The diarama has excellent provenance, bought at Kiftsgate in the Cotswolds a few years back. The Cotswold-style garden remains a big inspiration for me, albeit without the accompanying weather conditions.

In a work-in-progress new border, the white foxgloves, grown from seed last year, were very striking and shone out in the evening light. Their backdrop here is a scene of quiet symmetry, creating the calming mood of the garden that is so rewarding.

The damp summer undoubtedly favoured big leafy plants.

The big border that runs along the track leading to the house, catches a lot of sun. I was delighted this year to see how the oxeye daisies had spread, nicely setting off the chocolaty colour of the sambucus. Such a lovely sight when arriving home.

Throughout 2024 there were many individual plants to enjoy in the various borders, but the overall impact that results from a spectacular combination of flowers and shrubs at their best together didn’t seem to happen. I should probably have written these ABC pieces in 2023!

Nevertheless, here are some of the plants that did catch the eye in the 12 months from January, and for which I am grateful. The final one – the dancing pixie – was photographed in November. As I write, hints of long yellow flowers are appearing on the mahonias …