Former Heather Bed

The last winter was no colder than can be expected for this location.  The temperatures went down into the 20's, and stayed there for long periods of time.  However, a series of warm winters for the last five to seven years induced a sense of illusion. It seemed safe to push the plant zones up, growing plants that are not winter hardy.

The danger of zone creep became clear in cleaning up the garden this spring.  Many plants did not survive the cold, including all of the Rosemary.  What I didn't expect was the impact on the heathers.  They were originally planted 10 years ago and survived very cold winters soon after. The tender varieties had died.  I thought the remaining would be safe, but was wrong.

Weeks ago I pulled out the dead heather. Wondering what to put in place of them, I considered the two "Hidcote Blue" lavender planted in a few empty spots.  They survived with just a bit of damage. 

This is a great site for lavender.  They would like the excellent drainage and lots of hot sun.  There is plenty of room for them to spread out, and they will hold the soil in place.  So I bought twelve small pots - it is better to start them small since they need to grow extensive roots before getting much bigger.  There are four new Lavandula angustifolis "Hidcote Blue" with two already established.  There are five Lavandula angustifolia "Munstead" and three Lavandula heterophylla "With Love."  I am taking a risk with the "With Love" variety, which is zone 7, but the garden is solidly within that zone.  The other two are hardy to Zone 4 and 5.

After setting out the pots on the ground, I decided to add a low rose bush, one of the new "drift ground cover roses, "Peach Drift."  I have tried other roses in this location, but none have survived.  I hope this one can handle it.

The last step was running a soaking hose through the bed, so that each plant gets plenty of water for the first year.  We will need to water every 3-4 days this summer, but they should be drought tolerant by next year.

The garden keeps reminding me that plants have a natural cycle of dying.  I have had to let go of my old dream for this particular section, and try out something different, hopefully better.  It sounds like other parts of my life.