Wendy Floral: Japanese anemones taking a starring role.

Japanese anemone at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

A celebration of a flower which is being a total delight at Veddw just now: Japanese anemone or Anemone hupehensis.

Japanese anemones often get identified as weeds in the UK, making people afraid to grow them, and it’s true that they are wonderful spreaders. So for those who can’t have them, or won’t have them, here’s a load of them just for your pleasure. Then I’ll tell you what I’ve been doing with them and what I hope for…

They start like this, and this is beautiful.

Japanese Anemone bud at Veddw, copyright Anne Wareham

Then this wonderful bud….

Japanese Anemone bud at Veddw, copyright Anne Wareham

We’d never just settle for a bud though. (why not? It’s not terribly different from a berry.)

A glimpse of the flower appears.

Japanese Anemone at Veddw, copyright Anne Wareham

How did it get so furry? And, no, I’m not sure which one this is. Or any of them, for that matter. Sorry.

Japanese anemone at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

Just celebrating beauty here…

Japanese anemone at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

How about this!?

Japanese Anemone at Veddw, copyright Anne Wareham

Sweet…

Japanese Anemone at Veddw, copyright Anne Wareham

So what do I do with them at Veddw?

Mass them, of course. I have a bed of Felicia roses, and although they do reflower in August and September, they are not as exuberant as in their first flower. (like most of us, I suppose). So I have added the floral madness of anemones, in pale pink at first.

Then I decided the whole thing needed a bit more edge, so I added a clematis.

Clematis Princess Diana at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

Clematis Princess Diana and hybrid musk rose Felicia

Next, of course, I realised that wasn’t enough contrast and added some crimson anemones, (Pamina and Prinz Heinrich) and bronze fennel.

Japanese anemone at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

and I came across a beautiful Eupatorium, (Eupatorium cannabinum ‘Flore Pleno’ ) and being in love with Eupatoriums I added those as well.

Japanese anemone at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

I also added some Persicaria Fat Domino for some sticky up crimson.

Persicaria Fat Domino, clematis Princess Diana, Japanese anemone copyright Anne Wareham

Take this view and you get a globe too.. (those are a little way away, in the meadow.)

Japanese anemone at Veddw copyright Anne Wareham

And from the opposite end you see some more anemones on the adjoining bed. Why didn’t I do the whole Felicia bed in crimson ones??? I think I love them best.

Japanese anemones at Veddw Copyright Anne Wareham

The crimson ones look as if they’d like to climb over the rail and join the party over the path…..

Here’s a view from above to help you get the picture.

Drone picture Felicia Bed Veddw copyright Charles Hawes

With thanks to Charles for the drone pictures. (he has to get in here somehow, doesn’t he?!)

And –

This shows up how insignificant my additions currently are………

As ever, this is still a work in progress.

The crimson touches and the Eupatoriums have not been planted long enough to really do what I’m after, but I can see how it ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ may be in the end. Perennials seem to take between three and five years to mature, so not long to wait. (!) It’s not too bad in the meantime, apart from the roses needing deadheading.

Shall I add Clerodendrum bungei maybe?? We have it already and love it and it might muscle in there amongst the pale pinks?

Clerodendrum bungei at Veddw, copyright Anne Wareham