Garden Bench by the Darmera

The Hen House Garden only has two seats. This wooden bench sits by the water near a slowly spreading clump of Darmera. It takes time to reach this secluded spot, and the journey is definitely worth it, even if the hot cup of coffee might be a little cold!

In spring the Darmera starts up - pastel pink flower-heads first, followed by foliage. Then the big Agnes rose blooms overhead, followed by fragrant purple rugosas nearby. The autumn leaf tones are a wonderful mixture of golden browns, too.

Growing in Scotland's West Coast Gardens

I fell in love with Darmera when I saw it growing in Scotland's West Coast gardens. My clumps are modest in size compared to those! I was there in early summer, too, when everything was green.