Water's Edge Gunnera
When some Gunnera seedlings made their home in Middle Garden by the water's edge I was so happy.. How cute they were, and how nice that they'd done my planning for me! Such stylish foliage plants, too...
So Cute!
But baby Gunnera plants, like children, start off being little cutie-pies, then can sneakily transform into big bossy nuisances, without the gardener even noticing. Until it's too late...
Gunnera Seedling
Yes - from little seedlings mighty Gunnera do grow. And it wasn't long before they started to dominate Middle Garden's waterside area. The original Phormium tenaxes gave up the ghost. The waterside path disappeared.
Garden by the Water Race
Each spring Gunnera is the sweetest plant. Its fresh green leaves unfurl so shyly and slowly, with no hint of the expansion which is to follow. By mid-summer the huge leaves hang dramatically over the rippling water. So beautiful!
Winter trimming...
Keeping Gunnera in check is a big job. The roots like to stretch themselves over the water race, trying to reach the other side - not a good idea. I slice these off, and (silly me) often plant them further downstream. Come winter it is time to trim leaves and stalks. Handling both is a rough job - particularly the stalks, which are very scratchy to touch. Ouch!
Gunnera
I'm sure that the floating Gunnera seedlings deliberately chose my garden, as they bobbed down the water course - who was I to send them packing? Just a silly gardener who has always loved foliage plants and self-seeders.