As we head into the final days of this year, I have a few new goals in mind. The shorter days (where things start to get quiet) help me to recommit to writing and other creative projects. You know, things that can be done from the cozy chair in front of the wood stove (where I sit right now) while I typically have a blanket wrapped around my feet (it is not quite that cold yet).
I am excited to get back to a regular schedule of finding and sharing new inspiration online.
Farlam and Chandler caught my eye months ago and I’ve since been enjoying their beautiful projects and photography. They are a great instagram to follow for planting inspiration as well as for other interesting ideas. 
The combination of Angelica gigas and white cosmos are what originally caught my eye – I’ve been trying to think of something that would look great with my own Angelica for a couple years and this is perfect don’t you think?
I’m also enjoying their eye for unique details like this stonework and small pool at a La Louve garden in Bonneiux, France and the very practical and pretty plant supports that they captured at Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill Garden. 
This shot has me lamenting (for the millionth time) the fact that I have had no luck whatsoever growing verbena bonariensis in my garden
(Honestly, has anyone grown it with abandon in New England?).
It is one of the plants I covet most from all the gardners that completely take it for granted and how easily they can have this sweeet plant that grows and spreads in any place they like. I wish .
Creeping thyme and Erigeron are another planting combo that that I am contemplating trying to implement in my own garden.
I’ve spent a lot of time renovating my front entry garden this season – there have been big changes, but there is still lots left to do! (More plants and some hardscaping changes to come next year, when I have a bit more budget). I’ve been contemplating how hard it would be for someone to wrap monolithic pavers up and put them under the x-mas tree. Too hard, right? I worry they would crash Santa’s sleigh….
Regardless, I think these two plants would be the perfect pair for between those new front walkway stones.
Follow Farlam and Chandler on instagram. (Credit all images).
Yes! I have grown verbena B. in New England- Holliston, Ma. It’s in its second year. It hasn’t gotten nearly as tall as I’ve seen it in pics… I’m impatient- I tend to trim it to stay in the bed it’s in though. Tends towards weedy looking, I don’t think its dense enough yet. Looks lovely dried.
Also Angelica gigas: any tricks to growing this guy? I got a seedling from a local CSA sale in the spring and it did not flower. Maybe it’s not the gigas variety though…
Gwn – what is your secret for verbena? Are you growing from seed and does it re-seed (as I’d like it to?) – I can’t get it to even germinate so hoping for that casual weedy looking plant that I love just popping up where ever is hopeless.
But Angelica gigas I have no trouble with at all – It reseeds itself annually – it seems happy in the dry shade area but I suspect it would be happier if I treated it better – but I don’t seem to need to.
Maybe we should swap tips/ seeds since we are so close!?
It totally re-seeds by itself! I started it indoors under lights. Very patiently. It got huge fast.
Yes, time to trade NE gardening tips, what else to do while the snow covers everything?
Oh, wait. …. I wonder if any of the verbena B. flowers that I dried have viable seeds…. Want some? To try scattering them one where you want them in the spring…
So, my first comment didn’t make it: yes, I have grown verbena B in Holliston ma. They are in their 2nd year, can look weedy to the untrained eye, or maybe they are just in the wrong spot in my yard. I have dried some of the seeds heads. Want some?
Re angelica: mine didn’t bloom this year, got the seedling from a local VS A spring sale. Thoughts?
The whole point, I’ve always thought, of Verbena bonariensis is that it does look weedy, i.e., totally unplanned and somewhat leggy. As for Angelica gigas, it is a biennial and should bloom in its second year.