Michaelmas Daisies and Plants from Childhood

What plants evoke memories of your childhood. For me there are some old favourites that you can try again now in your natural garden. They are often available in a better form as seed and selection has improved over the years.

Michaelmas Daisy

Asters that flower in late summer are free flowering and with a flowing habit that conjures up summers of youth. A blowsy perennial that were prone to mildew but modern varieties are better. Try Aster novi-belgii or aster Frikartii Monch when you see them on offer.

This autumn my Michaelmas Daisies have performed very well probably due to the weather and the fact that the clumps are a good size without being over the top. Dividing such perennials every few years keeps them fit for flowering..

The photo was from old court nurseries. Golden acre Leeds formerly hel a national collection of Michaelmas Daisies

Night Scented StockThis annual grown from seed sown now will produce a fine scent in late summer evenings. The plants and flowers are unobtrusive and easy to grow.

Nasturtium

Another annual that is easy to grow from large seed. The leaves and flowers are edible with a peppery taste. The range of yellow orange and red flowers can be striking. Plant in poor soil and don’t add nitrogen fertiliser – you want to see flowers not leaves.

Lupins

These spires of blue and pink flowers line the railway embankments in the days of steam trains. Perhaps they had escaped from station gardens or were fore runners or the Russell Lupin or modern hybrids that are now available in various single and bi-colours