The tall delphiniums were in the border when we arrived nearly ten years ago now. They were concealed behind the clematis Broughton Star, and the red climbing rose, so my husband split them and planted a clump nearer to the back patio windows. Now they are propping themselves up growing through our neighbour's cotoneaster which is fanning itself over the fence or through V's magnolia which she left us before moving to her retirement location. The magnolia has done well out of the pot and into the ground and there is plenty of scope for the delphiniums. We are leaving the cotoneaster untrimmed.
The rest of the delphiniums, both clumps, are either slumped or cascading into the border, whichever description you prefer. It is not tidy, and it is not how we (my husband) used to do with string and bamboo canes. But in the extreme weather that we can experience they are blooming for longer and not in danger of being beaten down by heavy rain. We think that the bees like the easier access too.
Would we go back to the traditional method? I think not. As we grow older our garden seems to be becoming (selectively) naturalistic. The Jerusalem artichokes have reappeared in the midst of our pulmonaria and nepeta; Californian poppies self-seed. Wild strawberries are everywhere. Some weeds I will pull, and in particular an escaped ornamental grass which seems to take over if left unchecked. (My husband feels the same way about the spread of Lily of the Valley.) So, a quick tidy and time to enjoy the expansiveness.
