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	a, The Decennium border
	Is our version of the naturalistic style of planting. Repeated informal groups of grasses and perennials blend together to give interest for better than ten months with comparatively little effort. Possibly at its peak in autumn when the spindle trees and euphorbias, as seen here, turn some amazing autumnal colours.

	b, Removal of old conifers
	In 2004 the site held the remains of a conifer collection which had once been quite extensive but had reached its fell by date. First the tops were cut down and then the digger had to remove and bury all the old stumps.

	c, Preparing the new border
	Once the stumps had been buried the soil was dug over by the digger and formed into two long sloping mounds with a central hollow. Then the whole area was rotovated and raked to give a fine enough surface to start planting.

	d, First seasons progress
	Over 800 young plants were needed to fill the area and which subsequently grew away very quickly even in their first season. The whole surface was covered by a bark mulch to keep the weeds down but essentially to retain valuable moisture for young roots.

	e, Pennisetum Hamelns in first season
	This is one of the most tried and trusted fountain grasses for general garden use, having been selected in Europe for its ability to produce masses of fluffy flowers every year. The young plants established quickly even flowering in their first season.

	f, Pennisetum Hamelns maturing
	As you can see from this picture it did not take long for the Hamelns to grow from youngsters into mature sized specimens producing literally hundreds of flowers. They are seen here on a frosty autumn morning when the flowers seem almost to glow.

	g, Spring in the border
	The border is planted to have several seasonal peaks of interest with minimal work. Having been cut down in early spring the first peak is that of yellow Euphorbia palustris with red Papaver Beauty of Livermere and white Leucanthemum vulgare.

	h, Jerusalem sage
	After the first flush of bright spring flower is over the grasses start to form their season long mounds of foliage while other perennials such as purple veronicastrums and the architectural yellow spikes of the Jerusalem sage, Phlomis russeliana take centre stage.

	i, Cone flowers to the fore
	Coneflowers or echinaceas are deservedly popular perennials producing wonderful cone centred flowers for such a long period. This particular form is Echinacea Leuchtstern and goes beautifully with Verbena bonariensis and the red plumes of Miscanthus Ferner Osten.

	j, Autumn Glory
	As summer peaks and mellows into autumn the border can be said to be at its peak of interest with the main grass groups of calamagrostis, miscanthus, panicum, and pennisetum; and perennials such as eupatorium, verbena, rudbeckia and echinacea combining in a crescendo of colour and form.

	k, Winter wonderland
	As autumn in its turn gives way to winter, still the show goes on with many different subtle tones of browns and beiges. An early frost hightlighted by a sunny morning shows just how much beauty is left in the border which can perform until March; when the whole thing is cut to the ground to start the annual cycle all over again.