Although the cool nights during March, April and the beginning of this month have slowed the growth of some usually fast performing plants the generally dry, warm and sunny weather this year has meant that we have seen some impressive flowering from early season plants such as the Libertia grandiflora in the Dry Meadow.
The Dry Meadow is planted with one main matrix or base grass through which other grasses and perennials will appear to provide seasonal interest. In effect a stylised meadow planting. The grass chosen to create the overall meadow feel is Poa labillardierei which offers loose, almost shaggy, mounds of foliage and flower that can be a rather lovely silvery blue. Other grasses are also used as part of the mix, such as the upright outline of Molinia Overdam, but it is the poa that holds the scene. Planted as an accent amongst the meadows grasses the iris like upright evergreen mounds of Libertia grandiflora work in effective combination just about every day of the year. However around this time of year, when the dainty clear white flowers of the libertia appear in some profusion, the combined effect of the libertias flowers with the silvery blue foliage and flower of the poa can be simply magical.
