QUEEN ANNE’S LACE
The delicately branching flower heads of ammi majus are reminiscent of fine lace or dill, although the appearance of the latter is closer to that of Ammi visnaga, which is featured below. Ammi majus is one of the most satisfactory plants for adding volume to a bouquet, and its presence in natural borders is not to be despised.
This is one of those “Whatever-is-that?” plants, species which make visitors to your garden stop in their tracks to enquire about their strange appearance. The small pink flowers, 5/8 in wide, have a very remarkable shape resembling that of a small devil with a retrousse nose and ears like table-tennis bats. The British liken it to a mosquito and call the species “mosquito flower.” The plant grows to about 20 in in height, and its large leaves are undoubtedly its principal decorative feature. Pinching out the growing tips will encourage the plant to branch out and produce more flower stems.
SWEET MARJORAM
The minuscule flowers of marjoram emerge from tiny spheres smaller than the smallest pea, and large numbers of them are to be seen on stems above the greyish-green foliage throughout the summer. On average, the plant grows to a height of 12 in, but spreads more widely than that, and its stems trail beautifully over the rim of a pot. Marjoram has an unsurpassed fragrance and is a favorite culinary herb. It has a mildly sweet flavour and is often added to roasts. Cut off the tops of the plants and dry them in sweet-scented bunches, or shred them into the potpourri. Marjoram is a perennial that is not quite able to survive Dutch winters. Sow indoors in March-April, or outdoors from the end of May. Find a sunny and sheltered position for the plants, preferably in loamy soil.
Succulents like Aptenia are adept at surviving in arid regions. They store moisture in their foliage and stems. The South African Aptenia cordifolia consequently grows as a perennial in that country. It barely tolerates frost and should therefore always be overwintered indoors in colder climates.
DWARF MALLOW
The stems of dwarf mallows are almost prostrate initially, and then rise up to a maximum height of 20 in. The annual species grows wild almost throughout Europe, including The Netherlands. From June until September, the leaf axils are adorned with whitish pink flowers with mauve stripes. At more than V4 in wide, the flowers are considerably smaller than those of its close relative, Malva sylvestris. Sow directly in the garden in April for flowers from July onwards.
