We used 40 tons of limestone, both boulders and gravel, when we in 2005 created a calcareous slope in acidic Sävsjö in the middle of the county of Småland in southern Sweden. Until yesterday I had never visited this landscaping project during the peak flowering period in June and July. Six years have passed and nowadays most of the bare stones and gravel are covered by vegetation. Some planted species have gone completely extinct, while others have increased enormously in number. Most abandoned is the soft Hairy Melic (
Melica ciliata).
All plants chosen for this limestone planting are true lime lovers and they all tolerate very high pH.This time of the year the slope is filled up mainly by the lovely Carthusian Pink (
Dianthus carthusianorum), the free flowering Pincushion Flower (
Scabiosa columbaria) and the colorful Broad leaved Thyme (
Thymus pulegioides). Other species that can be found in bloom in July are a rose form of Bloody Cranesbill (
Geranium sanguineum), St Bernhard's Lily (
Anthericum liliago) and Viper's Bugloss (
Echium russicum).
Broad leaved Thyme (Thymus pulegioides)
Melica ciliata, commonly called Hairy Melic or Silky Spike Melic
together with Carthusian Pink (Dianthus carthusianorum)
Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria) and the Viper's Bugloss (Echium russicum)
Carthusian Pink and Pincushion Flower
The single flower of Carthusian Pink, Dianthus carthusianorum