Posts by janet

There are so many flowering plants to choose from in summer. I will start with those flowers that like a sunny garden and well drained soil. Perovskia atriplicifolia Blue Spire also known as Russian Sage is a good small shrub. If you have really dry soil in summer then this is a plant for you. It grows about 75cm tall, upright habit and has grey leaves and little pale blue flowers (see photo). Cut back hard in spring to about 10 cm...

By June, the garden is at its peak with new foliage, many flowering perennials and shrubs. For those with well drained soil, flowers like Alliums are popping up fleetingly. The large heads of Allium aflatunense Purple Sensation will grow to about 75cm tall. A sun loving shrub is Cistus purpureus Alan Fradd which has semi evergreen leaves and lovely pure white flowers with red blotches at the base of each petal. Growing to about 1m in...

For me, May means blossom on trees and shrubs in predominately pink and white, fresh new foliage, warm days and the promise of home grown vegetables to come. Wisteria flowers hanging in curtains on the plant is one of the most beautiful adornments to a house. The flowers are fragrant so do make sure some blooms are near enough to smell their scent. Best grown in a sunny sheltered spot with fertile well drained soil. Buy plants that...

April is the month when plants really get going and I would like to start by looking at climbers, in particular Clematis. Spring gives a number of varieties to consider. Clematis armandii with larger, white slightly scented flowers is an evergreen climber which will flower even in darker corners of the garden. It needs a sheltered spot with moist well drained soil to do best and bear in mind it will cover a large area. I love Clematis...

March is when spring comes to life with unstoppable new growth, usually offset with gales and frost to damage new shoots but there is always colour or scent to enjoy. March is the best month for daffodils with some many varieties to choose from. I enjoy visiting Dunham Massey winter gardens to see many varieties en masse and took this photo of Narcissus Jenny with larger yellow daffodils behind them. Daffodils are good under deciduous...