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With autumn sunshine and cooler nights there are flowers that will give you plenty of colour in October if you plan ahead. So if your garden has looked dull this year and you have the right soil, here are a few ideas for late colour, mainly in pink and red. For well drained soil in sunshine, such as at the base of a wall I would try Nerine bowdenii. This exotic looking deep pink flower is about 30 cm (12 ins) tall and emerges before...

I love early autumn when a new range of plants spring into colour. It takes some planning to have a border looking good at this time especially as we have had a dry summer so many plants are dry and tired. If you are looking for plants that will come up every year and give you a display of colour at this time of year consider perennials such as Knipofia or Red Hot Pokers although some are not red. Varieties such as Sunningdale Yellow...

August can be a difficult month for flowers as we tend to buy plants in spring when mainly spring and early summer plants are on sale and find we have little to give colour in late summer. So go out and see what is available now by visiting nurseries and gardens. There are ideas for gardens to visit below. If you require height in your summer borders and have an open sunny site I would recommend Veronicastrum virginicum Fascination. A...

July is a month when the classic English herbaceous border is seen at its best. The gardens mentioned below have lovely borders and will give you ideas of plants to grow in your own garden. I love the herbaceous borders filled with perennials that pop up year after year. Agapanthus with its large heads of deep blue or white flowers and green strap like leaves it is an architectural plant for a hot sunny border and grows best in well...

June is a month when there is so much in flower so here are a few of my favourites to plant in your garden. For those with free draining soil in sun then the fleeting heads of Alliums are worth growing. They come in small and large heads of mainly pink and purple flowers. I suggest your plant in groups amongst low growing perennials such as Nepeta or Catmint, for best effect. For ground cover I would choose the low growing...

Late spring is the perfect time of year for delicate flowers that contrast with fresh new foliage. In the garden you can look forward to the delicate blooms of Aquilegia or Granny’s Bonnet. This loves sun or a slightly shady area and has small rounded, ferny leaves with tall stems of elegant flowers in white, pinks to deep blue. They will self seed easily if you leave the seeds heads on and pop up in unexpected places. For a change to...