What's in sea son?
Devilishly good
Crocosmia Lucifer makes a striking splash
of vivid red in the summer. It is tough and
easy to grow and does not need cosseting
or staking. Raised by Alan Bloom, one of the
greatest British gardeners and plant breeder
of the past century, it looks fabulous grown
amongst ornamental grasses.
Pea ce in ou r Ga rdens
I’m sure that the unmistakable Peace
Rose has appeared at Chelsea many
times since it was introduced in 1945.
Bred in France by Francis Meilland, just
before the start of WW II, cuttings were
smuggled out of France in an American
Diplomatic bag to ensure its survival.
Sa ge a dvice
Russian sage Perovskia is a useful plant
for hot dry areas in the garden. Cut back
hard each year to keep them looking
shapely, Cut back all the stems to leave
a neat mound about 15cm high. This also
works well for common sage.
Hello yellow!
Daffodils are one of the most welcome sights in spring,
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bringing early colour to the garden. From the everyday
Trumpet daffodils to the choice and delicate miniatures,
there is a daffodil to fill a niche in any garden. They can
be naturalised in grass, or grown in a pot on a windowsill
and are relatively trouble free. To keep them blooming
year after year remove the seed pods but let the leaves
die back naturally, allowing the bulb to build up reserves
for the following spring. Clumps benefit from division
every few years to maintain a good display.
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