I am hoping for some coloured Heucheras for Fathers day later this year – well hope is free! Uses of Heuchera Heuchera are commonly used as specimen plants or in small groups of the same variety. They are at home in woodland gardens, rock gardens or as groundcover. Heuchera are useful in patio pots or as components in mixed containers. They are often used at this time of year for winter containers Flower panicles make fine additions to cut flower arrangements. Heuchera attracts butterflies. Heuchera consists of over 50 species and there are many new varieties so you could make a study and co ..read more

Six DVD’s in a boxed set ‘A Year at Kew – The Collection’ (Series 1-3) with Alan Titchmarsh is available from Amazon  in time for a Christmas gift. Over 1000 minutes of gardening in a month-by-month journey via the BBC through the world’s greatest botanical garden. I enjoyed a winter perusal of the BBC Book that accompanied the series. With monthly highlights and in sights into the inner workings of various specialist department there is enough to encourage return visits. Rather than punt the book for the negligible commission we get if you buy after clicking the cover or link above I w ..read more

My book de Jour is ‘Fifty Favourite Roses’ Michael Gibson. A second reading has given me some new insights and some varieties to look out for: 5 petalled Tea Roses Dainty Bess,  Mrs Oakley Fisher (golden) and Ellen Willmott (white) rugarosa Robusta and colour changing Mutabilis Above is a true red rose that also flowers very early on a robust plant 5 feet tall. Now a more commonly available single rose this Rosa ‘Canary Bird’  is a tall growing very floriferous lemon- yellow rose with good foliage. Whilst this rose was in full flower in a wild hedge in early May I think it had bee ..read more

Repeat flowering old Rose varieties do what it says in their name however the first 5 in my Top Ten only flower once per year but still inspire. Old Rose Top Ten Celsiaha  this Damask rose is strong and vigourous with good clusters of large, lasting, pale pink flowers. Enfant de France is a compact gallica rose with sweet scented, double flowers in a silvery pink with quilled petals. Rosa gallica Versicolour or Rosa mundi is a 16th Century semi double variety with candy striped red and white flowers. Mme Hardy is a pure white rose opening from a slightly pink bud on a shrub up to 6 feet ..read more

What is a Patio Rose if it isn’t a rose grown on a patio? Patio roses grow bigger and bushier than miniatures and are about 14 -24 inch high, yet they are perfectly formed. H.T. Bush and Floribunda roses grow bigger but Patio roses are easy and decorative. Patio Roses are easy for growing in small spaces and can be useful in many other garden locations. They can be grown in containers and pots or just planted near your front door. Easy Places to Grow Patio Roses Edging plants in front of other plants or in a narrow border on their own. Some varieties make an attractive small hedge. They all ..read more

Formal gardens generally rely on geometric shapes and repetition and so you may not think about ground cover in these situations. Balance and proportion are also key features of a formal garden and generally have fewer species of plants than may be found in in informal gardens. With the structure of a formal garden in place from paths and symmetrical beds in squares, oblongs or circles you can then consider appropriate plants. The ground cover should complement the focal plants in colour, leaf-shape and height. They should also be manageable and not prone to take over or the formal effect may ..read more

Genetic purity cannot be guaranteed with a species that has been bred and cultivated for centuries. The above Aquilegia flabellata is an alpine species found in Japan and the Kurile Islands. (Flabellata means fan-shaped) Columbine Growing Tips A porous soil is better than hard clay but Columbines grow in most soils preferring alkalinity. Columbines like partially shady spots, and may be happy planted under leafy trees. With long tap roots, they establish themselves where they are planted, so they may be difficult to move after a couple years. Plants are hardy and do not require extra fertili ..read more

A colourful carpet of ground cover plants may be a creative, low maintenance alternative to a lawn. Alternatively a pattern of coloured stone or chippings with feature plants in containers may be your preference. Collection of Low Growing Plants A mix of flowers and shrubs can include conifers like Golden Juniper Juniperus x media ‘Golden Sovereign’, Juniperus horizontalis, Juniper squamata ‘Holger’ and Picea pungens ‘Glauca Prostrata’ all around one foot tall with varying spreads. For colour in summer you can’t beat some Petunia multiflora and vibrant Busy Lizzie Impatiens. Try the ‘accent ..read more

A nursery should grow there own or at least a good proportion of the plants they sell. Well you can’t complain at the sight of these Heuchera growing in Holden a small hamlet near Bolton by Bowland in Lancashire. Holden Clough nursery has a great reputation and tradition for alpines that survive the wet local conditions. Unfortunately these glowing Auriculas were in a quarantine area having already been sold but awaiting collection. Still with an eagle eye I could look at the special varieties someone else had chosen and consider my needs for the next visit. (I got a 10% off voucher for reg ..read more

Ground cover plants are designed to do what they say in the title. They can cover the ground by design, happy accident or conscious neglect. Creeping Jenny Benefits of Ground Cover Treasure the ground cover plants that clothe the soil and rocks with leaves or stems preventing wasteful moisture loss. Ground cover reduces weed seed germination as the seed can’t reach the soil. Any weeds that do grow will likely be smothered or hidden from view. Most ground cover will flower and even foliage only plants are more aesthetically pleasing than bare or patchy ground. Ground cover is useful on hard t ..read more