Also grown under the name Gay Feather or Blazing Star. The spikes may look like feathers but are a quite robust 1-2 feet tall. They flower blue, purple or white. I prefer a compact form like Kobold which requires no staking.

Gardenerstips on Liatris spicata

• Plant 4-6 inches apart in clumps of at least 10 bulbs for maximum impact. These wer planted singly and are just bulking up.
• The soil must be well drained over winter to stop the bulbs from rotting.
• Fully frost hardy
• Full sun to part shade Liatris species are used as food plants by butterfly and are magnets for insects particularly in late summer.
• Good for cut flowers and drying
• As a general rule divide a plant furthest away from its bloom time. So I would divide liatris in spring.

Border at Botanic Gardens

Young kid inspects the border

Anemones

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Some funny signs at our local allotment - Elder Stubbs, Florence Park, Oxford

“Giant Leek for Mankind”

“Spuddau Ballet”

“That’s One Small Spud for a Flan”

~

“The Peatles”

- I’m Dried,

- I’m Sweet

- I’m Musy

- I’m Frozen

- I’m Ringo

~

“Thank You! Thank You Very Mulch”

~

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The bright neon like colours of these daisies make every garden brighter. The ground hugging plants will spread about 4 inches then be covered in masses of flowers that close up slightly in the late afternoon.

• The leaves are narrow fleshy and have a crystaline texture that lead to another common name Ice plant.
• They are easy to grow as half hardy annuals from their very fine seed with a bit of warmth in April
• Self colours are now available in orange and yellow but the multi-coloured mixes are still the most common
• The genera of Mesembryanthemaceae embrace a wide range of succulent plants including Dorotheanus, Phyllobolus, Dactylopsis, Hereroa Psammophora, Lithops and Lapidaria

London Holland Park’s water feature in Kyoto Garden.

The composition of enduring elements such as buildings, stones and paths that harmonise with the surroundings are critical factors in a good Japanese garden.

The waterfall plays an important role in Chinese and Japanese landscape. Japan’s earliest known manual of gardening—the Sakuteiki—describes ten different forms of waterfall stipulating the proper height and width of a cascade.

Japanese gardens are a living art form, in which the plants and trees are ever changing. As they grow and mature they are constantly sculpted and pruned to maintain and enhance the overall composition. Over time it is only as good as the careful and qualified maintenance that it receives by those trained in the art of pruning.

A space in the garden for contemplation or meditation fits with the Buddhist and Daoist philosophy

This semi-double begonia has caught the rain but not the perfect top slot.

The Flower

This is judged in three respects but you would want to add the lasting or keeping quality.

1. The depth from the front to the rear of the flower about 1 inch less than the diameter of the flower.
2. Secondly the individual petals must be broad 2-3 inches and of good substance
3. Thirdly the flower should have a rose shaped centre. Muddled or multiple centres are unacceptable

The Tuber and Plant

1. Tuber size isn’t everything but a good sized tuber will store better throughwinter
2. Vigour and resistance to disease are key features of a plant
3. The ability to throw cuttings for propagation either basal or stem cuttings

Gardeners Tips for Begonia

• As cut flowers they need a good drink immediately after picking and they will then hold the rigidity
• Seedlings are small and frail but can be handle by with narrow slivers of wood or a notched end cane
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These flowers goes-in-’ere

Gazania are one of the most colourful of garden flowers. The star shaped daisy like flowers can be up to 3 inches across and are available in a range of colours as this photo shows. Most varieties are stripped and zoned in ‘hoto display their vibrant colours even in cloudy conditions but prefer the hot sun.

Gardeners tips on Gazania

• Whilst they are perennial they are best grown as half-hardy annuals
• Plant in free draining soil
• The Gazinia uniflora are all yellow
• Take a close look at the interesting lance shaped dusty grey leaves
• The ‘Talent’ series has an AGM

Harlow Carr the RHS garden in Harrogate has a series of gardens through the ages. This sculpture is part of the offering for the Festival of Britain 1951. To me it looks a lot more modern than that but certainly none the worse.

Which came first the sculptural design or the planting scheme? Either way the two combine in a special harmony that needs to be seen. The light wind (yes it can be a light wind in Yorkshire) was moving the oat grass around the leaping fish in a realistic impression of the sea. The colouring on the fish scales was picked out by the flowers that were subservient in the overall design.

Design Tips I Picked up from The Harlow Fish

• Simple planting schemes can be very effective. Don’t use to many varieties of plant.
• Seed heads can give movement and contrasting effects
• Link the key elements of any sculpture to the planting in shape, form, colour or style.
• There was a pond just beyond the fish that linked themes together

Wild flower gardens are generally thought to be at their best in spring but this colourful patch was a riot of colour in the middle of August.

Gardeners Tips for Wild Flowers

• Poor soil conditions encourage flowering. Do not fertilise wild flower gardens
• Group flowers with similar flowering times together. it would look to thin and patchy to have a mix of spring and Autumn flowers together.
• Do not be too quick to tidy up. Let the seeds develop and drop so that annual plants renew themselves for next season.
• If possible avoid competition from grass particularly for autumn wild flower gardens as they can choke off the flowering plants.

The RHS is trialling several varieties of Sweet Potato. They have picked a wet, sunless season so far but as the plants will be harvested during October there is time for a good spurt of hot weather (I am an ever hopeful optimistic gardener).

Normally these plants are difficult to grow successfully in Britain but for those who are a bit adventurous you may want to try this crop next year. If so follow the results of the RHS trials.

• Grow from cuttings or slips (young shoots) forced into growth be heat in a damp sandy compost
• Plant out in June they are spreading vine like plants related to Morning Glory and root along the nodes
• The black polythene acts as a heat absorber and offers protection
• The mounds can be filled with straw and soil mixed
• Avoid frost but allow the longest growing time possible.
• Harvest in early October or wait for half the crop until the end of the month
• Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, is a tender, warm-weather vegetable that requires a long frost-free growing season to mature large, useful roots.