GARDENER'S WORD - IDEAS AND TIPS

It was a couple of years ago, August 2024 to be precise, that I decided to train Japanese acer palmatum 'Katsura' into a multi-stem tree so that I could underplant it and make more use of my small garden.  I asked the advice of a friend who owns Ichi-Coo Park , part of the National Garden Scheme , in Surrey.  He said to go for it.  So I went for it, and this is the result. Acer palmatum 'Katsura' - 28 April 2026 It had been encroaching on the territory of the dwarf James Grieve apple tree just in front of it, and so it was a matter of necessity as much as anything.  Further horticultural problems were that I had planted Acer shirasawanum 'Jordan' in a place it was not happy.  I placed it in one west-facing position, it got scorched.  I moved it to another position, and it gets scorched.  Now I cannot move it at all without risking destroying it because it has managed to run its roots under rocks (my garden is high on the Pennines and the rock is sand-s...

I have never had great success with Campanulas overwintering and coming back the next spring in my garden but I keep on trying.  This year I have bought the Campanula 'Takion' white as well as the Campanula 'Takion' blue. The latter, Takion blue, is not yet in flower but is loaded with buds and I will add it to this post in due course.  Campanula  persicifolia  'Takion' white Campanula  persicifolia  'Takion' white According to the RHS Campanula persicifolia 'Takion ' series are not picky.  They are hardy perennials that will tolerate any aspect except total shade, soil type, and they even say it is okay when sheltered or exposed.  Hmm, I'm not too sure about exposed where I live, at 850ft above sea level on the Pennine Mountains of West Yorkshire but my garden is surrounded by shadow-fencing and to some degree by other properties.   Campanula persicifolia 'Takion' forms a clump with tall flower stems making it suitable for the front ...

I introduced yet another narcissus variety of bulb to my garden last autumn, 'Ice Follies', and it has put on quite a display in its first spring in a tub at the top of my garden where it faces south-west.  It is quietly understated and yet manages to attract the eye. Just look at those frilly yellow trumpets which fade delightfully with age. Narcissus 'Ice Follies'  16th April 2026 Narcissus 'Ice Follies' has received the RHS  Award of Garden Merit (AGM).  Narcissus 'Ice Follies'  26th April 2026

I first posted about  Lathyrus vernus in April 2020 , a year after I first planted it and now, seven years later, it is still putting on a show.  It remains in place, a neat and beautiful clump of foliage and flowers, not wandering and never growing very big. I can see that a ground cover geranium is encroaching so I'll need to check that out and move the geranium if it is going to cause a problem.   Lathyrus vernus (spring pea) 'Rainbow' Mine grows in a situation near the bottom of my garden where it gets partial sun and a moist neutral soil.  According to the RHS Lathyrus vernus , is category H6, which means it is hardy down to -20c, and it has the RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit).  

Geums have always been so reliable in my gardens but a while ago one died, as all plants do eventually, and this year I have bought two that I have never grown before.  One is Geum Mai Tai which came as a bare root plant and right now is in a pot with little top growth.  The other is Geum Pink Petticoats, below, which I bought at a large garden centre.  I think it is something rather special.   Geum Pink Petticoats Sorry about the quality of the above image, try as I might I cannot get the flower in perfect focus.  The breeze isn't helping! Interestingly, when I look at pictures online this flower appears to be all kinds of pinks but my Geum Pink Petticoats is as my photo, rather a salmony kinda pink.  Geum 'Pink Petticoats' which flowers all spring and summer, seems to be unfussy, tolerating any soil conditions, any aspect but north, sun or partial shade, and grows to a height and spread of up to 0.5 metres (20in). More importantly, it has the RHS Awa...

What a sweet little spring flower. I have grown Anemone blanda (also known as the Winter Windflower) in a small tub and it is flowering beautifully. I've never grown them before. It's always good to try new things in gardening and that is part of the pleasure of it. Some you win and some you lose.  Anemone Blanda According to the RHS , Anemone blanda is not fussy about soil conditions but should be well-drained, it tolerates full sun or partial shade (mine are in full sun), exposed or sheltered positions, any aspect but north, and is fully hardy (H6) down to -20C.  It achieves a height and spread of up to 0.5 metres (about 20in).  It flowers in spring and, being herbaceous, loses its foliage in winter. 

Armeria pseudarmeria 'Dreameria: Sweet Dreams' is commonly, and much more easily remembered as, 'Thift'.   Armeria pseudarmeria 'Dreameria: Sweet Dreams' Armeria pseudarmeria 'Dreameria: Sweet Dreams' The  RHS states that Armeria pseudarmeria needs a sheltered position as well as being suitable for coastal areas. I take it that Armeria pseudarmeria cannot tolerate strong winds and it is Armeria maritima  (RHS) that is a little toughie. 'Sweet Dreams' flowers during spring and summer, enjoys full sun, is hardy down to -15c, any aspect except north-facing. It seems less fussy when it comes to soil type, and likes moist well-drained soil. I think. 

Oh wow, I nearly overlooked posting about this fabulous narcissus called Jetfire. It has  wonderfully rich yellow petals and an orange trumpet. This year is the first time I have grown them. I stuck them all in a single pot, and it has worked out very well, I think.    Narcissus 'Jetfire' Narcissus 'Jetfire' I'm looking forward to Jetfire reappearing year after year.  Talking about reappearing, some years ago I planted a few bulbs into the garden borders after they had flowered in pots, and they never really seemed to make an impact but this year, this year they are really starting to showing off here and there!  Narcissus 'Geranium' It is highly fragrant and multi-headed. Narcissus 'Geranium' Not everything is a success as any gardener, professional or amateur, will tell you. Several varieties of Narcissi seem to have disappeared and I may buy more this autumn because they are so beautiful.  Narcissus 'Silver Chimes' Narcissus 'Silver C...

I felt sure I had grown one of these before in my present garden, which I have had since 2009 since it was nothing but grass, but if I had I certainly didn't give it a mention on my blog.  Anyway, here is a mention now.  I think every gardener must be familiar with this particular plant which is, as the RHS says is attractive to pollinators. I am catering as much as I can for pollinators to visit my garden, that means in particular bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.  It flowers through summer and autumn.  Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' The label shows this plant leaning more towards a lavender colour but the flowers on the plant I just bought are as shown above. Even the labels says that "Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' is a perennial with masses of intense 'lavender-blue', rounded flower heads above neat clumps of finely cut, grey-green foliage. It has a height and spread of 20cm (8in) x 25cm (10in) and should be planted in full sun or partial shade with well-dra...

I had a particular polemonium (aka Jacob's Ladder)  'Northern Lights'    growing at the front of my south-facing border for many years but this year it disappeared underground for winter and never came back.  Plants will do that.  So I bought another and this one is Polemonium 'Bressingham Purple'. Not only does it have a lovely flower - look at those orange anthers - but the leaves are interesting too.   Polemonium 'Bressingham Purple' It forms a neat clump and I found my previous one easy to care for: just chop the dead flower heads off, and don't let it die in a drought. I occasionally water my garden using a Miracle-Grow Feeder containing either Miracle-Gro All Purpose plant food (nitrogen for leaves) or Phostrogen (for flowers).   The label says "Stunning dark leaves all season long on vertical stems, topped with rich blue flowers in early summer.  Wonderful foliage contrast in any mixed border. Hardy and perennial, height 60cm, spr...

Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant', also known as the summer snowflake, is quite striking. I grew them for the first time this year and they achieved a height of about 30cm at most. Information from the RHS states they can grow as much as 90cm.  They are like big snowdrops with little yellow/green dots at the tips of the petals. I have grown them in a container of multi-purpose compost with John Innes, in a fairly sunny spot, west facing where it gets the sun most of the day. The RHS states they are very hardy, (H7), right down to a low of -20c, and prefer moist but well drained conditions, any aspect, and any type of soil.   Leucojum aestivum Gravetye Giant Leucojum aestivum Gravetye Giant This is the link to the RHS growing details if you are thinking of growing some and want more information.

Oh, what a find. I had often seen the strong-coloured blue of Muscari flowers but last autumn I came across the pale-blue muscari 'Valerie Finnis'.  I thought I would give it a try and wow, the colour really does look good in my garden trough and mixed in with white Scilla 'Siberica' and in a tub with blue Scilla 'Siberica'  I should have taken the photos earlier to show the muscari against the beauty of white scilla.  Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' grown in a tub with blue Scilla Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' in a tub with blue Scilla The more commonly seen colour of muscari, below... A clump of blue Muscari

I bought and planted an awful lot of bulbs last year, literally hundreds, as I wanted a 'cheer-up-it's-spring' display after winter which, at least in West Yorkshire, seems to last forever.  I don't just have them in tubs but they are also in borders and a trough under my living room window.   A medley of spring bulbs in tubs on a sunny patio - early April In between the containers that are in full flower are containers with bulbs which have not yet flowered but soon will. In some cases, I have plastic tubs inside large terracotta containers so that when the spring bulbs have finished, I can lift out the plastic tubs and plant things for summer flowering.  When you only have small garden, (mine is under 30ft x 30ft) you have to make the most of the space you have.  A medley of spring bulbs in tubs on a sunny patio - early April At the end of February, I created a post showing the spring bulbs back then before the daffodils and tulips put on a show.  Here is...

Wow,  Tulip 'Mystic Van Eijk  is a showstopper.  The beautiful pale pink flower is held on a long upright strong stem and certainly stands out in a crowd.  Ignore images that show the flower is a strong pink as those images have been digitally tweaked, Mystic Van Eijk is a pale but not insipid pink.   Tulip 'Mystic Van Eijk Tulip 'Mystic Van Eijk Mine are grown in a large tub in full sun, somewhat sheltered by my small garden room.

This is the first time I have grown the narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle'. It is similar in height to Tete-a-Tete but has a double flower as you can see. It isn't exactly a show-stopper in my garden tub and I might replant it this autumn in the trough under my living room window where it will be at a height where the beauty of its flower can be better appreciated next spring.