A SIGHT for sore eyes…
If, like me, you are the sort of gardener who likes to be told what to do - interspersed by the occasional impulse buy from a garden centre - you might appreciate the lists that feature in ‘Plants, Beds and Borders’, by TV gardener, Katie Rushworth.
She might not write about hanging baskets (the Royal Horticultural Society has advice, here) or flower boxes (check out Better Homes & Gardens, here), but she covers almost every other genre, including ‘small spaces’ and ‘cut flowers’ (such as Achillea and Geums - both perennials).
It helps that her planting plans are accompanied by lavish illustrations and care suggestions: you can’t really go wrong in compiling your very own shopping list.
And this is a tip from a nearby neighbour, for borders: plant most of it up with perennials and then supplement with annuals. That way, you benefit from the vibrancy of annuals without having to spend a fortune every year to bulk the borders out.
Main image: Cramond, Edinburgh; copyright all images Mike Wilson