YARDZPLANT
12/04/2011
06/04/2011
15/03/2011
21/01/2011
17/01/2011
07/12/2010
24/11/2010
19/11/2010
CONIFERS BACK IN STYLE?
Conifers have been out of fashion for the last thirty years with the increase in popularity first of shrubs and mixed borders and then perennials and grasses. But now they are making a come back with more being seen at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.
Conifers can be great for small spaces as they provide not only evergreen colour but also an architectual feature throughout the year. Try planting in formal blocks of the same variety separated by evergreen shrubs or grasses.
10/11/2010
STUNNING CALLICARPA BERRIES
Callicarpa, the Beauty Berry, is looking at its best now. The brilliant violet berries stand out from the bare stems of this deciduous shrub. Though it can reach up to two metres high it can be pruned to a framework in spring to allow it to be container grown. The berries generally last through the winter as birds tend to go for other berries first - may be the colour is not so easily detected by birds. The foliage starts a bronze-purple in spring turning dark green in summer and then tinged violet in autumn.
The violet purple berries look amazing set above an underplanting of deep pink Miracle Cyclamen.
www.crocus.co.uk £8.99
08/11/2010
RICE BAG PLANTERS
A new offering from one of my favourite sites www.gardenbeet.com are these colourful Rice bag Planters. They are a Fair Trade product being made in Cambodia from recycled bags. They can be planted directly into the bags or used as a decorative pot holder.
