COLOURS

There is something about a plant with stunning colour that attracts me- one that stands out in the garden. Of course you have to be careful where you plant them.

Big colours can clash - which sometimes works - sometimes. This can bee seen done successfully at Great Dixter.

Here are three very different plants - one low growing,

one a small shrub

and the last a six foot tall architectural splendour.

The first is an Evening Primrose and this spills from its flowerbed over the path, flowering for much of the later summer and early autumn.

I grow tow varieties, this one with the deeper yellow flowers and a paler version. It grows wild around Southport where we lived in the early 1970s.

I think it is important to have plants in the garden which have other connections, with past moments and occasions.

The second is Ceratostigma willmottianum.

I know, bit of a mouthful - but what a wonderful blue. It is difficult to find good blues for the garden.

The autumn leaves turn red and enhance the depth of blue in the petals.

At the moment it is a small shrub about three feet high.

The third is a Cardoon,

a giant thistle like plant with purple flower heads which are left through the winter top catch the frost and keep interest in the garden.

The bumble bee in the photograph is a bonus. They seem to love the big flower heads and bury themselves deep inside in search of nectar.

Three very different plants.

And, Oh yes, I keep them apart. Perhaps I have not had the courage to try and place them together but they each have their own place.