We love for … - James Alexander-Sinclair

JuneWe love…. all those reasons that are, for gardeners, almost toofor …obvious to state. Full-bosomed lushness of growth, rainbowsof colour arcing over pretty much every garden, warmbreezes, pollinators pollinating, roses dripping with scentand sensuality, lawns the colour of freshly podded peas, latesunsets and the feeling of cold dew on bare feet.Words by James Alexander-SinclairCATCH UP WITH JAMES inhis weekly Gardeners’ Worldblog at www.gardenersworld.com16 www.gardenersworld.comJune 2008

An octopus’s gardenImagine, if you would, an under-sea world populatedby brightly striped fishes, tap-dancing lobsters and anoctopus wearing a cravat. In the background, bobbingwith the tide, are exotic sea anemones, which lookjust like Thalictrum aquilegiifolium with many wavingfingers of perfect sugar pink on whippet-legged stems.DETAILS Grows to around 1m, but needs staking in exposed areas • Looks bestabove architecturally leaved plants and livens up hardy geraniums and shrubswith darker foliage • Likes rich soil in sun or part shade • Divide plants in autumnPHOTO: richard bloomJune 2008www.gardenersworld.com 17

We love JunePHOTOs: alamy/peter andersoN; gpl/neil holmes, kalhoefer kelly; gap photos/mark bolton, fhf greenmediaPhiladelphus ‘Virginal’Angel handsThe scent of Philadelphus‘Virginal’ in high summer islike being massaged by a flockof soft-handed angels. Theperfume is slightly tangeriney –hence the name ‘mock orange’.DETAILS Grows to 3m so best in largergardens • Propagate from winter or summercuttings • Prune by one-third each yearLeptospermum scopariumBearded ladySimilar climates mean manyof our best plants come fromNew Zealand. Leptospermumscoparium is one. Each shrubhas more flowers than GrizzlyAdams had bristles. Spectacular.DETAILS Propagate from seed in autumn orsemi-ripe cuttings in summer • Needs gooddrainage and full sun • Grows to 3mWe love JuneRosa ‘William Lobb’Rosa ‘Fantin-Latour’Rosa ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’A roseis a roseA garden withoutroses is a bit like adoughnut without jam:seemingly sweet andfilling, but really a sad,empty shell. Roseshave inspiredthousands of poems,hundreds of songs andmillions of love-strucksouls (not somethingthat can be said of themarigold, which onlyinspired a washing-upglove). This is sucha vast family thateverybody can findroom for a rose, nomatter how limitedtheir space. Choosefrom huge ramblers totiny varieties designedto perk up a patio. Allroses have commonancestors and thesethree are from ancientand noble lines.Rosa ‘William Lobb’DETAILS A moss rose, so calledbecause of its mossy, scentedstem-growth • Floppy habit andshiny leaves • Grows to 1.8mRosa ‘Fantin-Latour’DETAILS A centifolia or‘cabbage’ rose with tight-packedpetals • Flowers just once a yearon the second year’s wood sotake care when pruning• Grows to 1.5mRosa ‘Cardinal deRichelieu’DETAILS A Gallica rose withball-shaped blooms • Makesa protective hedge with itsthorny stems • Grows to 1.2m20 www.gardenersworld.comJune 2008

We love JuneOn the tilesRoofing felt was neverdesigned with aesthetics inmind. Yet it’s easy to transforma shed into something that’sa fun, environmentally friendly,practical and attractive partof the garden. Roof gardensneed good drainage, foolproofplanting and careful attentionuntil established.Lavatera × clementii ‘Barnsley’Jammy dodgerLavatera ‘Barnsley’ is a varietydiscovered by the redoubtableRosemary Verey and named afterher Gloucestershire garden. Itspale pink flowers contrast withthe jam-coloured centres.Dianthus deltoides ‘Shrimp’DETAILS This variety is low-growing, whichmeans it’s unlikely to be blown awayThymus serphyllum ‘Minor’DETAILS Mat-forming scented thymewith furry leaves • Bees flock to this plant• Easily split into new plantsAjuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’DETAILS Vigorously spreading low evergreen• Blue flowers appear in early summerDETAILS Can revert so cut out stems with darkerflowers • Cut back hard in spring • Flowers allsummer • Grows to 2mPHOTOs: alamy/linn arvidsson; gap photos/geoff kidd; clive nichols; garden collection/torie chugg; gpl/lynn keddieGeum ‘Mrs J Bradshaw’Racy redMany reds are indefatigablyenergetic: the red of cancandancers’ knickers, the crimsonof cherries and the rufous ofa cricket ball. Vivid Geum ’MrsJ Bradshaw’ is right up there.DETAILS Comes true from seed sown in autumnor divide in spring • Also try yellow ‘LadyStratheden’ • Grows to 60cmDianthus deltoides ‘Shrimp’Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’Thymus serpyllum ‘Minor’22 www.gardenersworld.comJune 2008