Pinks, lime and black… and a Musical

Four completely unrelated plants, though all catching my eye yesterday and each of considerable merit. Clematis alpina Diamond Anniversary, with creamy white tepals backed with a gentle webbed shading of pale purple. Early flowering, growing to 2m. A mediterranean spurge, Euphorbia Black Pearl, a compact form of Euphorbia characias, with black nectaries giving the plant…

Euphorbia – a plant for all seasons

Colourful shoots, foliage and flowers in a shifting range of appealing combinations - Euphorbias come in a variety of styles, both evergreen and deciduous perennials, some shrub like and in all foliage colours from fresh green, lime, blue-greys and variegated, whites, reds, oranges and purples. Euphorbia myrsinites (above), a rock plant with great spring interest.…

Thoughts turn to summer…

This semi-circular border was planted (on bare soil) in April and May 2012 and photographed at the end of July. Plenty of rain helped it quickly establish - the addition of annual cosmos and verbena bonariensis, creating a fuller, more mature feel this early on. Roses are set to take centre stage in the coming…