In the garden
Planting in a garden should aim to provide year round interest, whether from flowers, fruits, berries, leaf shape, colour, or plant form. Even in December and January there are plants that will flower during mild spells and provide a nectar source for bees tempted out of hibernation.
Knowing when and how to prune shrubs can ensure that growth and /or flowering is promoted or shape maintained.
This dessert apple is a regular cropper, producing yellow-green fruit flushed brown and has a distinctive nutty flavour.
Mediterranean in origin and best suited to a sunny site with a well-drained soil. Spectacular yellow flowers but also attractive leaves particularly in winter when dusted with frost.
Lady's mantle: clump-forming and spreading around when happy, this plant has unspectacular flowers but leaves that look particularly beautiful after rain.
A common wild flower and a food plant of the orange tip butterfly. Biennial but can be invasive if allowed to set seed.
Also known as bishop's hat and barrenwort: attractive ground cover for shade or semi-shade, and humus - rich soils. Delicate pinkish flowers in spring and red-tinged leaves
Primrose: spring icon. Easy to grow and propagate.
