STAR OF THE MONTH
Geranium sylvaticum 'Mayflower'
To be honest, this may not be the most exciting and rare plant in the world: it is not going to make an edelweiss anxious or an orchid lose sleep. No botanist is going to set the groves of academe afire by talking about this particular plant. However, an early summer herbaceous border would be a lesser place without a scattering of geraniums along the edges of borders. Their job is partly to conceal the knobbly knees of their taller neighbours, as well as to entertain the world with a simple flower as pleasing and as blue as a May Day sky.
If planted in full sun make sure it does not dry out. Divide plants in spring. Height x Spread 70cm x 30cm
ACID TEST
Everybody falls in love with this plant but, like all the best temptations, not everybody can possess it. Sorry to those of you with alkaline soils, apologies to chalky gardeners and regrets to those who like to spread a bit of manure on their borders: this is not the plant for you. It needs well-drained, acid soil, I am afraid. If you can give her that then you have a treat in store.
Embothrium coccineum
Part of the Proteaceae family, hence the fussiness. Propagate from seed or mid-summer cuttings with bottom heat. H x S 6m x 4m
COMING INTO PORT
Like many plants with dark, velvety petals, this is very seductive. The foliage is crisp and green but that is nothing compared to the flower. Petals like vintage port, flame-coloured filaments and that glorious palisade of pollen as golden as a sunrise. In the words of Bob Dylan: "a million faces at my feet but all I see are dark eyes". Not necessarily a song about plants, but you get my drift.
Paeonia 'Dark Eyes'
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2023-Ausgabe von BBC Gardeners World.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2023-Ausgabe von BBC Gardeners World.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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A new plot for tasty crops
Taking on a new allotment needn't be hard work. By simply following a few easy tips you can have bumper crops in no time, just like Alessandro Vitale
We love July
July is an island floating between the joy of June and the slightly fatigued month of August. It's a grown-up month: the year has shrugged off its adolescent exuberances, the weather is (hopefully) warm enough for ice cream to be one of your five a day, the sea should be swimmable without (too much) danger of hypothermia and thoughts will be of holiday shenanigans and family barbecues. School's out this month, the next tranche of glorious summer colour is washing across our borders and it's my birthday. Lots of reasons to give three rousing cheers for July!
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
Now, at the height of summer, Frances Tophill shows how to boost your plants' health and productivity with a timely cut
Hassle-free harvests
Flowers are out in abundance this month and for Jack Wallington, many of these blooms make delicious, low-effort pickings
Bite-sized bounties
Glorious doorstep harvests can easily turn into gluts, so let Rukmini Iyer's recipes help you savour every last bit
Upcycled outdoor living
Create unique and stylish garden features for minimal cost using reclaimed materials and simple DIY skills. Helen Riches shares four step-by-step projects and more inspiring eco tips
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
Buildings and landscapes can play a vital role in supercharging your space, as Nick Bailey demonstrates
Greening up a city balcony
Looking for sustainable, small-space gardening ideas? Take inspiration from Oliver Hymans' transformed balcony garden in north-east London - now a lush, green haven for humans and wildlife
The dry and mighty garden
As we adapt our gardens to a more volatile climate, Alan Titchmarsh reveals how to create a drought-tolerant plot and picks his top plant performers
Nature knows best
Carol Klein explains how to choose plants for specific growing conditions, based on what has naturally adapted to thrive there