SARCOCOCCA WALLICHII BSWJ 2291

Few plants seem as though they mean to flower in November - you may find a few washed out roses, an unfrosted Salvia or a freak clematis but these seem as out-of-season as strawberries in Tesco at Christmas.
This wonderful shrub ,collected by the incredible Bleddyn Wynn-Jones in Northern India, looks pristine (even now) and even flowers against a shady, north facing wall. The white flowers smell delicious.

DESMODIUMS

These superb wall shrubs have flowered well this year. They enjoy the heat of a sunny wall behind them to encourage flowering. All seem hardy here - including the, reputedly tender, Desmodium praestans which survived -26 in 1981!

MONARDAS

Monardas are the mainstay of my late July border.
Sometimes referred to as 'the punk hair-do plant' they seem to enjoy my well-drained soil which gets some water during the summer. Dead heading extends their flowering season well into August.

COUNTRY LIVING ARTICLE - August 2006

WISTERIAS

Although the spring was cold and wet at least we were spared a late frost and both the standard and the wall trained Wisterias were spectacular this year.

LONICERAS FOR SOME SHADE.

I find it hard to get these ones to flower well but the wet weather in May seems to have suited them.

LONICERAS IN JUNE.

You can't have everything! They don't smell but these exotic honeysuckles are flowering well on sunny walls.

EPIMEDIUMS

I love the spidery flowers and the fabulous foliage of epimediums. These ones are all out at the moment.

EARLY FEBRUARY 2006

Even after a frosty start there are a few plants already flowering outside now!