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of my favourite plants, one that is very much in evidence at this time of year (there were lots at the Chelsea Flower Show last week): the comparatively humble geum. Most of the garden varieties can trace their pedigrees back to either the Chilean Geum

Some of you might remember that I wrote about geums a few weeks ago. Sometimes those of you out there are kind enough to respond to my ramblings with comments of your own. They are mostly charming and occasionally include various garden questions

of nectar and pollen on offer.My favourite was the RBC New Wild Garden, designed by Nigel Dunnet, where there wasn't a weed in sight. Instead, urban dry stone walls incorporating insect habitats were surrounded by penstemons, geums, thrift, salvia, geraniums

, while ScotiaLass chose Skimmia 'Rubella', honeysuckle, philadelphus and the old cottage garden pink 'Mrs Sinkins'.Lili went for spring-flowering viburnum ("the smell is exquisite"), while Diane recommended jasmine. Others favoured lilies, geum, nicotiana

admiringly at roses and bob deferentially to paeonies. One of my favourite combinations is Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' with Stipa tenuissima.As we reach the dog days the grasses step from the shadows and become stars. I could drone on for ages but I'll give you

’t seed itself.Verbena hastata - I have written about this fabulous plant here before.Helianthus salicifolia - about the last thing to flower before autumn really hits. About eight feet tall with narrow willowy leaves.Geum 'Prinses Juliana' - I've always

', blue clouds of catmint and Russian sage.Planting companionsSome shrubs also make great companions, such as euphorbias, geums and Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing' with the warmer-coloured iris flowers, or cistus and artemisia for the cool blues