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A wooden obelisk at the heart of my formal garden plays host to a variety of annual climbers, but I've grown tired of sweet peas in recent years. Their performance relies on the right weather, but we don't seem to be getting the 'right' weather any

readily available climbers - evergreen Persian ivy Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' and deciduous Vitis coignetiae, the crimson glory vine.What fantastic partners. Ivy is a valuable screening plant, clinging to almost any surface, and relishing challenging

in reducing air temperatures during summer and insulating them during winter.I've always been cautious about recommending planting climbers like ivy against buildings, although I enjoy the sight when others do it. Provided walls are sound and ivy is kept clear

are 'creative, colourful and convenient'. In other words, they'd like us all to buy and plant more of these valuable evergreen shrubs.I find it surprising that while most of us love seasonal colour in our gardens, and invest a great deal of time and money in pot