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with imagination. I do have exceptionally good taste, though: when the sun shines, Colonsay is paradise on earth. (It's not too bad even when, like much of west Scotland, conditions are extremely wet and windy.)The main house on the island, Colonsay House

three to four days.AdamIf you get the sprouting bug, many of the seed catalogues, such as Suttons and Kings Seeds, sell a range of suitable pulses.Growing plants indoorsGrowing a peanut plant - video project with Rachel de ThameSarah Raven gives advice

into bruises. Comfrey is said to help scar tissue to form, so this ointment may promote the healing of cuts and bruises.Before using any plant medicinally, do check it is correctly identified, especially if collected from the wild. Don't use if you are in any

, but your neighbours will hate you.The news broke this week that a Plymouth resident has upset all of his neighbours by planting 16 leylandii trees in his front garden and leaving them to grow, completely obscuring the house. At one time the hedge would have

nigra, with black stems, and P. aureosulcata f. aureocaulis. I have used them as screens, specimens in pots and in innumerable planting schemes. However, they are mere minnows compared to some of the Asian varieties that grow to 20m high with stems (or

very favourite garden destinations. I love seeing what we would regard as house plants growing with weed-like vigour on the roadside, or trimmed to form a hedge. Poinsettia always looks wonderful there, not to mention the tangled jungles of Opuntia

Cacti and succulents are the perfect choice if you're looking for an indoor plants that almost look after themselves.Most cacti and succulents can be easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings, as explained below. For those cacti whose stems

flowering)Florist anemones don't need to be pre-chilled. Soak them for a few hours before planting to rehydrate and plump up the wrinkled corms.Plant in 9cm pots or plastic cups, making a few holes in the base first. Once they flower, place in decorative

of water that's wasted.Store as much rainfall as you can in water butts collected from the roof of your house, garage, shed and greenhouse. This will be warmer and thus cause less of a shock to plant roots than mains water.Use waste water from preparing

. The compost should also be watered, but not much – simply ensure it never dries out fully. Add a house plant fertiliser when watering the rosette, though use it at half strength, and only feed during the spring and summer months.When to water and feed a