Search - Articles

changing from pink to blue...a clear illustration of the affect of pH on plants.My garden soil must have got more alkaline, possibly through watering with 'hard' tap water during hot weather last summer, hence the pink flowers this year. I'll need to change

. Then it was mostly about greenery, this time it is about flowers.Everything is beginning to explode into colour. Looking out of my office window there is a sea of pink as the Geranium psilostemon and Centranthus ruber are particularly rampant. There is a lone spike

They've been developing bit by bit for weeks, teasing me with glimpses of their pink petticoats. Finally last week, my first camellia of the year opened fully to show off its golden anthers, set off to perfection against the delicate frill of pink

, it boasts the most spectacular colour. The leaves are 70 shades of scarlet, and they contrast with the extraordinary orange seeds and pink seed-pods. The whole plant makes an eyeball-searing spectacle - almost hallucinogenic.In parts of the USA, Euonymus

), the planting is predominantly white, pink and crimson, with plenty of green leaves. Tall phlox and voluminous sanguisorba take over in late summer, but in June two poppies dominate: 'Perry's White', not white at all but a soft greyish pink, and in a separate

house plantsLooking after orchids, with a video guide from Sarah RavenGrowing orchidsGrowing cactiInstalling an automatic watering systemBrowse a selection of general houseplantsView a variety of cactus plants

Orchids are now an affordable luxury; their sensational and long-lasting blooms bringing a touch of elegance to any home or greenhouse. With the wide range of young orchid plants now on offer at local garden centres and florists, you can choose

, they will not thrive in sodden soils - decent drainage is essential. As with any other plant, get them off to a good start by incorporating plenty of organic material, such as home-made compost. Oriental poppies will appreciate a small amount of fertiliser, but don

pretty display for the Christmas table. In colder situations it will flower prolifically until the first frosts, then bloom intermittently in warmer spells until the end of the year.Dig in plenty of organic matter before planting the bulbs and water them

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