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that the anthers are purple and brown (apparently looking like decaying flesh to the average carrion fly); a sprig of hawthorn worn in your hat will supposedly protect you from lightning.Since medieval times is has been used as a heart remedy, a diuretic

, but it's their striking flowers most people are after. Their blooms are really spathes; bright trumpets at the tip of a stem, with a graceful twist and pointed tip unlike the flowers of anything else you're likely to grow.It's surprising that some

more (that's a topic for another day).So, what are the alternatives? There are quite a few annual climbers to choose from actually. Morning glory (ipomoea) is popular, but their flowers are all too short-lived. The purple bell vine (rhodochiton) is nice

plantain's thickened stem and forked flower-head, and the daisy squashed and stretched like a plasticine model. And now there was the regular appearance of broad purple inflorescences just outside my kitchen.Apparently, Veronicastrum is prone to fasciation

Ornamental grasses at ChelseaUndemanding and very rewarding to grow, we've selected a range of the best grasses, sedges and rushes on show at the Chelsea Flower Show 2008.If you're looking for a grass that performs well in dry shade, try Amenanthele

, the vacuum cleaner man, invented one with a plastic ball instead of a wheel but even that refinement is no longer available at we have gone back to basics. Dyson also made water go uphill in his 2003 Chelsea Flower Show Garden - the planting tried

to pruning. Some of you might remember the Fortnum and Mason garden designed by Robert Myers at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2007. The building at the back of the garden was covered with trained liquidambars and very effective it was.There are many reasons you

or Kenya.I sowed the delicious variety ‘Purple Tee-Pee’ 15cm apart in large, 60cm pots, filled with recycled compost from earlier sowings and the dregs of various bags that were lying around. The pot was situated on the path of my greenhouse

. Almost glows in the looming dusk.Rosa laevigata 'Coopers Burmese': a climbing species rose. It only flowers once (though magnificently) but has fabulous hips, deep reddish purple stems and polished evergreen leaves.Feijoia sellowiana: an evergreen silvery

pendular green flowers with attractive markings. Nidularium innocentii leaf rosette has a deep red centre. Aechmea fasciata has a silver rosette that contrasts with its sugar pink bracts, and Vriesea hieroglyphica leaves are densely mottled in purple