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Sometimes the best things are the subtle or quiet things. A little rustle of wind through a tree, the distant knock-knocking of a thrush beating seven bells out of a snail or, in this case, a modest wildflower lurking among the rough grass beside a ditch.I always smile when I see...

ovoid leaves with inquisitive tendrils that stick to the brickwork like flies' feet. Very late in the season it produces propeller-like buds from which emerge gorgeous flowers that change from limey green to deep purple-blue as they age

and dark purple varieties. Now we have to quickly dig out the offending items before they retreat underground into dormancy.Those of you who read this blog regularly might remember the post I wrote about tulips nearly two years ago (if you do then you have

Looking at the bulb catalogue that is sitting on my desk as I write, I see that there are no fewer than one hundred and sixty one varieties of allium.These vary from the tall to the short, the deep purple to pale pink. Some have heads the size

ornamental cabbages with marvellous frilly leaves, in shades ranging from washy pink to beetroot to deep purple, together with larger ornamental kale.The Americans are very keen on ornamental cabbages and use them in quantity for public plantings (and also

Picos Blue - I know, I have mentioned that one as well but this is a picture of the one in my garden.Eryngium padanifolium 'Physic Purple' - a South American variety that has very striking muddy red flowers. The leaves are fleshy and viciously spiked

knives, the hoe, the brick, trousers, the egg or the polka dot bikini.Sure it has got a great deal lighter (I used to own an old wooden one like this and you would not want to push it very far) but it is intrinsically the same.In the 1970s James Dyson

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

colour is staggeringly good.There are quite a few varieties of Liquidambar available but L. styraciflua 'Worplesdon' is, I think, probably the best. The leaves turn deep red-cabbage-purple first before exploding into flashes of orangey-yellow. For a

entering your garden with decent fencing. The RHS have a list of plants that are less likely to be eaten by deer, which includes the very curious fact that they don't generally eat berberis, except for purple-leaved varieties.Failing that they make very