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kept cool out of the sun. There it was left to its own devices, using the shrubby germander as a living plant support.C. 'Arabella' really comes into its own through late June into July, when its six blue petals open around a bold central boss of white

insects are up to 5mm long and can be found on the main trunk and branches. They drop off in summer, leaving white clusters of eggs. Little damage is done to the host plant, but the insects can look unsightly. They suck sap from plants and produce honeydew

, while general growth and vigour is poor. Also learn about powdery mildew on roses.In summer, a white powdery coating covers the leaves and possibly the shoot tips and flowers too. Leaves may then become discoloured and distorted, with poor growth

to the girlie in me with its two-tone red and white flowers. These beans may not fruit (I s'pose that's the right term - it doesn't sound quite right for beans somehow?) as well as other varieties with their exhibition names of 'Enorma' and 'Best of All

mental note not to make any next year. The plants have been looking stunning for a few weeks, the flowers so densely packed along the leaf-free stems that they clothe them almost entirely in white blossom. It may be sold in garden centres and nurseries

had a ragged ball of spawn, but it quickly disintegrated into an opaque white mess, and no tadpoles ever resulted. We often see frogs of various sizes, under flower pots, behind the compost bins, or hopping about in the more unkempt bits of the flower

The autumnal colours of ornamental cabbages work well with the pink flowers of sedums in this striking pot display. They are softened by the wispy grass and frothy white blooms of the aster. August - SeptemberSeptember - October20 minutes

, your safest bet is the white double Dianthus 'Mrs Sinkins' which smells like the wrists of wood nymphs. It's one of the old garden pinks (great scent, short flowering season, most of them about 30cm high) and was originally bred in 1868 by John Sinkins

have to trim its fig-like leaves to let the Spanish flag flowers truly shine. Set off these two annual climbers to perfection by planting delicate but colourful bedding plants around the base of the display. Don't be tempted to plant out tender young

Jekka McVicar's 10 companion plantsJekka McVicar's organic herb garden achieved a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. We caught up with her at the show to discover her top 10 herbs for growing as companion plants.Companion planting