The Gardeners’ Benevolent Fund charity, Perennial (0845 230 1839;
perennial.org.uk), hosts courses at interesting gardens, given by those who
look after them (I went to one at the Kensington Roof Gardens). In
September, Jon Brocklebank, head gardener at Barnsdale
in Rutland, will take the fear out of pruning, adding a three-course lunch,
with time to explore Geoff Hamilton’s garden – his son Nick also holds
courses there.
Assington Water Mill
in Suffolk (01787 229955) has a course for everyone. From “Hunting with
Harris Hawks” to “Chain-sawing for Amateurs”, owner Anne Holden tries
anything once. Coming up are “Cider-making” (September 7) and “Beekeeping
for Beginners” (September 15), or why not try “Clay oven-making”? A very
special place, I gave “Hen Keeping” days there for years, but now offer them
here in Whitstable (kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk).
Fergus Garrett’s successional growing tips
Start the season with small-leaved bulb varieties like snowdrops, that won’t
kill tiny seedlings as the leaves die down.
Always use the best plant varieties, e.g. Ann Folkard or Rozanne for
long-lasting geraniums.
Plant climbers and small-flowered clematis through short-season shrubs like
lilac, also C. juiniana praecox through bulbs on the flat.
Add bedding plants like cosmos ‘Purity’ with pretty foliage and a long season,
or nasturtiums or bidens in gaps.
Encourage self-sowers red orach, Verbena bonariensis (above), or Lychnis
coronaria, but thin them out.
Copy Dixter’s pot displays of agaves, hostas and succulents to fill holes left
by summer-flowering plants like lupins.
Shrubs like evergreens Euonymus ‘Silver Queen’, Ilex ‘Golden King’ and Cornus
alba ‘Elegantissima’ give winter structure.
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