PRETTY PASTELS & PINKS
1 Self-sown foxgloves are an agricultural weed but those beautiful spires are beloved by bees. They flower in their second year so try not to dislodge the seedlings. 2 With hedgehog-like grey foliage and clove-scented flowers, Dianthus ‘Sugar Plum’ has deep burgundy petals with a bright coral fringe. 3 Aquilegia ‘Petticoat Delights’ (Kings Seeds) has pleated knickerbocker petals. It flowers in its first season, and self-sows. 4 The perennial tobacco Nicotiana mutabilis (Marshwood Gardens) is a comely chameleon, fading from white to magenta. It grows to 1.5m tall and seeds generously. 5 Most of the verbenas I’ve planted here rot out in our wet winter soil, but Verbena ‘Superbena Burgundy’ (Proven Winners) is a survivor. 6 Calycanthus ‘Hartlage Wine’ is a hardy, deciduous, subtropical-looking shrub with lush foliage and claret flowers. 7 The Cape fuchsia Phygelius ‘Deep Rose’, is a tad too easy-care for my liking. (The new Funfair series is compact and won’t take over.) 8 Alyssum. 9 Aesculus x carnea ‘Rosea’, the pink-flowered horse chestnut tree, is a wonderful (if rather large) specimen tree. 10 Prunus ‘Shimidsu Sakura’ is stunning in blossom; sadly rosellas peck most of the buds off mine. 11 The pincushion flowers of ‘Butterfly Blue’ perennial scabiosas. 12 Rhododendron ‘Black Sport’ blooms gloriously in October but often throws a second flush in autumn. 13 Flag dwarf pinks: for easy pickings, you can’t beat armfuls of tall sweet Williams. 14 Pink soldier poppies still pop up where I sowed wedding wildflowers in 2011. I do suspect they’ll still be seeding on our golden anniversary! 15 Nectar-rich, perennial true valerian, Valeriana officinalis. 16 Malus ioensis ‘Plena’ is undoubtedly the prettiest of all the ornamental crabapples. 17 Rosa ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ is a tough Rugosa, fragrant, free-flowering, hardy and hip-bearing in autumn. What’s not to love? 18 The climbing sweetheart rose ‘Cécile Brünner’ is a must-have if, like me, you love making buttonholes. 19 Self-sown annual Silene armeria: almost a weed, but so pretty! 20 The neat climbing rose ‘Chevy Chase’ has mini blooms so deep pink they look red.