GARDEN NOTES

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot in June

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot

One of the biggest joys of the UK in June is the fact that garden visiting is at its glorious height and the challenge is to see just how many enticing ones are close enough to warrant shoehorning into an already packed diary. A village opening – where several residents have banded together to open their gardens on the same day – is always a draw. The fact that there are multiple gates to go through increases the chance of finding something you like, and there is usually a new plant to discover or a hard-landscaping detail to inspire. I enjoy tracking down a smattering of recently made gardens if I can. Ones that say they have been ‘created since 2012’ or ‘completely redesigned by the current owner’ can be just the spur that’s needed to start a new project. Taking a camera and notebook to record details that catch the eye is always a good idea.

Of course, a plant stall is an added bonus and some absolute gems can be picked up at good prices. My purchases have included some lovely epimediums, hostas and ferns, plus a handsome pink-flowered shrubby sage Phlomis italica, which soon settled in at home. You feel that you have road-tested a plant if you’ve seen it growing successfully in someone else’s garden, and it’s even better if you get a chance to talk to the owner about its care. For gardens that are open near you, see ngs.org.uk.