In The Garden
◆ For a bold splash of colour, bergamot is a perennial that really stands out in my garden. Its aromatic leaves give a lovely scent when I’m gardening and it’s attractive to bees; one of its common names is Bee balm. I give it a mulch before winter for protection and it’s doing so well that I’ve divided it and spread it throughout the flower garden.
◆ My mini meadow has been full of ox-eye daisies, ragged robin and even orchids. The flowers thrive because of hay rattle, a plant that’s semi-parasitic on grass. This keeps the grasses short so the flowers have less competition. Now’s the time when I scatter the rattle’s seeds for next year.