Grow bold gracefully

any parts of the garden in need of some interest, wonderful jasmine has got you covered.

Of course, seasonal, annual-flowering plants really set the scene.

Picture walking down the narrow back alleyways in the villages of Italy, the South of France or Ibiza and soaking up the sights of brightly coloured window boxes full of sunny geraniums, busy lizzies or fuchsias. These plants never disappoint – their pop of colour will brighten up any brick wall and if you keep them frostfree over winter, they’ll carry on year after year.

INSIDE OUT

One of the joys of houseplants at this time of year is the freedom to position them on full display. When the sun’s high in the sky and there’s little risk of heavy rain or high winds, take your houseplants out on to the patio and bask in their presence.

They’ll benefit from the fresh air and natural light and it’ll give them optimal health to overcome long winters indoors. Rubber plants, weeping figs, Aspidistra, Swiss cheese plants and spider plants can all come outside when the risk of any cold days are gone.

FINISHING TOUCHES

To truly set the scene for beach getaways and destination holidays, you’ve got to make your garden a place to revel in relaxation.

You can screen print photos on to weatherproof canvas and then position them on the side of a garden fence or shed as a blissful backdrop.

Blow up beautiful beach scenes, or photos from your favourite family holiday, and it will spark joy every time you take a glance.

During beach breaks away, collect shells and take them home with you to make into a decorative wind chime – it will be a little slice of heaven right there on your doorstep.

Treat yourself to furniture that shouts luxury. Large outdoor sofas are perfect for lazing around during summer and you can get all-weather cushions that can stay out throughout the year without falling to pieces.

Relaxers, dining and grilling sets make all the difference, so make a point to live in your garden in comfort and style, and every day will feel like a holiday. See hartmanuk.com for more. This solar-powered water feature would make a lovely addition to a sunny patio, border or lawn.

There’s something very relaxing about the sound of trickling water, and it provides a spot for birds to drink from too.

I found this model – in painted poly-resin so it’s fairly light to move – for £99 from primrose.co.uk, but it does need uninhibited sunlight for its solar panel to power it.