Aim for sweet spots

A GARDEN that appeals to all the senses is an exciting place to explore.

When choosing plants, fragrance is one of the greatest pleasures, especially when creating a relaxing place to sit.

The lemon-scented hemerocallis citrina, the citron daylily, opens at night and produces a lingering fragrance. And the delicious scent of limnanthes douglasii, the Douglas meadowfoam, will spotlight any shrub.

The blush-pink rose Fantin-Latour’s will smell delightful for at least six weeks. It is all the sweeter when under-planted with dianthus Doris.

For dessert there’s the irresistible chocolate s cent of cosmos atrosanguineus.

You will also make the garden a magical place by not only filling sunny borders with lots of colour but by decorating areas used in the evening.

White plants such as the poppy papaver somniferum, lily lilium regale, and dictamnus albus are perfect for this as they bounce back available moonlight and will lift a garden.

Fuzzy

Evergreens will give colour and structure, even through winter, and help you to feel refreshed and inspired. The stiff leaves of bamboos produce sounds that can create a sense of excitement. And phyllostachys aurea, with its green-gold canes, is a less invasive variety.

It i s a good choice f or a contemplative corner because the slightest breeze makes a gentle rustling sound, which helps mask the noise of the outside world.

For form, structure and even sound, ornamental grasses take some beating. The feather grass or stipa tenuissima has to be one of the best and most graceful of all varieties.

While miscanthus, silvergrass, in sunny or semi-shady spots can be used to as a temporary screen.

There are many possible textures for a garden, but try to make sure that plants selected for touching are nontoxic and not prickly. Some have soft, fuzzy leaves or flowers like lamb’s ear and pussy willows.

Finally make sure you create a garden you can taste, by planting plenty of fruit, veg and some herbs.