[ PLANT CHOICE]

Lisa says it’s difficult to choose her favourite plants. Here are a few that bring her joy, season after season:

• Roses “They are an addiction that started when I discovered the remains of the old rose garden. I was fascinated by the fact that those shrubs had survived for so many years with no care at all.”

Sometimes, Lisa wonders why she loves roses so much. “They can be hard work! My rose care is somewhat erratic. I seldom use sprays, so pests are prevalent. We prune in winter, fertilise in spring and again once or twice in summer. I like to pick roses, so that takes care of the summer pruning. Those roses that don’t get picked are deadheaded.”

A shortage of water in a dry summer is a big problem, as are weeds. “I underplanted most of my roses with catmint. It always looks pretty, keeps the roots cool and prevents weed growth.”

At the moment, ‘Isidingo’ is her favourite, with ‘General Gallieni’, ‘Sunny Ayoba’, ‘Crème Caramel’, ‘Frau Karl Druschki’, ‘Le Vésuve’ and ‘Francois Juranville’ also on her list.

• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), an iconic English country garden plant, continues to pop up every year. “I tend to favour plants that look after themselves and self-seed.

But I also collect seeds for the following season.”

• In summer, the Inca lilies are beautiful and the salvias are also becoming a favourite. “They’re tough and drought tolerant. These small shrubs provide splashes of colour when other plants are wilting.”

• In autumn, chrysanthemums in all their various colours are something special.

• In winter, the blooms of hellebore

(Helleborus) make a lovely show.

• Camellias are great as they’re evergreen with the added bonus of gorgeous flowers in winter.

• And in spring, azaleas, irises, love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena),

Californian poppies (Eschscholzia

californica) and columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) are in full bloom.