In your garden this month… Add character and style with accessories

Bring decorating ideas into your garden, and transform it into an oasis of beauty that stimulates all the senses

The interior of your home isn’t the only place you can add a little decorative flourish. The beauty of decorating with plants, as well as with more sculptural pieces (see page 118), is that they will give you different delights to look forward to through the seasons. Invest in a selection of show-stopping plants such as tree peonies, Ceanothus or bearded irises to give your garden a sequence of wow factors. While their appearance may be fleeting, their intense beauty will become a highlight each year.

Surround these ethereal beauties with hardworking plants that flower again and again. Penstemons, hardy Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican fleabane) all put on a display over a long period.

Position a pretty selection of scented plants close to exit doors, paths or seating areas to further enhance time spent outside. Include a

Plant perennials in a variety of vibrant containers for a laidback look – arrange them at different heights and depths for extra interest