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Go tubular: Clivia gardenii

August 28, 2010
by Leon
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There was a time when almost no-one knew what a clivia was. Then ever so slowly, these South African natives infiltrated nurseries and florists worldwide, and now they’ve become de rigueur as bedding plants in frost-free areas. Today’s de
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Face your fear of orchids

August 19, 2010
by Leon
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You might be a great gardener, but can you grow orchids? If you curl up with fear at the thought of ever coaxing your phalaenopsis to flower again, panic not. The Orchid Hunter is here to share his fabulous tips and superb photos with F&F readers.
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A plant to love: Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’

July 23, 2010
by F&F
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I always fall in love with Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ far before it has started to flower. I just adore those flower spikes which look like rib cages, and then when the flowers burst into flame, I’m smitten until mid-September, when the di
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A plant to love: yellow buddleia

July 19, 2010
by F&F
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This really is a rather fabulous shrub. It’s so fabulous that even those who hate the conventional purple spires of Buddleia davidii will find themselves irresistibly falling in love with it. Buddleia x weyeriana ‘Sungold’ is a big
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The lavender line

July 12, 2010
by F&F
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Lavender is one of those classic-but-never-stale staples which draw a garden together. It certainly does a good job in my plot. I’ve planted nine bushes of Lavender ‘Hidcote’ (which, as far as I’m concerned is the only cultiva
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A plant to love: Lemon bottlebrush

July 11, 2010
by F&F
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Image by Owen and Aki There’s something so soft and huggable about the colour of the lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon pallidus). It is far more striking than its more common pink-red relative, not least because it is far more unusual.
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A plant to love: The Giant Lily

July 7, 2010
by F&F
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Image by pkdon50 If you’re the sort of impulsive plant lover who demands instant results, then you won’t fall in love with the Giant Himalayan Lily, and more fool you – this slow-burn plant is one of the best. The bulbs may take up
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Collector’s Item: Digitalis

June 30, 2010
by F&F
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Here’s a fireworks display of rare foxgloves that will leave you crying ‘ohh!’ and ‘ahh!’. This month, we’re sneaking around the national collection of Digitalis, held by The Botanic Nursery in Wiltshire. First up
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{Top of the Crops} Beetroot: Rouge Crapaudine

June 29, 2010
by F&F
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Did you know that the conventional globe shape of beetroot is a modern development? In the Victorian kitchen garden, you’d have been more likely to find beetroot long and cylindrical, even carrot shaped. Some of these old cylindrical varieties
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Respect your elders

June 22, 2010
by F&F
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Foraging for elderflowers is one of the loveliest things to do on a summer’s day. It’s the sort of thing that makes you want to dress up in a white floaty dress and clutch a wicker basket. Unfortunately, I gathered this large bouquet of f
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A plant to love: Geranium pratense

June 18, 2010
by F&F
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The meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense) is one of the very best summer flowers. It looks fabulous close up, but also has that effect of holding a whole border together. Planting a cranesbill is bit like a wrapping a really marvellous belt around a
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A plant to love: Scutellaria baicalensis

June 11, 2010
by F&F
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I promise I haven’t chosen Scutellaria baicalensis as one of this month’s plants to love based solely on its mouthful of a name. This is the sort of name that does make you sound terribly knowledgeable (even if you haven’t got a clu
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