Dipelta floribunda resembles, but has more character than, Weigela floribunda and at 8 ft. high is a shrub which commands attention especially in May when covered with pink tubular flowers flushed orange-yellow at the throat. It enjoys a limy soil. Pruning consists of pinching back surplus shoots, and a judicious removal of old wood in December. Cuttings of semi-ripened wood put into a sun frame will root by the following April.

I have a high regard for shrubs which colour well in the autumn, and for this reason include Disanthus cercidifolius in my select list. A shrub of medium height, it prefers rather than tolerates a position in semi-shade, and a moisture-retentive but not waterlogged soil.

Ultimately a mature specimen will grow to 5 ft. in height, the bushes in my garden average a neat, well-furnished 40 in. Propagation is best effected by means of seed which germinate with greater alacrity when they have passed through the digestive tract of a bird. Otherwise they need to stratify for 12 months.

I have a warm regard for plants which grow easily, flower profusely, and yet can be bounds without resorting to extreme measures. Kerria japonica will send out long arching branches up to 6 ft. in height, or sometimes 8 ft. when given a sheltered place. Whether the soil is heavy acid clay, or shallow well-drained chalk they can be relied upon to spread a creditable – mantle of yellow over green polished branches.

One of the most erect forms I grow is Ilex aquirolium camelliaelblia. The smooth, dark green leaves are almost spineless, and when mature the berries are produced in abundance.

Few evergreens can compete in beauty of berry with our common holly. I. aquifolium, and the many varieties related to it. Golden King with large leaves margined bright yellow confounds its given name by being female and bearing berries. By the same token Golden Queen is male with the normal spring leaves much narrower than those of Golden King.

The white-flowering fragrant climber, is rather more demanding, though it becomes a strong vigorous climber capable of covering a ’12-ft. high wall with ease. Propagation of both species is easily effected by means of semi-hardwood cuttings in July – August.

Double lilacs are not my taste as a rule, but Charles Joly, a dark red, is worthy of space. Edith Cavell, cream to pure white, has not the character of the other fine white, Madame Lemoine, but shows sufficient resilience to grow on very wind-swept situations.

Syringa microphylla is a narrow-leaved shrub 6 ft. high which is much lighter in the branches than most lilacs. Its pale pink scented flowers appear in May, and in most years there is a second crop in August. S. palibiniana (velutina) is quite distinct from the above with much rounder leaves and stiffly upright branches. The soft purple spikes are also scented. Mature specimens here are about 4 ft. high.

The best plants are those grown from layers in spring, but unfortunately most varieties, unless hard pruned, do not produce the right quality of wood low enough to be pegged down at soil level. Some will root from cuttings of semi-ripened shoots in July, but the task requires patience.

Tamarix supply a necessary contrast in vegetation down the border with their graceful slender branches, thin leaves and candyfloss inflorescences. They will not grow on badly drained soils for more than a limited period, nor will they endure a thin hot chalk, otherwise they are not hard to please.

Before leaving the subject of group planting sphagnum moss should be mentioned as a possible plunging material. Moss of this kind has many advantages, not least the fact that it is light, clean and easy to handle, and that difficult plants seem to do particularly well when plunged in it. Recalling my personal. experience with the success of a difficult plant may help to emphasise the advantages of this material.

By keeping the peat moist it will be found that the plants do not require to he watered as often as those placed individually on the window ledge. However, having emphasised the need for keeping the peat moist one must add a word of warning against overdoing it, as plants cannot possibly be expected to do well in the soggy mess that will result from too frequent watering.

This in itself makes it a very fine plant for exhibition work, and it is especially useful and attractive when incorporated with blue saintpaulias. On the nursery no one was very keen to be given charge ofgreenhouses containing D. Pia, as the chances of success were not particularly good.

If you already have a pond on your property, or you are looking to build one, one way to make it extra special is to add some Black Koi. Black Koi are as versatile as they are beautiful, and make a great addition to any pond.

However, before getting any type of live animal, it is a good idea to do a little background research. This is to ensure you will be able to handle the care and maintenance of the animal, and that you will be a good fit for each other.

If you didn’t already know, Koi is just another name for carp, which is a large species of fish that originated somewhere around Asia and Central Europe. There were several species of carp even in the beginning, and this led them to be easily domesticated throughout South East Asia and China. They were even used as a food source in and around Asia. By the time the fish made it to Japan, they became known as Koi. This creature is extremely hardy, and can withstand many different climates and water types and conditions. This hardiness is what allowed Koi to spread throughout Japan and many other new locations.