This is another Variety of Clematis Climber I have.
Called "Fireworks", again it produces Large Mauve shaded flowers in early Summer. It can produce a few later flowers in late August too. I generally feed these with a granular fertilizer in April and June. Some of my Clematis plants are grown in Containers, as our soil is very quick draining and they prefer moist conditions and their roots in shade.
So the containers are kept watered and gravel placed on top of the compost/soil mix for added shade.

Another variety of Clematis I have in my Garden.

"Marie Boisselot", with it's Large White flowers during Summer. Quite prolific In fact, till around August.

Each Autumn I cut the Old stems back to about 12 inches from the ground. Then In Spring it all shoots back to life.

This one covers a Green painted Trellis panel and makes a nice screen too.

Another plant I like to grow, is the Anthemis.

A typical "Cottage garden" type of plant, that is also a perennial. It's pale Yellow daisy flowers make it suitable for any border and it grows to about 12 Inches high.

You can take cuttings early In Spring, just as the young shoots are forming and these should be potted up in 3 inch pots, in a compost with fine gravel mixed in, to help the roots form. In late May or early June, these young plants can be planted outside. During the flowering season, remove any deadheads , as this encourages more flowers.

The variety in the picture(Left) is called "HC Buxton".

To enlarge photos on here "Click" on the Photos.

Sudeley Castle (Gloucestershire) , has a lovely"Secret Garden", full of various shrubs and unusual plants. Planted on a raised "walled" garden. Plants Include "Aliums", "Crocosmias","Verbenas" and other plants that like a well drained soil. This garden is at it's best during July & August. "Click" on the photo to enlarge.

Another favourite plant of mine is the Argyranthemum (Yellow Daisy) , a type of Margarite daisy. Usually available in garden centres in April -July. Not a Hardy plant, but nice for Summer Containers or borders. They grow to around 18inches and the more you take off the dead flowers, the more new ones appear. A regular feed with a soluble plant fertilizer keeps the flowers coming all summer, till Oct.
It is possible to take cuttings from none flowering stems, just below a leaf joint. They loof great planted with other flowers in "Blues" or "Pinks".

In my garden borders , I like to plant things that compliment the other plants around them.

Such as this border at home, that I planted with Blue Perennial Geraniums, a Weigela bush that has Pink flowers in May/June and a Purple Lavender and the Green/Yellow shrub behind that brightens up the border.

A mixture of Yellows, Blues, and Pinks go very well together. In the containers are Yellow Margarites and Impatiens(Busy Lizzies) and Petunias. Again, all of the same shades against coloured Gravel , looks attractive in a Garden . Setting the plants to get their heights looking correct is Important too. So checking the Plant labels is vital to know their growing height.

Clematis are a very popular Climbing plant and available in many varieties & colours. It's worth noting when you buy one, the height it can grow, as some spread to over 10ft tall.

These are usually the "Montana" types, which Flower in may/June. They then need pruning hard in July.

Others need pruning at other times of the year, like the large flowering types. These are best done in February, cutting to about 12ins from ground level. It encourages more stalks to grow and these are best tied in or to a trellis panel, to help support them.

When planting a Clematis, always make the hole bigger than required to put compost around the root ball and always water well!! Clematis do not like their roots to dry out.

Also most Importantly, plant the Clematis at least Three Inches deeper than its pot level. So that the lowest stalks are just below the soil level.

This prevents a condition known as "Clematis Wilt", where a plant gets Infected and appears Dead. In most cases it is'nt!.....so if this happens, dig it up and re-pot it , cutting off all the dead foliage. Then water it in the pot.....then eventually new growth should emerge.

The re-born plant can then be planted elsewhere!.....deeper than it was before. Roots or the base of the plant prefer a shaded position and gravel around the base. The tops like sunshine though. So best plant it in a shady position at ground level, where the plant can find the Sun as it grows on. Feed occasionally with granular fertilizer and water in dry weather.

Dahlias are an underated Flower I think and they are very colourful in Summer and last till the first Frosts In October too. Very good also as a cut flower for vases indoors. I start mine off from the Tubers that the plant grows from.

You can buy them at Garden Centres as just a Tuber root, then pot them up at the start of April, inside the Greenhouse. Slowly they will emerge and will need a large pot to get growing well in the compost. Plant them so that the stalk is just showing above the level of the compost.

Some varieties can grow to 4ft-5ft, though dwarf varieties are also available, for Container pots on Patios. Deadhead the dahlias on a regular basis and more will keep flowering. You will need to put a cane or stick to support the plants as they grow taller, as the stems get quite heavy too.

Best to tie these in and keep the stalks from breaking off. After Frosts kill them off In Autumn, you can dig them up and dry them off on your Greenhouse staging. All stalks should be cut back to the base, with just the tubers left and an inch or so of stalk. After they dry off, you can store them in a box of dry peat or compost, till Springtime.

Here is a photo of the Heleniums in my Cottage garden border.

It's a plant that can really look nice in Summer with an abundance of Yellow/Red Flowers, some varieties being just one shade. Growing to around 3ft tall, they can bush out and attract the Bees to a garden as well. In Autumn they can be cut right back to soil level, then will re-emerge the next Spring.

Also they can be lifted and divided into smaller clumps too.

Might need some support in Summer with a cane and tied in.

This photo shows my Cottage Garden area in full bloom and further established later last Summer.

The Hollyhocks were at the rear of the display and the Heleniums in the centre of the borders, with the Lavenders , Lupins and Phlox among the other perennials too. This coming year I shall Include a few more Hollyhocks at the back and make sure they are secured with canes, in case it gets very windy. They can be quite vulnerable , being tall and heavy. On the Trellis fencing, were Clematis and Jasminium, with a Climbing rose .