IN THE GARDEN
PRIDE OF PLACE Passionflower (left) and jasmine can stand in for exotic plants like bougainvillea
If put in an exposed site with wet, cold winters, however, they are almost certainly destined to fail. Overseas discoveries If you like to travel further afield, the Mediterranean could inspire you to recreate an enclosed terrace, and while you might not be able to clothe your garden walls with Bougainvillea or Plumbago auriculata , these can be substituted with plants such as passionflower ( Passiflora caerulea ), jasmine ( Jasminum officinale ) or, draped on a sheltered, sunny wall, the beautifully scented star jasmine climber ( Trachelospermum jasminoides ). Add to this a few wall planters of trailing pelargonium and you’ll have an instant hit of the Mediterranean right in your own back garden! Meanwhile, simply adding a few plants of lavender ( Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’) and cotton lavender ( Santolina chamaecyparissus ), which provide structure, scent and flowers, can instantly transport you back to strolls through that glorious garden in Provence. One of my favourite plantings here at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden are our Mediterranean Beds, which include only species from this region. The area includes a broad sweep of plants from across the Mediterranean, such as Cupid’s dart ( Catananche caerulea ), white-leaved rock rose ( Cistus albidus ) and white asphodel ( Asphodelus albus ), which might not grow together naturally, but when combined here in a naturalistic planting give the impression of that classic Mediterranean landscape, especially when they’re bathed in sun and heat.
1 Deadhead flowering plants frequently to encourage flowering. 2 Collect the seeds of annuals and biennials when the seed pods have become ripe and dry. 3 Prune lavender, once the flowers have faded, to form neat domes. 4 Take softwood cuttings of tender perennials such as pelargoniums, salvias and penstemons. 5 Keep watering – but ensure that water is poured at the roots of the plant, where it’s needed. Gardening jobs for August
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2025 79
Powered by FlippingBook