A collection of striking flowering plants for the summer terrace has been sourced by Floral Fireworks for Times readers. It includes ten fragrant Gladiolus callianthus (nodding white flowers, to 75cm); three Eucomis autumnalis (greenish white spikes, to 45cm); three Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ (large white blooms, to 120cm); three Eucomis bicolor (waxy pale green flowers edged with maroon, with golden seedheads, to 45cm); and one Agapanthus comptonii (large, mid-blue, shaggy heads, to 75cm). This classy selection will fill five good-sized pots. The agapanthus will be sent rooted, in a 1-litre pot, and the rest are dispatched as bulbs. The Times Terrace Collection costs £19, including delivery, which will be in March. Order on 01460 249060 or visit www.floralfireworks.co.uk.
‘Matucana’, ‘Black Knight’, ‘Miss Willmott’ — think of the glorious scent of old-fashioned sweet peas, and get sowing now. Peter Grayson offers a wide range of these and modern varieties for £1.75 for a packet of 20 seeds. Request a catalogue, marking it Times Clippings, and he will include growing instructions. Write to Peter Grayson Sweet Peas, 34 Glenthorne Close, Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 3AR.
Advertisement
If you want to start seeds off on a windowsill, then the Quarter Seed Trays from Two Wests & Elliott (15cm x 9.5cm x 4.5cm deep; can be fitted with clear ventilated covers to encourage germination and growth) should fit the bill. They come in sets of 12 and cost £7.20 for the bases, £10.80 for covers; p&p £4.95 per order (0870 4448270; www.twowests.co.uk).
If you plan to paint your fences or furniture this spring, the Earlex HVLP Spray Station should make the job quicker, giving you even cover on a 6ft x 6ft panel in less than five minutes. You need to have a decent-sized sink area for cleaning out the sprayer when the job’s done, though. RRP £69.99 from Argos and Homebase, or call 01483 454666 for other stockists.
Advertisement
The gardening short courses at West Dean College, Chichester, get booked up fast, so for details of the June- October programme order a brochure on 01243 811301 or visit www.westdean.org.uk. Beekeeping, managing conservatory plants and one-day design courses are all new this year.
The Inchbald School of Design is offering a new part-time, four-module course in garden design, starting in mid-April. It is expensive (£1,410 a module), but the school has a good reputation. Inchbald School of Design, 32 Eccleston Square, London SW1. Call 020-7630 9011 or visit www.inchbald.co.uk.
Advertisement
Send gardening news to gardening@thetimes.co.uk
The clean lines and warm glazes of the hand-thrown jugs and pots from Muchelney Pottery, run by John Leach (grandson of Bernard Leach) make them ideal containers for daffodils, tulips and other spring flowers. The mail-order catalogue Floral Fireworks offers a collection of the jugs, glazed or unglazed: a one-pint straight jug costs £23.50 (p&p £4.75), a curved 1½-pint jug is £26.50 (p&p £4.75), and an inkpot vase (9cm high) is £11 (p&p £3). Order on 01460 249060 or www.floralfireworks.co.uk. Alternatively, you can visit Muchelney Pottery, near Langport, Somerset, Mon-Sat, 9am-1pm, 2-5pm (01458 250324).
For a more contemporary look, check out the silvery black terracotta Joba vases from One Village; 20cm tall for £12, 15cm £8, 10cm £4. Delivery is £3.50 per order. Visit www.onevillage.com