IN THE GARDEN
The Age
Saturday January 9, 2010
I FOUND some small pots of dianthus (above) at a good price, perfect to fill in holes in the front courtyard "border". I've sung the praises of these tiny gems before because they are so worthwhile, flowering for most of the year.A 12-YEAR-OLD vine has died on the back trellis, possibly because it dried out. The problem is that the branches have entwined themselves firmly around every piece of lattice so how to prise it off. Any advice?STAKE the tomatoes yet again. They are growing at a rapid rate with masses of fruit, some of it starting to ripen, so I look forward to vine-ripened tomatoes still warm from the sun. Bellissimo!A SLIGHT turn too hard to the left as I was reversing out of the drive and I felt my wheels crush one of the lavender bushes growing in the "garden" between a shared drive. It looks very sorry for itself so maybe I'll pull the other one out as well and replant with westringia.PLANT some coral bells (heucheras) in the front. They're the 'Marmalade' variety with the most gorgeous maple-leafed foliage in varying shades of amber to bronze. Taller shoots of brownish flowers bloom on this evergreen plant in late spring.DENISE GADD
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