Fly the flag with flowers for patriotic year
THE landmark events of this year – the Queen’s 60-year reign, followed by the Olympics – are set to prompt patriotic gardeners to fly the flag for Britain this year.
Patriotism will take the form of red, white and blue designs in beds, borders and containers.
Blue and white lobelia, red salvias and geraniums and other bedding favourites could be the mainstay for many borders.
The challenge will be getting these colours in the garden in time for the jubilee celebrations in the first week of June.
The Royal Horticultural Society has just launched an advisory page on its website (www.rhs.org.uk), providing advice and suggestions to gardeners wanting to go for red, white and blue planting schemes.
“Unfortunately, June is not the best time to have masses of colour from plants grown from seeds,” says Jenny Bowden, RHS advisor. “But we have come up with some great suggestions that are relatively easy to grow.
OUR series reveals the great houses of Yorkshire through the eyes of the people working in them. Frederic Manby visits Ripley Castle. Pictures by Simon Hulme. The historic North Yorkshire property has been an Ingilby family home since another Sir
