Plant this
Colchicums are a curious bunch of autumn-flowering bulbs with the name “naked ladies”, due to their habit of flowering before their leaves break the soil’s surface. They make a pleasing display in late summer and early autumn, either in a pot or naturalised in grass under a deciduous tree. Try the splendidly OTT double pink Colchicum ‘Waterlily’, lilac and white C. ‘Lilac Wonder’, pink C. autumnale, or pure white C. speciosum ‘Album’.
Split this
As hardy geraniums age, they can spread and creep, ending up with a barren patch in the centre of the clump: a sign it’s time to divide. Dig up the whole plant and dump it in a wheelbarrow or on a plastic sack. Use spades back to back to lever it apart, replanting only healthy parts in soil enriched with homemade compost or slow-release fertiliser.
Visit this
Newport House in Almeley, Herefordshire plays host to the sculpture show Out of Nature this month. It’s a chance to see works by more than 40 artists that celebrate our bond with the natural world, displayed against the backdrop of 20 acres of woodland and gardens, including a lavishly restored walled organic garden. Until 22 October.
