Watford Columnists - Watford Observer

One time Watford Observer columnist Ann Janes returns to the newspaper fold with her gardening blog in which she shares some personal views and tips on how to prepare, plany and maintain your garden. Ann has a life long love of beautiful gardens, both great and small, and is particularly interested in the history of garden design. She will also aim to address your gardening problems if you post them at the end of her column.

SUMMER BASKETS AND CONTAINERS

Watering, of course, is the magic word and this needs to be done at least once a day or twice in really hot weather.

SNAPDRAGONS

You only have to watch children squeezing the jaws of a snapdragon to watch it open to be transported back to childhood.

'OF CABBAGES AND KINGS'

It really is true that 'greens are good for you' and they don't come much greener than members of the cabbage family.

HAVE A GO AT GROWING YOUR OWN MINI VEG

I think it was Mark Twain who described the cauliflower as 'a cabagge with a college education'.

THE FLOWER THAT NO GARDEN SHOULD BE WITHOUT

They are one of the first plants to flower when spring arrives and will continue to add colour to the borders well into the summer months.

BUDDLEIA - THE BUTTERFLY BUSH

As a group they are both vigorous and relatively trouble-free - you would think that these two assets alone would make them highly prized but life doesn't seem to work that way and buddleias tend to be treated as poor relations in the plant world, seemingly because they have minimum requirements and will grow in most situations.

TIPS ON BUYING THE BEST

Next weekend is Easter and traditionally that is the weekend the garden centres are full of people keen to buy lots of plants to start getting their gardens ready for summer.

CHOOSING THE BEST PLANTS

Getting the right plant is more than just crossing a name from your list.

ANGELS TRUMPET!`

They are big, bold and beautiful but do need to be treated with care as every bit is poisonous.

DRAMATIC AND EXOTIC - EASIER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK!

Why is that camellias are overlooked by so many gardeners? Could it be because their dramatic and exotic blooms give the impression that they are difficult to look after?