Ivydene Gardens Plants:
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The plants normally selected by most landscapers and designers are by nature low-growing, rampant, spreading, creep-crawly things and yet the concept of ground cover demands no such thing. The ideal description of a groundcover plant includes:-
Ground Cover a thousand beautiful plants for difficult places by John Cushnie (ISBN 1 85626 326 6) provides details of plants that fulfill the above requirements. Using these groundcover plants in your planting scheme (either between your trees/shrubs in the border or for the whole border) will - with mulching your beds to a 4 inch depth and an irrigation system - provide you with a planted garden with far less time required for border maintenance. Plants for Ground-Cover by Graham Stuart Thomas. Published by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd in 1970 - reprinted (with further revisions) in 1990. ISBN 0-460-12609-1. This gives details on many more ground cover plants with inclusion (in the Index) of figures denoting the Hardiness Zones for each species in the United States of America. |
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Plant Name with link to page with photos and mail-order nursery in Comments Row |
Type with link to mail-order nursery in UK |
Height x Spread in inches (cms) |
Foliage with link to mail-order nursery in USA |
Flower Colour in Month(s). Use Pest Control using Plants to provide a Companion Plant to aid your selected groundcover plant or deter its pests |
Comments United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map - This map of USA is based on a range of average annual minimum winter temperatures, divided into 13 of 10-degree F zones, that this plant will thrive in USA, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. There are other Hardiness Zone Maps for the rest of the world including the one for Great Britain and Ireland of zones 7a to 10a. Zone 5-9 indicates that the minimum zone temperature this plant will grow is 5 and top minimum zone temperature is 9 - above this number is too hot or below 5 is too cold for the plant. If your zone in your area of your country is within that range or your zone number is greater, then you can grow it in your garden. |
Gaillardia x grandiflora |
Deciduous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
36 x 18 (90 x 45) |
Grey to |
Yellow, Red and Brown in |
"Blanket Flower". Short-lived and needs staking. Cultivars are often raised from seed. |
Galanthus nivalis |
Herbaceous Bulb below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
4 x 4 |
Bright Green |
Honey-scented White in |
"Common Snowdrop". The Hardy Plant Society Galanthus Group was formed in 2011. |
Galax urcecolata |
Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
6 x 12 |
Mid-Green in Spring and Summer, Red-Bronze in Autumn and Winter |
White in |
Slowly spreading, dense mat, ground cover. From southeastern USA. |
Galium odoratum |
18 x indefinite (45 x indefinite) |
Emerald Green |
Scented White in |
"Sweet Woodruff". This plant provides a lovely effect under trees, well-developed rose bushes, rhododendrons, and along garden paths. It gives a feeling of shady forest and is also a good bulb cover. |
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Garrya elliptica |
Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height |
144 x 144 (360 x 360) |
Dark Sea-Green |
Silver-Grey catkins in |
"Silk-Tassel Bush". Dense shrub from California and Oregon. It can be trained in espalier form. It has solvery catkins with golden anthers. |
Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
48 x 60 (120 x 150) |
Glossy Dark Green |
Pink suffused White in |
"Salal, Shallon". From northwestern North America, this suckering shrub produces purple fruit after flowering. |
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Gaultheria forrestii |
Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
60 x 60 (150 x 150) |
Glossy Dark Green |
Fragrant White in |
Black fruit. |
Gaultheria procumbens |
Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
4 x 12 |
Glossy Dark Green |
Pink flushed White |
"Checkerberry". Scarlet berries. Provides good ground cover in shade. "Wintergreen" has leathery leaves that are aromatic when broken. |
Gaultheria x wisleyensis |
Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
36 x 36 (90 x 90) |
Dark Green |
White in |
Purple-Red fruit. Bred in England. |
Gaura lindheimeri |
Deciduous Perennial 2-6 feet in height |
60 x 36 (150 x 90) |
Dark Green |
White in |
Bushy with erect stems. Companions - Tuck in among stronger plants; plant in front of a dark background, sedums, grasses, nepeta, iris, oenothera, oregano; admirably used in full-sun parking strips here in Pacific Northwest |
Genista aetnensis |
Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height |
300 x 300 (750 x 750) |
Bright Green |
Golden-Yellow in |
"Mount Etna Broom". |
Genista hispanica |
Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
30 x 54 (75 x 135) |
Mid-Green |
Yellow in |
"Spanish Gorse". From southwestern Europe, this dwarf shrub is ideal for rock gardens and dry, sunny banks. |
Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
18 x 24 (45 x 60) |
Blue-Green |
Bright Yellow in |
Mound-forming from the Balkans. Excellent plant for rock gardens, banks and for trailing over walls. |
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Genista pilosa 'Procumbens' |
Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
8 x 36 |
Dark Green |
Bright Yellow |
Prostrate stems. European species. |
Genista tinctoria |
Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
36 x 36 (90 x 90) |
Bright Deep Green |
Rich Yellow in |
"Dyer's Broom, Woadwaxen". Used as a source of yellow dye with flowers arranged in conical panicles to 3 inches (8cm) long. |
Herbaceous Perennial 2-6 feet in height |
24 x 18 (60 x 45) |
Mid-Green |
Blue in |
"Willow Gentian". Clump-forming and long blooming. Gentiana companions - ferns, hosta, hakonechloa, pulmonaria, astrantia, geranium, hydrangea, rodgersia |
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Gentiana asclepiadea 'Alba' |
Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
24 x 18 (60 x 45) |
Mid-Green |
Green-tinged White in |
"White Willow Gentian" |
Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
1 x 4 |
Dark Green |
White throated Sky-Blue |
"Spring Gentian, Star Gentian". Carpet-forming. |
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Gentiana x macaulayi |
Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
2 x 12 |
Dark Green |
Pale Blue in |
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Geranium |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
12 x 24 (30 x 60) |
Bright Blue in |
"Cranesbill". Sterile, spreads. Spawling groundcover with underground rhizomes. Geranium companions - The larger ones are a good cover for spring bulb foliage as it cures, the smaller varieties can be used in the rock garden or foreground of the perennial border "Geranium 'Bob's Blunder' is totally hardy and happy even in my thick clay. Pewtered bronze leaves and big soft pink and white flowers with rounded form 2cm wide May-Nov, 30 x 50cm. " from Cotswold Garden Flowers |
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Geranium endressii |
Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
18 x 24 (45 x 60) |
Light Green |
Bright Pink in |
"Cranesbill". Vigorous, self-sows and cut back after flowering |
Geranium x oxonianum |
Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
24 x 24 (60 x 60) |
Light Green |
Salmon-Pink in |
"Druce's Cranesbill". Vigorous, self-sows and cut back after flowering The Hardy Geranium Group was formed in 1974 when interest in the plants was booming. There are now approx. 70 species and 700 cultivars in British gardens. They range in height from a few cm. to 1m. and in colour from white through pink, mauve and pale blue to deep magenta, violet and blue. There is a geranium for every site in the garden: hot and sunny or dry shade. |
Geranium macrorrhizum |
Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
12 x 24 (30 x 60) |
Light Green |
Magenta in |
"Cranesbill, Bigroot Geranium". Effective ground cover in shade, and suitable for large areas. |
Geranium macrorhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety' |
Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
20 x 24 (50 x 60) |
Soft Pink in |
"Cranesbill". |
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Geranium maderense |
Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
54 x 54 (135 x 135) |
Bright Green |
Magenta in |
"Cranesbill". |
Geranium nodusum |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
18 x 18 (45 x 45) |
Glossy Bright Green |
Purplish-Pink in |
"Cranesbill". Agressive. Use in woodland or the wild garden. |
Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
32 x 18 (80 x 45) |
Soft Green with Purplish-Brown marks |
Maroon or White in |
"Dusky Cranesbill, Mourning Widow". Clump-forming. Cut back after flowering Companions to geranium phaeum, geranium wlassovianum, geranium pratense and geranium 'Nimbus' do well in the summer border; pair them with hemerocallis, geum, crosmia, euphorbia, delphinium, anthriscus, helenium, heliopsis. |
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Geranium clarkei |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
18 x indefinite (45 x indefinite) |
Mid-Green |
Greyish-Pink in |
"Meadow Cranesbill". Cut back after flowering. |
Geranium psilostemon |
Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
48 x 48 (120 x 120) |
Mid-Green, Crimson-tinted in Spring, and Red in Autumn |
Magenta Red in |
"Armenian Cranesbill". Cut back after flowering. Companions to try with geranium psilostemon are acanthus, helianthus, paeonia, aconitum, and taller astilbes |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
12 x 12 (30 x 30) |
Velvety, Grey-Green |
Purple-veined White in |
"Cranesbill". Use for the front of the border. |
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Geranium riversleaianum |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
12 x 36 (30 x 90) |
Grey-Green |
Deep Magenta in |
"Cranesbill". Long bloomer and short-lived. |
Geranium sanguinem var. striatum |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
4 x 12 |
Dark Green |
Pale Pink in |
"Bloody Cranesbill". Full Sun to Part Shade and drought tolerant. |
Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
6 x 12 |
Dark Green |
Bright Pink in |
"Cranesbill". Very spreading form of above. |
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Gladiolus (See Gladiolus Gallery) |
Corm Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
from 4 to 60 (10 to 150 cms) x 6 (15 cms) |
White, Yellow, Red, or Orange in |
The Nanu Group hybrids and cultivars flower in July, and are ideal for cutting and corsages. Geranium communis subsp. byzantinus and |
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Glaucium flavum |
Biennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
18 x 18 (45 x 45) |
Blue-Green |
Bright Golden Yellow or Orange in |
"Yellow Horned Poppy". Unruly. Seedpods are 10-12 inches (25-30 cms) long. Companions - Yucca, artemisia, helictotrichon, salvia patens, euphorbia rigida, ruta graveolens; the dry border |
Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata' |
Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
6 x 72 |
Soft Pale Green marbled pure White |
Lilac-Mauve in |
"Variegated Ground Ivy". Spreads vigorously on straggling, mat-forming stems up to 40 inches (100cms) or more in length. Reverted shoots of variegated cultivars should be removed. |
Glyceria maxima |
Aquatic Perennial Grass 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
32 x indefinite (80 x indefinite) |
Deep Green |
Green to Purplish-Green Spikelets in |
"Hay Grass". Creeping, bog grass with sharp-edged leaves. |
Glyceria maxima 'Variegata' |
Aquatic Perennial Grass 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
32 x indefinite (80 x indefinite) |
Cream, Green, and White striped |
Green to Purplish-Green Spikelets in |
Grow in water 0.5 feet deep or in any garden soil that is reliably moist in full sun. Variegated version of above. |
Gunnera manicata |
Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height |
72 x 84 (180 x 210) |
Deep Green |
Greenish-Red in |
"Brazilian Giant Rhubarb". Clump-forming. Gunnera companions - Large species are best grown as focal points, with lower-growing perennials in mass plantings (petasites, darmera, rodgersia, primula), or with big group of Japanese iris, ligularia, and ferns; the damp garden. |
Gymnocarpium dryopteris |
Deciduous Fern below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
8 x indefinite (20 x indefinite) |
Pale Yellowish-Green when young, become Rich Green with age |
... |
"Oak Fern". Will spread through a border if conditions are suitable. Delicate, carpet-forming fern making groundcover in cool, shady coniferous, deciduous or mixed woodland or among mature shrubs. |
Gymnocarpium robertianum |
Deciduous Fern below 24 inches (60 cms) in height |
14 x indefinite (35 x indefinite) |
Dull Dark Green |
... |
"Limestone polypody". |
Height in inches (cms):- 25.4mm = 1 inch I normally round this to |
DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site. Details of smaller Gaultheria, Genista, Gentiana and Geranium and which container to grow the plant in:-
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Light Sandy Soil is usually fairly infertile, and it also dries out quickly. In such cases, use drought-tolerant plants, such as ones that grow in dry soil conditions (see plants in the Dry section of the Moisture column of the soil type, aspect and moisture list page) and also do the following actions, since any nutrients in the soil are usually washed out very quickly. Acid soil is most common in places that experience heavy rainfall and have moister environments. Areas in red have acidic soil, areas in yellow are neutral and areas in blue have alkaline soil in the World Map. Find Me Plants has further details on other plants for acidic soils, when you set Soil Type in Part 1: Surveying the planting area to Sandy/Gritty, or Light Sand or Stony/Sub-Soil. Action to assist in Light Sandy soil maintenance:-
Gardening in Sandy Soil by C.L. Fornari. A very useful book and one you can have on a Kindle in December 2017. A Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin with this Index:-
Action to assist in other soil types in:-
The following is from "A land of Soil, Milk and Honey" by Bernard Jarman in Star & Furrow Issue 122 January 2015 - Journal of the Biodynamic Association;_ "Soil is created in the first place through the activity of countlesss micro-organisms, earthworms and especially the garden worm (Lumbricus terrestris). This species is noticeably active in the period immediately before and immediately after mid-winter. In December we find it (in the UK) drawing large numbers of autumn leaves down into the soil. Worms consume all kinds of plant material along with sand and mineral substances. In form, they live as a pure digestive tract. The worm casts excreted from their bodies form the basis of a well-structured soil with an increased level of available plant nutrients:-
Worms also burrow to great depths and open up the soil for air and water to penetrate, increasing the scope of a fertile soil. After the earthworm, the most important helper of the biodynamic farmer is undoubetdly
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Plant Combinations for Sandy Soil Action to assist in Light Sandy soil maintenance is given in the row above and this is required annually. |
Plants |
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Sun lovers - You can achieve a design with grey-leaved plants, interspersed with smaller or larger groups of taller perennials and a single shrub. Because the grey-leaved plants predominate they are used as a basis, with suggestions for plants which can be combined with them. Grey Foliage with white and yellow flowers and plants that combine with these |
all have grey leaves and either white, yellow or inconspicuous flowers. If the above plants are planted together; the effect of different heights and size of leaf will be rather messy and unclear. Plant the above as the background ground cover and the ones in the next column within that background. |
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The above comes from Ground Cover. How to use flowering and foliage plants to cover areas of soil by Mineke Kurpershoek. Published by Rebo Productions Ltd in 1997. ISBN 1 901094 41 3 |
Contents
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PLANTS PAGE PLANT USE Poisonous Cultivated and UK Wildflower Plants with Photos
Following parts of Level 2a,
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PLANTS PAGE MENU Plant Selection by Plant Requirements
Photos - with its link; provides a link to its respective Plant Photo Gallery in this website to provide comparison photos. |
PLANTS PAGE MENU REFINING SELECTION Photos - 12 Flower Colours per Month in its Bloom Colour Wheel Gallery
Groundcover Height |
To locate mail-order nursery for plants from the UK in this gallery try using search in RHS Find a Plant. To locate plants in the European Union (EU) try using Search Term in Gardens4You and Meilland Richardier in France. To locate mail-order nursery for plants from America in this gallery try using search in Plant Lust. To locate plant information in Australia try using Plant Finder in Gardening Australia. To see what plants that I have described in this website see |
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Top ten plants that are bad for bees from Countryfile Magazine "Lavender, alliums, fuschias, sweet peas - keen gardeners know the very best flowers to entice bees to their gardens. But what about plants that are bad for bees? Here is our expert guide to the top ten plants that you should avoid to keep bees happy and buzzing, plus the perfect alternatives. 1. Rhododendron 2. Azalea 3. Trumpet flower, or angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens) 4. Oleander (Nerium oleander) 5. Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) 6. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) 7. Stargazer lily (Lilium 'Stargazer') 8. Heliconia Exotic and interesting, heliconia, or lobster-claws as its sometimes called, is very toxic to bees. You should not prune your heliconias, as the 'stem' is actually made up of rolled leaf bases and the flowers emerge from the top of these 'pseudostems'. However, each stem will only flower once, so after flowering you can cut that stem out. This is recommended, to encourage more flowering, to increase airflow in between the stems of your plant, and also to generally tidy it up and improve the appearance. 9. Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia - 10. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) This is another list of Plants toxic to bees, which includes:- |
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The following details come from Cactus Art:- "A flower is the the complex sexual reproductive structure of Angiosperms, typically consisting of an axis bearing perianth parts, androecium (male) and gynoecium (female). Bisexual flower show four distinctive parts arranged in rings inside each other which are technically modified leaves: Sepal, petal, stamen & pistil. This flower is referred to as complete (with all four parts) and perfect (with "male" stamens and "female" pistil). The ovary ripens into a fruit and the ovules inside develop into seeds. Incomplete flowers are lacking one or more of the four main parts. Imperfect (unisexual) flowers contain a pistil or stamens, but not both. The colourful parts of a flower and its scent attract pollinators and guide them to the nectary, usually at the base of the flower tube.
Androecium (male Parts or stamens) Gynoecium (female Parts or carpels or pistil)
It is made up of the stigma, style, and ovary. Each pistil is constructed of one to many rolled leaflike structures.
The following details come from Nectary Genomics:- "NECTAR. Many flowering plants attract potential pollinators by offering a reward of floral nectar. The primary solutes found in most nectars are varying ratios of sucrose, glucose and fructose, which can range from as little a 8% (w/w) in some species to as high as 80% in others. This abundance of simple sugars has resulted in the general perception that nectar consists of little more than sugar-water; however, numerous studies indicate that it is actually a complex mixture of components. Additional compounds found in a variety of nectars include other sugars, all 20 standard amino acids, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, organic acids, oils, free fatty acids, metal ions and proteins. NECTARIES. An organ known as the floral nectary is responsible for producing the complex mixture of compounds found in nectar. Nectaries can occur in different areas of flowers, and often take on diverse forms in different species, even to the point of being used for taxonomic purposes. Nectaries undergo remarkable morphological and metabolic changes during the course of floral development. For example, it is known that pre-secretory nectaries in a number of species accumulate large amounts of starch, which is followed by a rapid degradation of amyloplast granules just prior to anthesis and nectar secretion. These sugars presumably serve as a source of nectar carbohydrate. WHY STUDY NECTAR? Nearly one-third of all worldwide crops are dependent on animals to achieve efficient pollination. In addition, U.S. pollinator-dependent crops have been estimated to have an annual value of up to $15 billion. Many crop species are largely self-incompatible (not self-fertile) and rely almost entirely on animal pollinators to achieve full fecundity; poor pollinator visitation has been reported to reduce yields of certain species by up to 50%." |
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The following details about DOUBLE FLOWERS comes from Wikipedia:- "Double-flowered" describes varieties of flowers with extra petals, often containing flowers within flowers. The double-flowered trait is often noted alongside the scientific name with the abbreviation fl. pl. (flore pleno, a Latin ablative form meaning "with full flower"). The first abnormality to be documented in flowers, double flowers are popular varieties of many commercial flower types, including roses, camellias and carnations. In some double-flowered varieties all of the reproductive organs are converted to petals — as a result, they are sexually sterile and must be propagated through cuttings. Many double-flowered plants have little wildlife value as access to the nectaries is typically blocked by the mutation.
There is further photographic, diagramatic and text about Double Flowers from an education department - dept.ca.uky.edu - in the University of Kentucky in America.
"Meet the plant hunter obsessed with double-flowering blooms" - an article from The Telegraph. |
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THE 2 EUREKA EFFECT PAGES FOR UNDERSTANDING SOIL AND HOW PLANTS INTERACT WITH IT OUT OF 10,000:-
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Choose 1 of these different Plant selection Methods:-
1. Choose a plant from 1 of 53 flower colours in the Colour Wheel Gallery.
2. Choose a plant from 1 of 12 flower colours in each month of the year from 12 Bloom Colours per Month Index Gallery.
3. Choose a plant from 1 of 6 flower colours per month for each type of plant:- Aquatic
4. Choose a plant from its Flower Shape:- Shape, Form
5. Choose a plant from its foliage:- Bamboo
6. There are 6 Plant Selection Levels including Bee Pollinated Plants for Hay Fever Sufferers in Plants Topic.
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7. when I do not have my own or ones from mail-order nursery photos , then from March 2016, if you want to start from the uppermost design levels through to your choice of cultivated and wildflower plants to change your Plant Selection Process then use the following galleries:-
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There are other pages on Plants which bloom in each month of the year in this website:-
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Look for:- |
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