In the early years of gardening for me it was a challenge to get to know my plants – their names, habit, tolerances and when they flowered, why they died and why they flourished, and then, did I really really like them anyway and why?

The next stage is planning good planting combinations where it is all about timing, structure and colour.  When your flower border has reached it’s pinnacle for the year and looks fabulous.  This is often planned, but of course can be quite by chance.

If you are extremely clever, with a good size budget to match, the third stage is for the border to hold its interest for all four seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter with wonderful successional planting. For that we have to turn to the great plants men and women such as Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto who were quite brilliant at it.

Back to me and a chance happening.  The Tulip Lilac Wonder that, whilst I admired the beauty of its form, the colour, let’s say surprised me a little! But now the Clematis montana is out and stunningly covered with blooms, the match is perfect.  A chance meeting but one that will be repeated I’m sure…

(Unfortunately the photo doesn’t do it the justice it deserves 🙁   )