We have both white and pink clumps of Dicentra and these pretty ladies been a revelation. The pendulous heart-shaped flowers dangle on the arching stems, delivering both colour and movement every season. Dicentra does well in shade or sunshine, has a long flowering period and does not suffer from any pests or disease. This glorious pink one sits underneath the purple/copper beech tree and the contrast between the pink flowers and bronzy leaves is striking.
The Laburnum tree was another new friend I made and believe it or not, I named it the ‘yellow tassle’ tree until a neighbour explained what it is. For some inexplicable reason I always think of the Laburnum tree as a male. Perhaps it is because most of the year he is a little rough around the edges and quite boring! He is poisonous too, if consumed in large quantities but he is worth having around because once a year, in early spring, he puts on a dazzling show.
Some plants are friends because friends have given them to me. I met my treasured friend, Sally, over 30 years ago and she brought me a Honeysuckle Americana as a housewarming gift. I had always thought of these plants as shy, shade lovers but at the time the only available place to plant the Honeysuckle was in the south-west facing border at the back of the house. But it adores the heat and the red and yellow flowers are seductively fragrant. Like most things this season it is flowering later this year and currently it is worth stepping out through the French window just to take a really good sniff of it. I also have a later flowering, pale pink climbing Jasmine growing through it and the two of them are quite chummy, rubbing shoulders as they scramble up the house.
Chocolates are nice but the gift of a plant is nicer. It lasts longer, offers calorie-free pleasure and you never forget who gave it to you. The only thing you have to watch is that you don’t kill it. Now that would be a bad omen for your friendship!
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