October plants

A close observation of the season’s cycles and respect for ecology have been the guiding principles in the development of the garden at Highlands, in the High Weald of East Sussex

THIS WEEK AT GLEBE COTTAGE

A late-flowering allium, as good in expectant bud as it is in bloom. Long scapes, stained purple, twist and turn as they ascend to flower. Mauve-purple droplets hover at about 30cm, making a fine comp

Kari-Astri Davies considers the role of women in hosta breeding, and regrets unlucky impulse purchases

Scented foliage and the hum of enraptured bees awaken the senses in a garden where monardas, with their shaggy blooms, are the stars

Originally grown in Tudor times for medicinal use, astrantias gained wider popularity as their unusual blooms, with star-shaped bracts surrounding an endearing dome of tiny flowers, were worked on by