clemat-is or cle-matis

A certain frisson seems to have invaded The Times this week - an argument has broken out over the correct spelling of Wisteria. With the government in meltdown, an ongoing credit crunch and very little signs, as yet, of the prolonged hot summer we were promised, I would have thought people would have more to worry about.

I have noticed, in a very long journalistic career, that people get exercised over such things. Personally, I have always spelt it Wisteria and said it the same way, but The Times style guru says it should be Wistaria. So I looked up Plant Names Simplified, which was first written in 1931, to see what they said. Sure enough they have Wisteria, so named after Casper Wistar, "sometimes, but not originally spelt Wistaria." Well that seems pretty clear. Not to be in any doubt I then checked the RHS A-Z Enclyclopedia of Garden Plants. They also used Wisteria but put the spelling Wistaria underneath, while referring to the plant as Wisteria in the text. So there, Reckless has spoken!

We all pronounce garden species in different ways as well, often more to do with regional accent than anything. Clematis is one of the most common, where one can say clem-atis or clemat-is. Neither is wrong, and everyone knows what you are talking about.

During that lovely brief sunny spell we had recently, I popped into Sizergh Castle gardens. They were really lovely and the acers a treat to see. I have reproduced a photo here so you can enjoy the flavour of them as well.

The latest edition of Which? Gardening takes a look at sweet peas - they have trialled 30 varieties to see which will bring the most perfume to the garden. Research found that some of the showiest sweet peas had little or no scent at all. There is also a section on new plants and an item on lunchbox cucumbers! Plus three top jobs for June and a report on whether or not it is possible to grow Asian style herbs in a wet, dull UK summer.

Finally, there seems to be an awful lot of greenfly about this summer, far more than usual, so don't forget to encourage those ladybirds into the garden and if you are or want to be organic, then just use finger and thumb and squash them off!

The sun has got its hat on

At last, a true taste of an English summer - what joy! The roses are smiling and blooming - what a difference the sun makes to an English garden. Let's hope it continues awhile yet.

We have got quite a few book reviews lined up over the next few weeks so don't forget to check out the website. The National Trust has just produced two new books: 'Allotments' by Jane Eastoe - inspiration and practical advice for would-be smallholders and 'Ponds', Creating and maintaining ponds for wildlife, by Chris McLaren.

Jane's book is full of useful information on how to plan an allotment, crop rotation, how to store your harvest plus some of the best recipes so you can enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Chris invites us to create a wildlife haven in our gardens or plot with a pond - he introduces us to the world of ponds, how to create one and maintain it - how to introduce wilflife to this idyllic pool and help it thrive.

Both books are priced at £7.99 and published by National Trust Books, an imprint of Anova Books. For information log onto www.anovabooks.com

Also on our bookshelf at the moment is "A year in the Life of Greenwich Park" by Anthony Quiney. Published by Frances Lincoln Ltd., - www.franceslincoln.com - this is a delighful pictorial diary of one of London's most popular parks.

Notably the grounds of Henry VIII's favourite royal palace and latterly home to the great dome of the Royal Observatory, the park has recently found itself in the spotlight of a bitterly fought dispute betwen local residents and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games over the staging of equestrian events in the park. The park itself is host to herds of deer, noble avenues of trees and huge expanses of grass - a favourite haunt of South Londoners looking for fresh air and open spaces.

I first encountered Greenwich Park when my daughter did the London Marathon and started in the park, indeed there is a picture of the marathon in the book. The book contains excellent photography which capture the magic and essence of the park throughout the year.

Scotts & lovethegarden.com are launching a big online competition with 1000 Miracle-Gro Liquafeed Starter Kit prizes up for grabs. The comp. runs from 1st to 30th June. The kits comprise an ergonmically designed triple-spray pattern hose and sprayer and one refill bottle of concentrated Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food. To take part in the competition go to:
www.lovethegarden.com/competitions/09-06-liquafeed.html

Look out for our books reviews on the Gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright, Hidcote and Thomas Mawson, his life. gardens and landscapes on the website in the next few weeks.

Post Chelsea

Cayman Islands Tourist Board Garden


I understand that the RHS awarded James May a special plasticine medal as a gesture because he couldn't be considered for any other type of medal - the garden did not contain any "real" flowers - I think that was quite nice. Whatever you think of the garden it certainly caused a stir and in many respects that is good because we need to be stimulated and even sometimes shocked. One lady was positively apoplectic when she saw it but the kids just loved it and perhaps they are more of a realistic critic in this case.

I really did like Kate Gould's garden - Kate, founded her company Helios in 1998 and her Eco Chic garden was one of only 3 Gold's in the Urban Gardens class. Her design was clever - to examine the potential of the hundreds of under-used inner-city spaces too often overlooked or simply concreted over by developers. The garden was entirely made from a recycled palette and it really was outstanding. She cleverly used shade-tolerant plants, dramatic green walls and permeable surfaces and positively demonstrated that recycling can be beautiful and indeed chic. The garden really deserved to win best in class.

I liked the Cayman Islands Tourist Board volcanic garden which again was something different and unusual this year. The picture above doesn't really do it justice but hopefully it gives a flavour.

Chic and modernist tended to win out at Chelsea this year - there was less fuss and bother somehow, but there were less gardens. Next year might be tricky as the sponsors of gardens tend to do so a year in advance, and as the economic climate is still less than healthy this could have a really detrimental effect on those designers hoping to get commissions for 2010, only time will tell.

Some gardening pundits are saying that Chelsea 2009 is low key - well perhaps so in some ways it is but in other ways it has given the chance to newer and younger designers to shine a bit more, such as James Wong and David Cumbero with their Canary Islands Spa Garden (pictured) and that is no bad thing. There are also less Gold medals this year but again there are less gardens, so the proportion of Gold to gardens is probably still about right.

I don't think anything earth shattering comes out of Chelsea 2009 but there is more realism and remember if you get fed up tending those roses and pulling those weeds there is always Plasticine.

Chelsea 2009 - the good, the bad and the downright stupid

6.50am
Join the press line to get into the show early to bag a locker, once done, the first job of the day is to look at the press calls and times and see which of the glitterati are going to turn up today.

7.10am
Out and about - no glitterati this time in the morning - get my first glimpse of Luciano's garden for Laurent-Perrier - have already decided this is my best garden. Totally unfair this and biased but put it down to his Italian influence.

7.30am
Quick sweep of the Grand Pavilion - once again stunning displays - not sure about David Domoney's Qua Hortis display - those piranha look evil - so glad they are behind glass, hope to God they don't break out. The international displays are once again just magic - the vibrancy of the colours brings out the sunshine despite the dull overcast morning. Warm displays from the Jamaica Horticultural Society, Greneda, the City of Durban and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden are add to the international flavour.

7.45am
Catch up with Andy McIndoe on the Hilliers Stand. Once again their exhibit is amazing - this year Andy has chosen the theme 'Losing the Plot' which traces gardening through the various stages of your life. Another exhibit bound to win a Gold and another triumph for Hilliers.

7.50am
Notice that David Austin roses have got a great big chocolate cake for their launch to celebrate 40 years of the introduction of the repeat-flowering varieties of their English Roses. Make mental note not to miss out on that.

8.15am
Back in press tent for a cup of coffee. Julian Desborough manages to spill his tea over the table, over me and the assorted press papers. Fortunately for Julian, the tea is by now luke-warm and I am only moderately discomoded - just as well I am wearing dark colours otherwise he would be dead.

8.25am
We make a sweep of the courtyard gardens - standard is getting better year by year and I just love Entente Cordiale and Demelza. Good to see Cumbria represented with Pottering in North Cumbria - the Fenland Alchemist Garden is just perfect - followed closely by The Pilgrims Rest - can't make up my mind which of these gardens I like best.

Return to the major show gardens and have a chat with the designer on the Quilted Velvet Garden. Tony Smith is doing a garden at all three major RHS Shows this year so he has his work cut out. The garden's hard landscaping has been constructed using 36,000 pieces of slate, which is amazing.

10.00am
What is it about Helen Mirren? The paparazzi trample over each other to get a picture - I am pleased to note that Emma is elbowing her way to the front - she is quite good at this - meanwhile I stand aloof with some distaste at all the fuss. No competition from poor Vince Cable then who is over at the British Beekeeper's Association with Bill Turnbull - doubt there was a camera left in the place that wasn't trained on Helen Mirren.

I am relieved when it is time to leave the scrum and go over to Knoll Gardens stand for the launch of a new initiative with Cleve West and Neil Lucas. More about this in Reckless Gardener later - much more refined behaviour here - David Bellamy joined us and there was no unseemingly scrum.
The glitterati are now starting to appear and Stephen Fry, Jennie Bond and Helena Bonham-Carter have been spotted and over there, yes Joanna Lumley who gives Bill Nighy a big hug. Hmm!

11.00am

By now the champers is flowing - on little breakfast one could get quite squiffy - one nearly does - spot Olivia Harrison and is that Ringo? Spot Bill Nighy again at the David Austin stand - he is with Andrew Lincoln - suspect they might have seen the chocolate cake too.

Cast members of the British production of Calendar Girls line up at the Calendar Girls stand, Patricia Hodge, Lynda Bellingham and Julia Hills among them. Meanwhile, it is all happening at David Austin's - Jasper Conran has turned up with the CEO of Wedgewood, Moira Gavin, to celebrate both the anniversary and the launch of Austin's new roses.

Emma seems to have gone missing - I find her talking to Victoria Pendleton, the Olympic Gold medal winning track cyclist - they are deep in conversation - apparently Vicky has been interested in gardening since she was as small child taking cuttings and growing plants for pocket money - better than a paper round she says! She lets Emma wear her Gold Medal - I am quite impressed by that.

11.30am
Over at Peter Beales they are entertaining singer Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster as well as the head gardener from Highgrove. A new rose is launched chosen by HRH the Prince of Wales and named after his official residence in aid of the Prince's Trust.

We are nearly late for the Hilliers launch - slapped wrist - but make it in time. Temporarily delayed by that lovely man Geoff Hughes - the Royle family's Twiggy - he graciously kisses my hand and we discuss the changes in Liverpool since capital of culture. Geoff loves Chelsea and he comes most years - he has had a sweetpea named after him this year.

12-1.00pm
The sun briefly shines which is just as well because there is a scantily clad model reclining admist a flurry of rose petals on the Quilted Velvet garden. There is also another unseemingly mob around James May's Paradise in Plasticine creation - this has got to be a joke - but no the RHS have allowed him to create a plasticine replica of a garden. I have to say that the colour scheme is brilliant if a little in your face - but it is not a garden. What are they thinking of? It also seems to smell funny. Rather like those sweet cigarettes you used to eat when you were little. The whole thing is either a brilliant masterstroke on behalf of the RHS or a terrible misjudgement - I can't decide which. Mind you, must have taken an age to model each and every one of those plants and petals.

1.30pm
Rumours circulating that Jekka McVicar has had her gnome banned - I ask you - he is only a couple of inches high (left) and we can't have a gnome - dual standards if you ask me.

2.00pm
Legs are getting wary and I dare not risk getting another cup of tea over my trousers so I avoid Julian - people are getting quite excited about The Daily Telegraph Garden - last time Ulf Nordjfell exhibited he won a Gold. This year is likely to be a repeat performance - the garden is graceful if a little too chic for me.

I had not realised how many companies sell conservatories and greenhouses - Chelsea seems awash with them this year - every other stand seems to be selling conservatories - don't they know there's a credit crunch?

2.30pm
I am now seeing lots of celebrities but having difficulty identifying names - they are blurring into each other - this could be the result of too much chocolate cake and fizzy stuff - or it could be that I am bowled over by Luciano's charm. I take one last look at my favourite gardens and consign Luciano's planting to memory.

3.00pm
Time to be ejected before the Royal personages are entertained. We gather up all our notes, copy and tea stained notebooks. It's time to head home - another Chelsea over.

She's in there somewhere!

Flower Show season starts

I know when it is time to go to the Harrogate Spring Flower Show that spring has really started and the garden season is under way.

Harrogate had some lovely weather this year and it was a real joy to walk about looking at the stalls and exhibits in lovely warm sunshine. Everyone was enjoying themselves - including Tom and Nell Cranny who used to run Brownmoor Nurseries in Crosby, Liverpool and who for many years were regular stall holders at all the major shows including Hampton Court and Tatton. For once they were just out enjoying themselves having retired. It was great to see them and from all at Reckless have a long and enjoyable retirement.

The May edition of Gardeners' World magazine has their free Gardens to Visit guide in it, this is always popular and this year the guide contains 239 gardens and is full of reviews, images and visitor information. Readers also benefit from a very useful 2 for 1 ticket scheme, which I have used in the past. Over 6,000 Gardeners' World readers voted for their favourite garden from each UK region and among the winners were the Eden Project, RHS Harlow Carr and Tatton Park.

The Flower and Plants Association will be spreading the floral word at several major forthcoming shows including BBC Gardeners' World in Birmingham and Hampton Court in July. The Association exists to spread the word of the benefits of having flowers and plants in the home. Look out for them at the shows.

In just a few weeks we will be off to Chelsea - which is the jewel in the crown of the year - and always eagerly looked forward to. What new trends this year I wonder? Will the credit crunch have an effect? We shall see. I have a hunch that somehow this year is going to be a stunner with lots of different gardens and new ideas - there are some interesting designers this year and I think the competition for Best Garden will be more open than it has been for years.

In the meantime get out in the garden, start the weeding, enjoy the spring flowers and remember, little and often - too much gardening all at once can cause aching limbs and for those with disability or health problems, it can be difficult to sustain a period in the garden. Thrive, the gardening charity, have just launched a new website which will help us all enjoy our gardens, despite disability or back problems - log onto www.carryongardening.org.uk and find out all about it.

Just to finish off take a look at the fantastic vegetables at the top - just one of the many excellent stands at the Spring Harrogate Show.

This and that

Jordans Cereals are running a new campaign called the Big Buzz - the campaign hopes to increase the amount of bee-friendly habitats in the UK and raise awareness of bees and their importance to our environment. Jordans, more than anyone, recognise the vital role bees play in the food chain and through their nature friendly farming already have a stake in helping bees survive. If you want to know more about the campaign log onto: http://www.jordansbigbuzz.co.uk/

If you enjoy the countryside then you might be interested in a blog which hails from bonny Scotland - 'Rural Rambling' covers a variety of information and is highly entertaining. Log onto

http://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2646&d=11&h=24&f=46 to find out more.

You may have read in Reckless Gardener recently that the National Trust for Scotland were having to make some difficult decisions regarding some of their less well supported properties. One garden, in particular, Inveresk Lodge Garden near Musselburgh in East Lothian, is one of the gardens threatened with closure - if it does it will mean that the one gardener who looks after it will face redundancy.

Those who have been associated with the garden over the years were planning a big celebration to mark the garden's milestone of 50 years with the NTS - now however, they are joining together with volunteers to ensure that the garden continues to be open to the public.

They have now put up a Facebook page called Friends of Inveresk Lodge Garden on

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=62206931665&ref=ts

and although it is not yet a foregone conclusion that the garden will close, they want readers to register their protest as well as writing to the NTS HQ in Edinburgh. Some supporters feel that if cutbacks are to be made they could be made in other ways than closing small gardens with the consequent loss of jobs and access to the public.

I am one of those people who like weak tea - the tea bag should only have a brief encounter with the water - and I am someone who just loves to drink tea outdoors. I mention this because this Easter weekend was the first time this year I was able to indulge in that pleasure.

Spring is surely here and although there are ongoing cold snaps and windy days, I feel sure that we are on the edge of warmer climes. I hope so anyway. I am sure the bright spell got most of us out into our gardens and what joy to see everything finally growing and pushing through the soil.

Next week I am off to Harrogate - the flower show season is finally here.

Hillsborough

REMEMBERING THE 96 WHO WENT TO A FOOTBALL MATCH ON A SUNNY SPRING DAY AND DID NOT COME HOME.

You'll Never Walk Alone.