This article has been checked for horticultural accuracy by Oliver Parsons.
A chamomile lawn can make a great alternative to a grass lawn, particularly where foot traffic is low or in areas that are hard to access with a lawn mower. The most suitable variety for creating a chamomile lawn is Chamaemelum nobile ‘Treneague’. This creeping variety only grows to 5-10cm in height and knits together to form a dense, weed-suppressant mat of fragrant foliage. Crucially, it does not flower, so no deadheading is required to stop the lawn becoming patchy.
If you would prefer a flowering lawn, you can instead use Chamaemelum nobile ‘Dwarf’. This grows to a height of around 15cm and makes an excellent flowering lawn. However, deadheading will be required to avoid the lawn becoming patchy. Both varieties are evergreen and fully hardy.
Chamomile lawns provide a fragrant, visually appealing lawn in the right location. Unlike grass lawns, they remain green, even in very dry weather. There’s no need to mow (although the occasional trim will keep them compact and dense), which makes them low-maintenance, and the species plant Chamaemelum nobile provides flowers for using in teas and other herbal remedies, as well as nectar and pollen for insects.
If you intend to walk on your lawn regularly, consider adding stepping stones to enable you to enjoy the space without damaging it. However, light bruising of the leaves is to be encouraged, as it releases a wonderful apple-like fragrance.
Chamomile can be grown in an existing lawn, but bear in mind that the grass will eventually outcompete the chamomile. You will have a much better overall look and effect by replacing a grass lawn with one that is completely chamomile.
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Fishbone cactus (Disocactus anguliger) is a true cactus native to tropical Mexico, where it grows epiphytically (without soil) from tree branches. Unlike most cacti, which are associated with dry, desert-like conditions, fishbone cactus thrives in humidity.
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a classic bouquet of freshly bloomed roses? Not only are they the most sought-after flower for gift-giving (especially when it comes to romance), they’re practically synonymous with the holiday.
Bay (Laurus nobilis), also known as bay laurel or the bay tree, is an evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves, known as bay leaves. Laurus nobilis one of the oldest shrubs in cultivation, introduced to British gardens in from as early as 1650. It’s an essential foliage plant for herb gardens – bay leaves can be used in a variety of dishes, including soups and stews and even ice cream, and are the main ingredient in a ‘bouquet garni’. They can be dried for storing or used fresh.
Sow celery thinly in pots or boxes in heat in March for early varieties, or in a cold house in mid-April for the main crop. Prick off into deep seed boxes as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, at 5cm (2in) intervals. After hardening off, plant out from mid May to the end of June, in prepared trenches. This is not only helpful in earthing but enables watering to be carried out by flooding the trench.
Said to be an old Greek name for a similar plant (Compositae). Hardy perennials with white wooly foliage and flowers which can be cut before maturity and dried for use as `everlastings’, sometimes being dyed.
The flower form resembles an eagle’s claw, hence the probable origin of this name from aquila the Latin for eagle (Ranunculaceae). Columbine. Hardy herbaceous perennials for the herbaceous border and rock garden. The flowers and leaves are very dainty. Unfortunately, they are inclined to be short lived in heavy wet soils, but they are easily increased by seed. The flowers appear in May and June in a wide range of colors from yellows and creams to blues and reds and purples. The garden hybrids have been raised from various species, e.g. the long-spurred hybrids from Aquilegia longissima. ‘Mrs. Scott Elliott’s’ is a well-known strain, and more recently, there are the McKana Giant hybrids, with larger flowers and long spurs.