In Yorkshire we are lucky to have several gardens designed using the theme of a Himalayan Garden. The Hut near Ripon at Grewlthorpe is  ‘The Himalayan Garden’ with all the plants you would expect in such a setting including
01.08.2023 - 15:08 / gardenerstips.co.uk / Garden Merit / hortoris
This is the Royal Horticultural Society symbol for the Award of Garden Merit ‘AGM’. This award indicates that the plant is recommended by the RHS.
Awards are usually given after a period of trial at an RHS garden.
The AGM is intended to be of practical value to the home gardener. It is awarded therefore only to a plant that meets the tried and tested plant varieties using trial methods and criteria.
Though growing conditions and plant types may vary, the purpose of the award is always the same to highlight the best plants available to the home gardener.
No limit has been placed on the number of plants that may hold the award at any one time. In groups that include many cultivars, standards have to be set especially high if the AGM is to offer helpful guidance to the gardener. The award can be removed.
You can search for AGM plants at RHS sites. Detailed trials reports are usually such as this for carnations.
The Kiro LonKirok ‘was recommended for an AGM by the majority of the members present 6:1. The recommendation was proposed due to the outstanding quality of the flowers, the vibrant colour, form and its ability to provide flowers throughout the year together with a clove scent.’
‘Florence Franklin on the left was not recommended for any awards although it produced flowers for most of the year the flowers were small and the plant appeared to be reverting to Ann Franklin from which it sported.’
In Yorkshire we are lucky to have several gardens designed using the theme of a Himalayan Garden. The Hut near Ripon at Grewlthorpe is  ‘The Himalayan Garden’ with all the plants you would expect in such a setting including
Now part of this garden is down to crazy paving the Qualcast grass box is needed less and can be put to a different use. It looks like a ‘unibarrow’ has got in on the act to make a feature planter for these pansies.
Ants can be an unsightly nuisance and inspire concern. However they do not directly damage plants but are more a sign that you have another pest problem.
A rock garden is a grand place to display your alpine plants. You can shade them with rocks, provide deep root runs and provide rain cover with perspex roofs
White is the second most useful colour in the garden after green. I am progressively increasing the number and variety of white and grey plants that I grow.
Britain has some of the best gardens in the world. The choice of which to visit is far larger than this selective list but at least it gives you somewhere to start planning this years outings.
In the cold wet winter it is a good time to plan where to visit as the year improves. The South West is the obvious place to start your visiting tour of gardens containing exotic plants.
‘The Garden of Reading: An Anthology of Twentieth-century Short Fiction About Gardens and Gardeners’ edited by Michele Slung.
First read the authoritative book ‘The Himalayan Garden: Growing Plants from the Roof of the World ‘ by Jim Jermyn
Your own rock garden does not have to be as large as that at Kew. You do not need to demonstrate every regional zone on the planet. Nor do you need specimen plants that grow in all the range of soil conditions and climates. Better to concentrate on doing one or two things well.
China is one of the great destinations for visiting gardens. The influence over garden design and the vast array of plants and flowers is secondary to the investment in time and dedication demonstrated in so many great locations. This is just a selection of those you may consider visiting if you can make the journey..
One thing is sure the climate in your garden will change. You already know one week will be different to the next and I can’t remember when two months or any years were the identical to others. In many areas you can get 3 or 4 seasons in one day (or in Scotland one hour!).