 We have reached that time of the year when gardeners are looking out for details of new plant varieties for next year. In late August they waited for the Fleuroselect gold medal and quality awards which were being announced and I have just been sent details and photos of the selection. The chosen newcomers will be marked with the Euroselect symbol on seed packets of the future, so look for them after deciding where you would like to bring something new and tried thoroughly for your garden. A radiantly lovely Coreopsis Grandiflora Herliot has gorgeous flower heads from June to November in its first year, of compact and uniform habit and easy to grow. Until the success of Mont Blanc and Silver Cup in 1979 Laverta Trimestris was virtually unknown. Breeders took up the challenge of carefully selecting and developing the species and have now come up with another gold medal winner, Novella. The judges were particularly impressed by its compact and uniform habit when it opens up a new market for the use of Laverta and it has a significantly long flowering season. I have not space this week for pictures of all the medal winners. The otherwise Phlox Drummomdil, Grammy Pink/White, with a breakthrough in colour patterns and a Celosia, Fresh Look Red, which is a brilliant vibrant bright red. More details and pictures next week. * There will be plenty of colour on show at the Harrogate annual Autumn event on the Great Yorkshire Show ground on September 12, 13 and 14 with a splendid array in the Flower Hall. But it is also a great event for vegetable growers with the staging of the North of England Vegetable Championships and the National Union Championships. There is a first prize of £500 in the heaviest onion class with an additional £1000 if the World Record is broken! And this is serious stuff - a security guard is on patrol at night to ensure no harm befalls the exhibits. * Would you like to name a rose, perhaps as a commemorative gesture? Battersby Roses near Great Ayton usually have some unnamed roses available for inspection produced by an eminent rose breeder and can put an interested party in touch with the breeder to negotiate the fee required. Battersby Roses is a small family specialist rose nursery on the edge of the North York Moors which means the plants are hardy. They have a list of growers and roses which includes many American and Canadian miniatures. They will have trade stand at the Harrogate Autumn show and Stokesley Show. Among their new roses is Rhapsody in Blue, probably the deepest blue to be found. * To be published on October 2 is yet another new garden book, The Gardens Of Britain And Ireland (£25) by Patrick Taylor, with an illustrated survey of over 1,700 of Britain and Ireland's most beautiful and inspiring gardens. It has a wide range with gardens ranging from the glory of Chatsworth to botanic gardens, hospital gardens and even cemeteries. * Gardeners have always worked with time, weather and the seasons when planting. "A decision as to when to plant should take lunar cycles into account" argues Nick Kollerstrom in his new book Gardening And Planting By The Moon (Foulsham/Quantam £8.99). | 
Travel, Entertainment & leisure
Professional Services
Health
Home Style
Home Improvements
Fashion & Weddings
Gifts
