Changes over last three decades (From Campaign Series)

Changes over last three decades

12:24pm Thursday 31st May 2007

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Although our latest Bank Holiday may not have seemed particularly Mediterranean; we are told that our climate is getting warmer.

And as a result we can grow a lot of plants that weren 't generally available when I first started in the 'gardening game' - about ... 30 years ago.

In 1977, grow bags were a new invention, Percy Thrower was king (Charlie Dimmock was probably only just invented ) and a gentleman by the name of Johnny Rotten was just starting to do wonders for the sale of safety pins!

Anyway, I digress! the point is that we can now enjoy plants such as Gazania in our tubs, hanging baskets and borders.

On the right is a Gazania I photographed in our garden last summer isn 't it stonkin'?

Gazanias grow like weeds in Spanish gardens, and do really well in a sunny spot in our summers too.

They are not quite hardy, so if you want to keep them year after year you will need to protect them.

I haven 't got a greenhouse so I put mine in a pot somewhere sheltered (up against the house wall) and sunny overwinter, and they often come back - the yellow one in the photo is still thriving in our garden.

If you do get unlucky and need to replace them, you can pick them up quite cheaply at this time of year for around £1.50 each, so that s not too bad is it; maybe I could get one for my Beloved as a combined birthday and Christmas present.

I know, I 'm a hopeless overgenerous romantic - I just can t help it!

In addition to Gazanias some other sun lovers available now are: Nemesia, some of them can be kept from year to year and can have a sweet perfume.

Portulaca for succulent leaves and shades of orange red and pink flowers.

Osteospemum - originally from south Africa, there are a huge range of vivid colours in the Nurseries and garden centres for the next few weeks.

In the kitchen garden, you can still plant out just about everything - tomatoes, lettuce, runner beans, sweet corn - all available as plants, if like me, you have been too busy to sow the seeds.

So let 's grab our chance now and get planting so that we can enjoy all that lovely fresh veg, in summer.

You know I think I 've just motivated myself - I 'm off to do some planting!

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