Pitch Out the Pastels
There was a marketing campaign some time ago which exhorted us to 'chuck out the chintz', and I think sometimes in gardening one should indulge in a bit of exuberance. If you are of a delicate gardening disposition do not read on, this month we'll be 'pitching out the pastels'!

Fear of frost should be retreating and now is the time to be on the look-out for tender perennials and half-hardy annuals in garden centres and specialist nurseries. Many tender plants can be used to add glamour and drama to borders and containers especially for late summer.

Dahlias have had a tough time in fashionable circles. I have seen people pick up a pot of dahlias in flower at a plant sale, read the label, and then put them back hurriedly in case someone saw them. However certain cultivars are now acceptable in polite society, for example the low growing 'Bishop of Llandaff' - single scarlet flowers and deep purple cut foliage. Also gaining ground is the taller 'David Howard' with neat flowers the colour of orange fruit pastilles and bronze-purple leaves. A bit different is D.merckii from Mexico, it has small single pale lilac flowers and tall wavy growth. I grow 'Bloodstone', a zinging scarlet decorative and 'Summer Night' a red-black cactus flowered variety and would like to get my hands on 'Dark Desire' which has single, delicious deep chocolate flowers.

Gladioli are difficult to place in the garden as the larger cultivars can look awkward but they do come in some wonderfully outlandish colours. Last year in pots I grew 'Queen of Night', deep blackcurrant fading to soft violet - luscious! This year I am trying the minty green 'Irish Blessing' one of the smaller cultivars and 'Black Jack' another dark purple. An increasing number of G.primulinus hybrids are coming onto the market, they are more delicate in overall appearance but still come in some eye-popping colours.

Cannas and gingers [hedychiums] provide bold statements in pots and borders with their large paddle shaped leaves. Canna leaves range from rich purple to gold stripes and the flowers come in 'hot' shades. One of the better known gingers is the heavily scented large yellow flowered H.gardnerianum. Others to try include H. densiflorum 'Assam Orange' with compact lightly scented flower spikes and H.coccineum 'Tara'. They will need to be lifted or sheltered over winter.

Nasturtiums are a favourite and I am still looking for a really vibrant rich red non-trailing variety. 'Empress of India' is one, but I have found her variable from seed. I am trying another old red variety 'King Theodore' and the newer 'Black Velvet' this year. There are attractive trailing double flowered nasturtiums which date from the Victorian period such as the shaggy orange 'Hermine Grashoff' and the well scented 'Darjeeling Gold'. I grow them in pots trained up a spiral support. They can be overwintered somewhere cool, light and frost free.

Half-hardy climbers can be spectacular. Morning glories come in quite a range of colours, but a favourite has to be 'Heavenly Blue' which is absolutely breathtaking when awash with electric blue trumpets in late summer; for a moodier feel try the deep purple 'Grandpa Otts'. 'Spanish Flag' [Ipomoea lobata] has jagged spikes of flowers that turn from orange to cream from late summer until the frosts. 'Chilean Glory Vine' [eccremocarpus] is vigorous and showy with narrow bells in shades of red and orange.

For inspiration visit colour themed plantings at Hadspen Gardens near Castle Cary. This year - have some fun with colour.

My monthly gardening column from The Bath Magazine - Bath's best local magazine for events, listings, news and views. Whether you live in and around Bath or are visiting us, it's a great source of local information.

Links:
Article on planning a red border
Article on designing a garden with late summer hot plantings
Hadspen Gardens