Andrewr's Outbox

Unfortunately not. There are many varieties of astilbe. Georg Arends, a German nursery owner, bred a lot about one hundred years ago and breeders have been hard at work more recently too

I would say it's a cotoneaster of some sort

Agapanthus do best when they are crowded. If you split them up, they may not flower for a few years

You should have left a bigger stump and carved a bear out of it (see my blog on Garden Helpers for inspiration)

You could always send the rain over here. Bit of light stuff earlier today but that's the first for well over a week now. Even yesterday's thunderstorm failed to materialise. It was even dry here while it was raining at Wimbledon!

This is one the botanists have renamed - it used to be gallium odoratum but is now asperula odorata so you may find it under either name.
It is pretty vigorous and the smallest piece will regenerate so think carefully before planting it

Hydrangeas need a moist soil so you'd be forever watering it. I'd suggest vinca minor varieties - there are ones with white, blue or purple flowers as well as variegated ones. Also epimdeiums which flower in early spring will take dry conditions once established and grow so densely no weeds can get a foothold

Euonymus fortunei has some varieties that are self-clinging too - 'Silver Queen' and 'Emerald Gaiety' spring to mind

The leaves of Devil's-bit scabious are usually entire but there is also Small Scabious (scabiosa columbaria) with pinnate leaves which is widespread in Britain

Check the leaves too - the scabious and Sheep-bit have different ones so that may help the identification

You're asking someone who doesn't have much sense of smell. My bible calls it "sweetly fragrant" so I guess that means it's not too heavy

It's a Sheep's-bit (the Latin name is jasione).

I'm glad you didn't find the bug I have so carefully concealed at 28 Kensington Road. I shall continue my spying mission <evil laugh>

For a climber, I'd say euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen'. It will put up with almost any conditions. It will be sold in your Garden Centre as a shrub, but put it against a wall and it clings like ivy (so it doesn't need any support). Evergreen variegated leaves

It's ampelopsis brevipedunculata 'Elegans'. It's a climber but not very vigorous. Did it get a feed this year?

Although they are not two feet tall, busy lizzies will give you all the colour you want right up until the frosts finish them.

I've just been to a friend's 80th birthday celebration. He lives alone and refuses to buy a washing machine so guess what the theme of his cake was? Sorry I didn't have my camera with me :-(

Choisya 'Sundance' - I should charge a fee :-)

Physocarpus 'Diabolo'

This one is definitely a weigela

Difficult to tell from the photo but it might be an escallonia?

Or beg, borrow or steal a piece from someone who has already got it

It's what I christened 'Bad Hair Flower'!!!

Yes euphorbia amygdaloides var robbiae - it runs like mad so watch out it doesn't take over the garden

Irish yews - taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' would also do the trick

I always say to people to put what they want in their gardens, not what the 'fashion experts' tell them. If you want to grow orange marigolds next to pink petunias then go for it. I have a border with white and red flowers; some people will throw up their hands in horror and say putting these colours together is unlucky but it is my garden and I like it!

I am growing 'Golden Spirit' in a pretty shady corner and it is quite happy. The leaf colour will be more intense in full sun but in my experience, they are pretty tolerant shrubs

Yes, I'd agree with that

Are they making any new growth? Blackcurrants are particularly heavy feeders - I feed mine in early srping and again after harvesting the fruit.

Rosa 'Leverkusen' would be suitable - gets to about ten feet. Good flush of flowers about now and some more later in the year too