Most plants flower for only a short period of time, so choose carefully and always consider what other interesting features they may have like foliage, scent, fruit and even bare stems in winter, as all these aspects will enhance your scheme and give it an overall balance.
Iris germanica (left), for instance, has rich blue-purple petals and is sweetly scented. When I suggested we plant these in a client’s garden she pulled a face. Her reason? Because the iris flowers for such a short time.
While this is true, she failed to appreciate that the iris' lovely, evergreen foliage that continues to give pleasure long after the flowers have faded.
Next article: Grand designs