Gardening in Emsworth.

Musk mallow ( Malva moschata ) has lovely finely divided leaves growing in an expanding dome in spring.  The pink flowers open in early summer and this year have put on a great show.  Flowers and foliage have a faint musky smell.  It is a short-lived perennial but it self seeds freely. I've just cut off the seed heads to limit the number of plants appearing next year! In the wild it grows on verges and in grassland - something for a wildflower meadow?  Bees like it!

  Allium sphaerocephalum  (Drumsticks) caught my eye recently - the flower heads were covered with bees!  It's a late flowering allium, about 60cm tall with egg shaped flower heads which start green and gradually turn purple.  They are ideal for planting amongst low-growing hardy perennials.  They can be ordered now from bulb suppliers to plant them in autumn and winter.