GINA PARKINSON reports on what's flowering in her York garden.

The first clematis has opened in our garden this week. Clematis alpina 'Ruby' is in a pot growing through a cornus branch saved when the shrub was pruned back in early spring.

The clematis is small, only a couple of years old, and until a few weeks ago was made up of just two dry brown stems. Buds appeared in March and from then there was no stopping the growth of several soft, pale green stems climbing up the supporting branches of the cornus. Flower buds formed quickly and now two have bloomed with pink outer petals and white centres contrasting well, if accidentally, with the dark red stems of the dogwood. This, I notice, has come into leaf which could be an indication that roots have formed.

The warm colours of 'Ruby' and the cornus look good on the sunny patio but in the shadier front garden Clematis alpina 'Francis Rivis' is a much cooler customer. The flowers have a similar white centre but they are larger and their mid blue colouring gives a restful ambience as the long stems trail along the wall and grow into Amelanchier. This deciduous shrub is covered in masses of dainty white flowers in April and May and most years we have a couple of weeks when shrub and climber bloom together. Snowdrops at the foot of the Amelanchier start the flowering year in this bed and as they fade Pulmonaria 'Mary Mottram' takes over. Tiny silver green leaves appear first followed by blue flowers, heralding those of the clematis. Then a mound of frosted large leaves is formed which will last all summer. Mildew can be problem in dry conditions but this can be remedied by cutting the foliage back to where the new growth is and giving the plant a good soak.

Weekend catch-up

Pot up small hardy plants grown from seed last year and still languishing in their tiny pots or seed trays. They will be growing quickly now and will soon dry out especially in the warm and rainless weather we have been enjoying recently. Pot them into individual pots, label, water well and put in a shady place for a few days to recover. By June they should have grown enough to be put into their flowering positions in the garden or in large patio containers.

Updated: 09:40 Saturday, April 19, 2003