There is a lovely spring plant growing in the shade under our holly tree this year. It has been in the garden for several years but never did well, mainly because it was moved a few times and always seemed to get crowded out by other plants.

The last move however seems to have been a good one and it has come up beautifully this month.

Hacquetia epipactis is a small plant, only 6cm tall, that forms a neat clump of rounded three-parted leaves and which is fairly insignificant for much of the year. It is in late winter and early spring, while the soil is still quite clear, that this little plant makes its mark, coming into its own with a crop of wonderful bright yellow-centred green flowers.

For lovers of green flowers, it is a good link in the garden with others of this hue, like some of the hellebores and early euphorbias, and gives a different dimension to these taller plants. It is interesting to note that the green flowers of Hacquetia aren't really flowers at all and the true ones are massed together to form the bright yellow centres. The five green 'petals' are modified bracts.

This low-growing plant prefers shade and can be grown under trees and shrubs as long as the soil isn't too dry, since it needs humus rich moist conditions.

Soil under an evergreen like our holly can get very dusty if it isn't looked after, but annual mulching and feeding keeps it fertile enough to support healthy growth. Grow this rhizomatous perennial with other low-growing shade lovers such as Viola labradorica whose dark purple leaves and paler flowers would give a good contrast to the colour of the Hacquetia.

Propagation is by division after flowering in spring, by using seed sown fresh in autumn or by root cuttings in winter. Division is only necessary every five or so years or when the plant has become congested, as root disturbance is disliked. Self sown seedlings will sometimes emerge, but not in numbers that

will become a problem.

There is only one member of the haquetia genus and that is Hacquetia epipactis and from that only one variety has occurred. This is called 'Thor' and is a variegated variety that has to be sought from specialist nurseries, either through the Plant Finder or on the internet. 'Thor' has white variegation on every part of the plant and unlike its parent can only be propagated by division. It is very slow growing.

Weekend catchup

For the past couple of years in April I have loosened the soil around plants in the beds and sprinkled chicken manure on the soil, turning it in carefully and watering it well if the earth is dry. Care needs to be taken as many seedlings and herbaceous perennials are just below the surface. A word of warning though, if you intend doing this, chicken manure is very smelly, more noxious even than the teenager's trainers left to air on our back doorstep. The smell fades after a couple of days, if only the same could be said about that of the trainers.

Gardening TV and Radio

Sunday

9am, Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther, Joe Maiden.

Friday

7.30pm, BBC2, A Year at Kew.

A repeat of series two. In the first part tonight a royal visit means a major makeover.

8pm, BBC2, How to be a Gardener Revisited. The first of a six-part series in which Alan Titchmarsh returns to the gardens he transformed in the original series.

8.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners' World. The team review the new gardens and look at drought tolerant hanging baskets.

8.30pm, Five, Nice house, Shame About The Garden. Designer Robbie Honey and his team sort out the neglected back garden of a stylish semi in West Bromwich.

Saturday May 6

8am, Radio York, Gardening Phone-in. With Nigel Harrison. Telephone number 0845 300 3000.

Open gardens

Tomorrow

In aid of St John Ambulance

Nawton Tower Garden, Highfield Lane, Nawton, 5 miles north-east of Helmsley. Large garden with lawns and grassy paths leading through a large collection of unique rhododendrons and azaleas as well as other mature trees and shrubs. Plants for sale. Also open today and Monday.

Open 2-6pm. Admission £2 adult, 50p child.

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Whixley Gardens, off the A59 York-Harrogate road. Four gardens open: Ash Tree House with extensive rockeries making use of a sloping site and established herbaceous plants, shrubs and climbers. The Bay House with a densely planted courtyard on different levels. Cobble Cottage with a small cottage garden, water garden, architectural plants, secret courtyard garden and new Japanese garden.

Croft Cottage (Green Hammerton), with a secluded cottage garden divided into a number of garden rooms with a water feature, mixed borders and orchard with wild flowers. The Old Vicarage with a walled flower garden with mixed borders, unusual shrubs, climbers, hardy and half-hardy perennials and paths leading to new vistas.

Open 12-5pm. Combined admission £5 adult. Whixley Gardens are also open on Monday.

Ness Hall, Nunnington, off the B1257 Helmsley-Malton road at Slingsby. Large walled garden with mixed and herbaceous borders undergoing reconstruction and an orchard with shrubs.

Open 2-5pm. Admission £2.50 adult, £1 child.

Tuesday

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Jackson's Wold, Sherburn, turn off the A64 in Sherburn onto Weatherthorpe Road then the right fork to Hesterton Wold. Two-acre garden with views of the Vale of Pickering, mixed borders, unusual perennials, woodland paths, lime avenue and vegetable garden with Victorian greenhouse. Adjoining nursery open. Open 1-5pm. Admission £2.50 adult.

Wednesday

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Hallgarth, Station Road, Ottringham, off the A1033 Hull-Withernsea road. Peaceful country garden, the main part of which has been developed from an early plan by John Brooks. Woodland areas with rhododendrons and candelabra primulas, grass gardens, flowering trees and long walk borders. Open 1.30-4.30pm. Admission £2.50 adult.

Hunmanby Grange, Wold Newton, 12.5 miles south-east of Scarborough, the road from Burton Fleming to Fordon. Three-acre garden created from an exposed field with hedges and fences now providing shelter for the series of gardens planted for year-round interest with seasonal highlights. Adjacent nursery open.

Open 1-5pm. Admission £2.50 adult.

Londesborough Cross, Shiptonthorpe, off the A1079 York-Hull road. Former railway goods yard transformed into a garden with large borders, rock garden pergolas and arches planted with clematis and hostas and woodland garden with trilliums, meconopsis and a large collection of hardy ferns. Open 1-4pm. Admission £3 adult.

Rye Hill, Station Road, Helmsley. Plantswoman's garden divided into interlinking compartments each planted in a different style for year round interest and colour. The conservatory is stocked with tender species and there are also ponds and many architectural features. Open 2-5pm. Admission £2.50 adult.

Updated: 10:21 Saturday, April 29, 2006