MOST of our lovely primulas are having their last fling. The dark-leaved Wandas that appear so early in the spring with their rich, jewel-coloured blooms have just one or two flowers peeking from behind the thickening clumps of foliage, as have the pale lemon wild primroses that blend so beautifully with spotted pulmonaria.

The auriculas, however, are making a show with their dusty green leaves and perfectly formed flowers held above the foliage.

Auriculas started to appear in European gardens in the mid 16th century with cultivated forms being developed over the past 350 years as a “florist’s flower”. This coinage of the word refers to a gardener who raises plants to agreed standards, rather than the modern use as a person who sells flowers.

There are many auriculas to choose from, but what they all have in common is that almost without exception they are best displayed in individual pots rather than out in the garden.

Traditionally, these beautiful plants are grown in terracotta pots and put into an auricular theatre, painted shelves held within a frame.

At exhibitions and shows, the theatre is often backed with black velvet which gives a dramatic setting for the flowers. I don’t have room for a large theatre, but have made my own display for two plants by using an old wooden wine box varnished on the outside and painted cream on the inside.

The top of the box is protected by a ‘roof’ made from a sheet of lead left from house repairs.

I was given two new auriculas this spring, donations from my mum, a keen grower. Black Jack has serrated grey-green leaves and clusters of deep burgundy-coloured double flowers held on short stems.

The base of each petal is marked with a white ring that surrounds the almost fully hidden yellow centre. The leaves, stems and petals of this variety are dusted with the delicate farine that occurs so often in this family of plants.

Old Gold has smooth-edged leaves and single flowers held on long stems that rise from the central cluster of foliage. The blooms are a wonderful soft yellow, the seven petals overlapping each other to form a perfect circle, at the centre of which a ring of pure white leads down to the pale yellow stamen.

Despite their exotic looks, auriculas are easy to grow and propagate.

After flowering, they have a period of dormancy and can be put in a sheltered part of the garden to rest. Apart from watering they need little attention during this time.

In September, they start to grow again at which point large plants can be taken from their pots, divided and repotted into individual containers. They can be left to grow on until the following spring when they can be put into their flowering space on a sunny patio or wall.

Cemetery walk

THERE will be a walk and honey bee talk at York Cemetery tomorrow, led by Clive Dawson and Tom Robinson. The walk begins at 2pm and will last between one-and-a-half hours and two hours. Please meet at the gatehouse. Tickets are £2.50 adult, £1 Friends of the Cemetery and £1 child and include tea/coffee and biscuits.

Tomato week

Poppleton Garden Centre on Northfield Lane in Upper Poppleton will be hosting a Tomato Growing Week from Monday until next Sunday, to link in with British Tomato Week. There will be displays of tomato plants together with the products needed to grow them. Staff will also be on hand to give advice on selecting, planting and growing their own tomatoes.

Garden festival

THE Lotherton Hall Garden Festival continues today and tomorrow at Lotherton Hall, east of Leeds, near Aberford. The show features plant displays, sales of garden products and expert advice, as well local produce in the food and drink marquee. Other attractions include shire horses, sheepdogs and unusual animals in the Morley Exotic Animal Rescue Trust marquee.

The festival is open from 10am-5pm today and tomorrow. Tickets are £6 adult, £5.50 OAP and £1.50 child.

Gardening TV & radio

Tomorrow.

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

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

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Carole Baxter, Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and chairman Peter Gibbs help gardeners in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

Friday.

3pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Eric Robson, Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness and Anne Swithinbank answer listeners’ questions. Plus a review of supermarket bedding plants and an update on the tomato trials. 8.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Toby gives some tips on how to get a good crop of tomatoes and Alys looks at Native American techniques for growing tender vegetables.

Saturday, May 22.

7am, BBC Radio York, Julia Booth. Presenter Julia Booth and gardening expert Nigel Harrison hold their weekly plant surgery.

Open gardens

Tomorrow.

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

Fir Trees Cottage, one mile south of Stokesley, signed Pelargonium Exhibition on the A172. Tranquil one acre garden with mixed borders, rockeries, spring bulbs, hosta collection and views of the Cleveland Hills and Roseberry Topping. There is also a cacti collection and Pelargonium Exhibition; Fir Trees have won several gold medals for their pelargoniums. More at firtreespelargoniums.co.uk . Open 1pm-5pm. Admission £3. Also open today 1pm-5pm, Saturday May 22, 1pm-5pm, and Sunday, May 23, 1pm-5pm.

Jackson’s Wold, Sherburn, at the traffic lights on the A64 in Sherburn take the Weaverthorpe road then the right fork to Helperthorpe. Two-acre garden with mixed borders, old roses under- planted with unusual perennials, woodland paths, lime avenue with wild flower meadow and a traditional vegetable garden with a Victorian greenhouse. More at jacksonswoldgarden.com Open 1pm-5pm. Admission £3.

24 Red Bank Road, off Whitcliffe Lane, Ripon. Planted for year-round interest with raised beds, rockeries, species peonies, some grown from seed, alpines and shrubs. Open 2pm-5pm. Admission £2.

Stillingfleet Lodge, Stillingfleet, six miles south of York on the B1222. Plantswoman’s garden with colour themed areas, wild flower meadow, natural pond, 55-yard double herbaceous borders, modern rill garden and adjacent nursery. Open 1pm-5pm. Admission £4 adult, 50p child. More at stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk