The parched garden eagerly sucked up the rain we had last Wednesday evening. It was beginning to look very dry and the lawn and moisture lovers like hydrangeas in particular were sorely in need of a good soaking.

Last summer I visited the beautiful gardens at Arley Hall, in Cheshire, where a clump of flowers was attracting a lot of attention from bees and butterflies. Having already had an idea that we needed a few more insect-friendly specimens in our own garden this seemed the perfect choice and the small plant we got last year has grown into a magnificent specimen.

Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ has long branching flower stems rising from a clump of serrated mid- green leaves. Each stem is topped with thistle-like deep red flowers from April or May until July. It can take up a fair amount of room and will grow rapidly especially if planted in the sunny, well-drained spot it prefers, but the lower leaves can be tidied up if they are covering too much soil and the whole plant can be cut back after flowering. A clump of fresh new leaves will appear for the rest of the summer and maybe one or two more blooms.While this thistle is a decorative way of attracting insects to the garden, a clump of stinging nettles is perhaps rather less so. My husband was very puzzled to see that I had carefully cultivated a small patch of these stingers until I showed him the fat caterpillar curled up on one of the leaves. Stinging nettles will provide a home for the eggs of a number of butterfly species including red admiral, peacock, comma and small tortoiseshell. They are also a food plant for hoverflies and some moth species and birds who like to eat the seeds.

Weekend catch-up

Now is the time to check out nurseries, garden centres and plant stalls for tender plants to use in pots and hanging baskets. There will be lots to choose from as the danger of frost recedes and we can look forward to containers brimming withcolour.

Open gardens

Tomorrow In aid of National Gardens Scheme Boundary Cottage, Seaton Ross, five miles south west of Pocklington. Large garden withopen views across fields, with ponds, streams, bog gardens, large island beds and borders. Open 10am-4pm,admission £3.50.

Park House,Welton, nine miles west of Hull. One-acre garden with mature beech trees, mixedplanting, woodland walk, copper rill, ornamental herb garden and raised vegetable beds. Open 11am-4pm, admission £3.50.

WytherstoneGardens, Pockley, two miles north east of Helmsley. Eight-acre garden on the edge of moorland with Mediterranean, spring, terraced, fern, paeonia, foliage and bamboo gardens. Open 10am-5pm, admission £5.

Monday, May 31.

Cobble Cottage, Whixley, off the A59 York-Knaresborough road. Small cottage garden with architectural plants, black and white courtyard and Japanese style gardens. Open 11am-5pm, combined admission with Tinkers Hollow £3.50. Tinkers Hollow, Great Ouseburn, north west of York off the B6265. One-acre garden with bog, perennial and shrub borders, ponds, waterfall, stream, pergola walkways and wild garden. Open 11am-5pm, combined admission with Cobble Cottage £3.50.

Saturday June 5.

In aid of National Gardens Scheme.

Hunmanby Grange, Wold Newton, 12.5 miles south east of Scarborough. Three-acre gardencreated from an exposed field with hedges and fences providing shelter for a series of gardens. Wold Top Brewery is also open to visit. Open 11am-5pm, admission £3.

Old Sleningford Hall, Mickley, five miles north west of Ripon. Garden with Victorian fernery, lake, watermill, kitchen garden and award-winning forest garden. Open Noon to 4.30pm, admission £5.

Pennyholme,Fadmoor, seven miles north east of Helmsley. Moorland garden with azaleas, river walk, borders and water cascade. Open 1pm-5pm, admission £4. Also open today 1pm-5pm.

Sleightholmedale Lodge, Fadmoor, six miles north east of Helmsley. Hillside garden with walled rose garden and herbaceous borders. Open 2pm-6pm, admission £3.50.Also open today 2pm-6pm.

Garden fair

Flower Power Fairs will be at Constable Burton Hall in Leyburn tomorrow from 10am-4pm. Admission is £4 which includes entrance to both the fair and the gardens. Free parking.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Childrenvisiting RHS Garden Harlow Carr on Monday will be sure of a big surprise with the opening of the newly- refurbished ‘Log Ness Monster’ at a celebratory 60th anniversary teddy bears’ picnic. Children under six years and anyone sharing their 60th birthday with Harlow Carr in May (please bring proof) are welcom free of charge to the picnic which is from 10am to 4pm. Don’t forget your teddy.

Gardening TV and radio

Today.

8.30pm, BBC2, Chelsea Flower Show. Alan Titchmarsh and co look at the highlights of this year’s flower show.

Tomorrow.

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

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

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. The team visit Garden Show Ireland.

2.45pm, BBC R4, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s Escape to The Country. This week the programme looks at the effect John Seymour’s 1976 Complete Book oOf Self-Sufficiency had on disaffected city dwellers.

Friday June 4.

3pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Eric Robson, Anne Swithinbank, Bob Flowerdew and Matthew Biggs are in East Yorkshire with members of Leven and Brandesburton Horticultural Society. (repeated on Sunday at 2pm).

8.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Toby look at how to assemble compost bins, Carol looks at the plant family that includes asparagus and there is advice on getting rid of invasive weeds in the vegetable patch.