When I wandered round the garden today, to see what pictures I could take, I was amazed at the number of shrubs that were looking good, writes Pat Edwards.

All the leaves are in fine shape now, so where we have put them to show up against each other they really do just that.

In one corner we put the purple berberis ottawensis then the variegated cornus elegantissima, and a golden ccyprus.

It really makes a very pleasant group, each shrub contrasting with the next one.

The roses are in bloom now, and are looking very handsome, with the first blossoms pristine and we have not had any rain since they came out, so they are unblemished.

Apricot nectar is one of my favourites – it is such a pretty colour and a beautiful shape. It does get rather tall by the end of the season, but at this time it looks perfect.

Another is prima vera, a lovely pink. It is good in a vase also, with some greenery with it.

Paeony bowl of beauty is a great big bunch of flowers now. It grows with another pink one, which is probably sarah bernhardt and P. officinalis, which is the big red blossom that comes a little earlier.

They make a lovely picking, but I think they last longer in the garden than in the house, so it seems a shame to cut them.

Carpentaria is a beautiful shrub, and just coming out. I grow it against a wall, as it needs a bit of support and also the shelter of the wall.

The flowers are such a perfect white, looking a little like roses, but the glossy green leaves make a background that shows them to their best.

Jasmine revolutum is not seen too much, but makes a fine shrub. Again I grow it against a wall, where I tie it up to plastic netlon, which does not show behind the green stems and leaves.

I saw it growing in China, where it scrambled up other shrubs, but it is much tidier if we tie it.

When seen in the wild, plants do not look so good without someone to tend them.

By Pat Edwards