My garden is the place that I love best out of all others and every plant in it is my favourite. Each has been chosen carefully and for a particular reason.

Some of my plants prompt memories of childhood; others serve an exceptional function such as being able to flourish during times of drought; many of my plants produce flowers of seductive beautiful or carry a scent that is unforgettable.

All are special to me, but I have chosen ten plants that I simply must have in my garden.

1. Convallaria majalis. Perhaps the humblest of my choice, if referring to size size, is the dainty Lily of the Valley. Even its name enchants me, yet for most of the year it is invisible and I have to remind myself not to go digging around in the bed where it sleeps.

The national flower of Finland, it will grow in my garden because of the cool shady aspect I have chosen. Late in winter the dormant rootstock jumps to life and produces pairs of deep-green oval leaves and six-inch stalks each bearing around fifteen tiny, pendulous, exquisitely fragrant flowers. Every delicate bloom resembles an elf's cap: the effect of their pure white tracery against the dark foliage is magic!

2. Lathyrus odoratus. Reminiscent of my childhood is the Sweet Pea. Long rows were planted against a brushwood fence in a northerly, sheltered garden aspect. When flowering, random colours of purple, blue, mauve, scarlet, salmon and pink ranged through to cream and white and hosted greedy, marauding bees from dawn until dusk.

Sweet Peas require deep, rich soil, full sun, protection from strong winds and climbing support. I planted a dwarf variety last spring but the plants rambled through larger bushes and did not get sufficient sun to flower well, so perhaps the tall climbing type is preferable if you have the appropriate position.

3. Syringa vulgaris. Nostalgia figures strongly in my choice of plants. I adore Lilac, especially the old-fashioned variety that truly is that colour. It has attractive heart-shaped leaves, but it is the perfume that defies description: spicy, soft, but so much more, especially after rain.

The common Lilac originated in the cooler regions of Europe. The varieties available today are cultivars of the original and include shades of white, creamy yellow and mauve through to deepest purple, while the tiny individual flowers that form the graceful panicles can have single or double rows of petals.

4. Hedychium gardneranum. The Ginger Lily

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