Here is one of the stars of all my containers this year: Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’. This specimen stayed indoors, blooming all last winter with very little attention. It’s magnificent. If you have it in your garden, save it. If you don’t have it, mark it down to buy next year. The ones I leave outside will go on until frost absolutely knocks them off. But I’m hoping to get them all into safe havens before that happens.

A word about Peat Moss: people are buying it now to put in around their beds. BUT it’s a sterile medium, it will wick moisture out of the soil and it’s a nonrenewable resource. Don’t use it. Get a combo of compost and composted pine bark (small fine stuff) and spread it around soon. Also sign up for my new e-letter.

You can also follow me on Twitter: marjorie_harris I’m leaving my lovely home in the care of Kelly who’ll be roosting here while I go off to Paris. And not a minute too soon. I’ll either twitter or blog from there.