'Something sparked inside me': the $650 plant stealing hearts and wallets

Cream and white variegated monstera are the Instagram plant de jour and for the fanatics, money is no object

In the last six months, Irina Busova, a 30-year-old from Geraldton, Western Australia, estimates she’s bought more than 100 houseplants.

Her prized possession, which she saved for two months to acquire, is a monstera deliciosa (commonly called a Swiss cheese plant or fruit salad tree) with striking, green and cream split leaves. It’s the variegation that makes this plant so prized. She paid $330 for the plant which she describes as “a unicorn find”.

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Life on the ocean wave

A makeover for this one-bed flat in St Leonards harks back to the building’s Art Deco origins

Marine Court in St Leonards near Hastings has had a chequered life, but started out with lofty aspirations. It was built as a set of “commodious modern flats”, aimed at well-to-do Londoners looking for a chic weekend retreat by the sea. Its ambitious design emulated the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, with stepped-in “decks” and sea-facing balconies. When completed, architects Kenneth Dalgleish and Roger K Pullen had created the highest residential development in Britain.

Most locals have at least one story of nefarious goings on at Marine Court

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Life on the ocean wave

A makeover for this one-bed flat in St Leonards harks back to the building’s Art Deco origins

Marine Court in St Leonards near Hastings has had a chequered life, but started out with lofty aspirations. It was built as a set of “commodious modern flats”, aimed at well-to-do Londoners looking for a chic weekend retreat by the sea. Its ambitious design emulated the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, with stepped-in “decks” and sea-facing balconies. When completed, architects Kenneth Dalgleish and Roger K Pullen had created the highest residential development in Britain.

Most locals have at least one story of nefarious goings on at Marine Court

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How to grow fuchsia | Alys Fowler

Not so keen on its clashing colour combinations? You might change your mind when you taste the berries

If you are wondering who is eating all the berries of your fuchsia bush, it’s me. I can’t tell you how much joy I get from wandering around my neighbourhood plucking from front garden bushes the juiciest of dripping fruit – it tastes somewhere between a kiwi, blueberry and strawberry, with a touch of pepper. If it’s too peppery, you are picking too soon – the berries really do need to be bursting.

The best berries tend to be on the naffest bushes; those bedding sorts with pirouetting ballerinas for flowers, in clashing colour combinations. If it’s hard to imagine wanting such a thing in your garden, you may change your mind when you taste the berries. Plus, as bushes go, they are a tolerant sort: good for bees, unfussy about soil, shade and, for that matter, being pruned hard. On top of it all, they flower from June right through to October.

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How to grow fuchsia | Alys Fowler

Not so keen on its clashing colour combinations? You might change your mind when you taste the berries

If you are wondering who is eating all the berries of your fuchsia bush, it’s me. I can’t tell you how much joy I get from wandering around my neighbourhood plucking from front garden bushes the juiciest of dripping fruit – it tastes somewhere between a kiwi, blueberry and strawberry, with a touch of pepper. If it’s too peppery, you are picking too soon – the berries really do need to be bursting.

The best berries tend to be on the naffest bushes; those bedding sorts with pirouetting ballerinas for flowers, in clashing colour combinations. If it’s hard to imagine wanting such a thing in your garden, you may change your mind when you taste the berries. Plus, as bushes go, they are a tolerant sort: good for bees, unfussy about soil, shade and, for that matter, being pruned hard. On top of it all, they flower from June right through to October.

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Gardening tips: plant a bee balm

Then kill off the tiny black flies around houseplants, and visit Special Plants nursery near Bath

Plant this If you have moist soil, bee balm (Monarda didyma) is great. This mint relative makes great cut flowers, and its aromatic foliage a delicious tea. The flowers range from white to purple: try ‘Violet Queen’ or bright red ‘Squaw’ – both are reputed to be resistant to powdery mildew. Height and spread: 1m x 70cm.

Treat this Ever wondered about the tiny black flies that float about your houseplants? They’re fungus gnats, aka sciarid flies, and September is their peak season. Ease off on watering, as their larvae in pots love damp soil, and apply nematode worms (£12.50, greengardener.co.uk) to kill them off.

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Gardening tips: plant a bee balm

Then kill off the tiny black flies around houseplants, and visit Special Plants nursery near Bath

Plant this If you have moist soil, bee balm (Monarda didyma) is great. This mint relative makes great cut flowers, and its aromatic foliage a delicious tea. The flowers range from white to purple: try ‘Violet Queen’ or bright red ‘Squaw’ – both are reputed to be resistant to powdery mildew. Height and spread: 1m x 70cm.

Treat this Ever wondered about the tiny black flies that float about your houseplants? They’re fungus gnats, aka sciarid flies, and September is their peak season. Ease off on watering, as their larvae in pots love damp soil, and apply nematode worms (£12.50, greengardener.co.uk) to kill them off.

Continue reading...

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