IF you are a budding flower arranger, now is a good time to start planting suitable material. Any shrub with nicely shaped branches and leaves is ideal. If possible allow your specimens the space to develop, don't cram them together. And resist going at them with the secateurs, until they are mature enough to brave the onslaught. Bear in mind that plants must be in tip-top condition with no slug holes or other pest damage.
For "outline" material grow eucalyptus, contorted willow and hazel, spirea, cotoneaster, phormium, pittosporum, philadelphus, mahonia and ornamental grasses. For "transitional" material - to fill in the arrangement - plant hosta, bergenia, large-leaved ivy, Arum italicum "Pictum", heuchera, tellima, Alchemilla mollis and fatsia. Useful flowers include almost all bulbs, roses (of course), sweet pea, larkspur, gladiolus and iris. Don't forget to include those with interesting seed heads, such as poppies and nigella.
