Peter Dowdall:  Why I love delphiniums — and what lupins and hydrangeas offer your garden

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Peter Dowdall loves delphiniums, no matter what the colour. Tall, regal spires that survived the recent heavy rain and winds are in full bloom in gardens around Ireland right now. Picture: iStock

Such is the joy of gardening in Ireland that, whilst last week, we may have been looking for plants that will tolerate excessive rain and wind and would grow in waterlogged soils and next week we may be looking for drought-tolerant plants. I wonder will they dare bring up the subject of a hosepipe ban anytime this summer?

It may seem like a lifetime ago now but up to two weeks ago, the ground was really quite dry and hydrangeas which I had planted the previous month were showing signs of stress along with sweet pea and some other annuals.