Peter Dowdall: All the fun of the fair at Fota for plant lovers

Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, Carrigtwohill, Cork, will host its annual Fota House Plant & Garden Fair on Sunday, April 23

Keep an eye out for this Brunnera 'Jack Frost' or other choice varieties at the upcoming Fota Plant Fair. Picture: iStock

I HAVE planted a lot of the beautiful purple Aubrieta Purple Cascade on a bank in my garden over the last couple of years. It is in full bloom now forming a magical carpet beneath a blast of white-flowering Hyacinth Madame Sophie.

The contrast is beautiful and striking, the rich purple really brought to life by the showy white Hyacinths. I love both of these spring flowering plants, I suppose nowadays they would be regarded as traditional or, dare I say, old fashioned, but for me, they are exactly what I want and where I want them.