GROWING in my garden at the moment are some beautiful yellow wallflowers. Also called Erysimum, they are commonly grown as a spring bedding plant, are scented and come in a dazzling array of colours. They are extremely attractive to bees and butterflies too, so what’s not to love?

They should be planted in a sunny or partly shaded location with well-drained soil and require deadheading regularly for a vibrant show from autumn right through to spring. They can thrive in poor dry soil, often in wall crevices, as many of mine do, hence the name. Most of mine are growing in the gravel in the beach garden at the front of the house and provide a real splash of colour at this time of year.

If you want to get out and visit a garden, why not venture up to see a National Garden Scheme plot in Lindfield, 47 Denmans Lane, opening on Monday. Pre-booking is essential at www.ngs.org.uk where you will find all the relevant booking details. It is a beautiful and tranquil, one-acre plot, created by the current owners over 20 years ago. Spring bulbs abound at this time of year, followed by azaleas. The garden also has ponds, along with vegetable and fruit areas.

READ MORE: Council slammed for 'shameful' condition of gardens

This year, the day the clocks go back and Mother’s Day both fall on Sunday, March 27. In the UK and across the world the favoured gift for mothers always seems to be a bouquet of flowers or a pot plant. We’re told that the pink carnation specifically represents a mother’s love, but white, which symbolises pure or unconditional love and good luck, is another good choice. As a bonus, carnations are one of the longer lasting cut flowers that you can buy, which means your gift will last. It’s all down to personal choice, my mother is not a lover of carnations and I tend to buy her favourite which are freesias. It seems the top five chosen for mum each year are tulips, roses, peonies, carnations and orchids. Take your pick and buy what you think your mum will enjoy next weekend.

If you want to get out in the garden, a useful job at this time of the year is to prune your buddleias. Cut them back to a framework of branches and encourage lots of vigorous new shoots that will have time to mature and flower this summer. Simply cut back last year’s flowered stems to within one or two buds of old wood, or prune back harder if you need to rejuvenate it, or to keep it compact.

Read more of Geoff’s garden at www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk