WHAT a glorious week we’ve had in Seaford. Some really warm sunny days which means the garden has really needed some attention.

Everything that seemed to be stalling on the growing front has come alive, with so many blooms showing their true colours out there. I have quite a few hydrangeas, some in containers and a couple in the ground.

There are three that are really looking good at the moment. The enormous, rounded heads of white florets stand proud on the strong stems of my hydrangea Annabelle. Unlike many Hydrangea arborescens varieties, this well-branched hydrangea rarely flops due to its well branched, compact growth habit. A superb specimen for a shaded border or woodland garden, mines in a shady corner in a large container.

The next, also white, is named after the fabled Greek hero Hercules. This plant shows off its strength in both size and durability like its namesake as it will stand the test of all types of conditions and show how it is quite the spectacle in any garden. Huge, spectacular plumes which are bursting with large soft shaded green blooms, give hydrangea “Hercules” its name as they grow up to 40cm each.

With large strong shoots, this shrub stands tall and proud above other flowers which gives it the power to show off in urban conditions as well as low temperatures. Mine is new this year, so lots of growth to come.

The third is Red Baron with rosy red flowers in a mop head form which are produced in abundance on this easy to grow hydrangea. The blooms of Hydrangea macrophylla Red Baron slowly fade to a deeper, more subtle shade of red as they mature during the season, extending this hardy shrub’s interest through into autumn. Its compact growing habit means that “Red Baron” can also be grown in containers on the patio as well as being included in a shrub border. I’ve got two in pots at Driftwood, one by the pond and one on the back patio.

This week there are several gardens in Sussex open for the National Garden Scheme. Here’s three options. On Saturday a trail of three gardens in Balcombe can be enjoyed in the afternoon. On both Saturday and Sunday afternoons,

Limekiln Farm in Chalvington near Hailsham will be open and Channel View in Goring by Sea on Sunday. All gardens have to be pre-booked. Go to www.ngs.org.uk and click on book a visit to a garden.

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