I SUPPOSE one of my favourite flowers in the garden and one that has been photographed here at Driftwood many times over the years is the beautiful Shasta Daisy, or Leucanthemum “Snow Lady”.

I have three large clumps in the back garden, with a metal green table and chairs in the middle. The plants flower all summer long and form large, daisy-like flowers, that grow closely together to almost entirely conceal anything beneath them. The compact habit of this perennial makes it a great addition to emptier borders, looking quite striking.

Aside from being loved by butterflies, “Snow Lady” produces wonderful cut flowers, making it a must-have for composing indoor bouquets. I have to confess to never cutting mine for the house, I enjoy seeing them too much in the garden.

If you fancy a garden visit this weekend, then Butlers Farmhouse in Herstmonceux is opening the garden gate for specific time slots through the National Garden Scheme. Go to www.ngs.org.uk to pick your time and book your ticket.

A local Sussex charity, Family Support Work, will be providing tea and coffee and pre-packed slices of cake. An added bonus, weather permitting, you can sit and listen to solo piano jazz and take along your own picnic to enjoy while soaking in the atmosphere, don’t forget your own picnic chairs too.

Malthouse Farm, near Hassocks, will also open on Sunday and next Wednesday too, tickets through the web site as well.

While the heat seems to have died down a bit, we’ve not really had any sustained rain, so much of my time has been taken up with watering and trimming shrubs and hedges which seem to have gone mad with the recent weather.

Lots of mass growth, that for a small garden like mine, needs to be kept in check otherwise things get completely out of hand.

Dead-heading is also a daily task that needs completing, especially with plenty of summer annuals on show. It is done primarily to keep plants looking attractive and to encourage more blooms, whether in beds and border, containers or hanging baskets.

By regular deadheading you are directing energy into stronger growth and help the plant produce more flowers.

Once the flowers are pollinated; seed heads, pods or capsules form at the expense of further growth and flower development, so well worth keeping in check.

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