Gardens: what to do this week

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/18/gardens-rozanne-geranium-rhs-flower-show-cardiff

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Squish this

A pretty, bright red beetle may catch your eye about now, hanging out on lily or fritillary leaves. Unlike its relative the ladybird, though, the scarlet lily beetle is bad news for gardeners: adults and their larvae (which use their own faeces as camouflage: ick) devour leaves and petals at a rate of knots. A pick and squish patrol is the best defencewithout recourse to wildlife-unfriendly pesticides. Leave the corpses for the birds.

Visit this

The RHS flower show in Cardiff is on this weekend (18 and 19 April). With more than 50 British nurseries selling their wares and show gardens focused on the theme of transforming small spaces, I defy you to remain uninspired. Details from rhs.org.uk/cardiff.

Plant this

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is what gardeners in the know would call a “good doer”. This hardy perennial flowers through the summer, with abundant, lilac-blue flowers. The leaves bronze up prettily in autumn and, being sterile, the plant won’t self-seed in all the wrong places. Height and spread: 30cm x 60cm. Buy three plug plants for £14.99 or six for £19.98 (prices include free UK mainland p&p). To order, call 0330 333 6856, quoting ref GU302, or go to our Readers’ Offers page. Dispatch April and May.