WHEN I'm invited to someone's house I am often intrigued by the contents of my hosts' bookshelves.

Inevitably the phrase, You can tell a man by his books, often passes through one's mind.

For me, gardens are a bit like that.

For instance if garden owners have a fetish for growing twisted willows, twisted beech and contorted hazels, then one would surely be intrigued as to what was going through the mind of the owner when he or she planted them.

That's what makes garden visiting so interesting. And now is the time for visiting.

While on holiday why not go and see for yourself. Not only to enter into the mind of the owner, but to obtain ideas for your own patch.

If you are a serious garden visitor you would have to have 'the gear'.

Firstly a camera. Nowadays, thanks to the invention of the digital camera, it's not only possible to record garden images, but you can also superimpose them on your own border or bed.

Then you will need a notebook and pencil because you are bound to forget the name of most plants you want to remember. It avoids having to pinch the label.

To ensure you find plants which best suit your aspect you might even resort to taking along a compass.

You might think this a bit over the top until in big gardens you realise it's a useful aid to help you find your way around - and out.

But the problem with leaving your own garden for a week to visit others is obvious - the work back home overtakes you.

Meanwhile in the FLOWER BORDER the roses require 'dead heading' even if the weather stays dry and they don't 'ball up.' In the VEGETABLE GARDEN it's time to sow spring cabbage half an inch deep in drills 6" apart while in THE GREENHOUSE it's time to do the repairs.

PLANT OF THE MONTH

- RICINUS

WITH all the emphasis on tropical looking plants, I don't think any display looks complete without the great 'triffid-like' display of the caster oil plant (ricinus.)

It grows in a vast area from North Africa to West Asia.

It's great glossy palmate leaves provide the setting for the insignificant flowers followed by oval prickly capsules containing seed.

The seed is a talking point too, looking like some strange foreign beetle with frightening looking markings on its back.

The true caster oil plant is ricinus communis but there are some stunning named varieties which range from fire red colours to mahogany.

R 'impala' is a good compact variety whereas the stronger R zanzibarensis can grow to 10ft.

It's a good plant for the conservatory, but care should be taken because the plant contains ricin, a poisonous substance which can be lethal.

GARDENS TO VISIT:

THORNTON MANOR

AT the end of the month on Bank Holiday Monday you may have an opportunity to visit Viscount Levenhulme's garden at Thornton Hough.

It's a great garden of all-year-round interest and worth making the effort to be there.

Wander through the woods, walk around the lake and enjoy the peace.

When you get fed up go down into the village to enjoy some fine cottage gardens in an area that belongs to a bygone age.

To get there follow the A540, then take the B5136.

Admission is £2 and the car park is free.

SUMMARY

FLOWER GARDEN

Dead head roses

Order new roses for planting in November

Dead head herbaceous plants

VEGETABLE GARDEN

Sow spring cabbage

Sow Brussels sprouts

Harvest corn on the cob

GREENHOUSE

See to any repairs etc

Take fuchsia cuttings

Remove growing point to speed development of tomatoes

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.