Plant of the moment

Aquilegia

Call it columbine and remind yourself of those childhood days with miniature trowel and trug

s Are very in at the moment. Despite avant-garde attempts to convince us that orange is the new pale blue, most gardeners seems to be sticking to the subtle hues of pink-lilac-blue-cream that aquilegias come in. Even better, aquilegias are whimsically known as "granny's bonnet" or "columbine". Using such baby-names shows that even the most austere, dedicated plantspersons are still in touch with the simple joys of childhood gardening with miniature trowel and trug. Sweet.