Bergenia

Today's the day ......................... to expand the empire

If I didn't have a planned programme of hacking them back at frequent intervals, the bergenias would completely take over my garden.

They are a power-crazed member of the saxifrage family, native to central Asia and they are an evergreen perennial. I think that's where the trouble starts - they have big, leathery heart-shaped leaves right through the winter when everything else has disappeared. This is when they get ideas above their station and they think they can take over the world.

Add to that the fact that they are in flower from December right through the spring and into summer. You get used to seeing them and before you know what's happening, you realise that in fact - that's all there is in the border.

I thought I'd show you this one - before I go and start pruning ................