Stories behind some plants add to garden

Narrative in a garden raises the experience to a different level.

- BY TOM PATTINSON

This begins with a choice of plants that have history, a CV that generations before me have researched.

Knowing they are present brings a level of expectation as I take the daily walk of inspection to keep in touch with developments.

A revelation may come in simple form when a plant currently out of our thoughts suddenly pops up to remind us of its presence.

Isatis tinctoria is a good example.

One of the more interesting plants in this garden not because of its natural beauty, although it is tall with greyish leaves and terminates in a large, multi-stemmed flower head full of tiny yellow blooms.

No, it could easily be mistaken for a weed but occupies a space on merit.

The common name is woad, and it oozes history.