Words and pics by Jo Green, a former allotmenteer, forager, amateur herbalist, pickler and jam maker who squeezed her allotment greenery into her tiny garden

Dahlias, chrysanthemums and zinnias are flowers I adore in bouquets but have failed to grow.
On many occasions I have tried to grow the green zinnia from seed lured by sun-punched photos in catalogues. That green one called Envy and, yes, I do covet it so! I think I had become a bit set in my ways just buying the occasional perennial and sowing seeds each year.
This year a friend had given me a banana plant. Its Caribbean allure proved irresistible to slugs and snails and I was fearful it would not even make the end of summer.
Cones proved the remedy – I built a cone barricade. I think the combination of pine oil and the built-in abrasive spikes make for a fine defence system.

Picture by Jo Green

Well, if I didn’t have real late flowers, from the Asteraceae family, I might just try making some from the cones!
I had seen a wreath in Pinterest and been struck by how life-like the flowers looked. Naturally, I could not locate that EXACT photo NOW I needed it, but experimenting with the cones began to see that they looked more realistic bottoms up!
Opting for a sturdy frame in the form of a discarded wheel hub to support the heavy blooms, I dunked the cones in some left-over paint as a base and let that dry. From the four corners of our house I gathered ancient acrylics, oils and half-used tester paints for an al fresco buffet for the eyes in the sunny September garden.