A is for acorn the fruit of the oak,
B is for buttercup with its bright yellow cloak.
C is for carnations cascading in reds,
D is for dahlias with curvaceous heads.
E is for eucalyptus a bluish white shrub,
F is for freesia they flourish with love.
G is for gypsophila a dainty white flower,
H is for honeysuckle entwined around bower.
I is for impatiens they are stunning in pots,
J is for jacaranda, which loves a hot spot.
K is for kniphofia, red-hot poker to you,
L is for lavender in shades of mauve blue.
M is for marigolds a profusion of gold,
N is for nectar or honey as sold.
O is for orange blossom, in sweet-scented trees,
P is for poppies attracting the bees.
Q is for quietude that gardening brings,
R is for reseta the flowers are red tinged.
S is for stocks and their sweet spicy scent,
T is for trees standing proud and unbent.
U is for unique Rosemary Vereys blend of sweet peas,
V is for virginia creeper with its autumn red leaves.
W is for wishing that summer would come,
X is for xanthisma that open up with the sun.
Y is for yearning to see the garden in bloom,
Z is for zealously planting in June.

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Heavenly holly

Blazing red berries,
Razor sharp leaves,
Luminous landscapes
The holly achieves.

Huddled in hedges
It needs modest room,
A tree for all seasons,
A champion in bloom.

It's planted near houses
To keep lightning at bay,
It'll calm a wild beast
And lead witches astray.

The courageous Celts,
In battle they stood,
Protected by spears
Of fine holly wood.

Flaunting white flowers
From May until June,
Starry shaped petals
Of heady perfume.

A tree in both sexes,
Some say this is folly,
But only the female
Adds hue to our holly.

Its blood tinted berries
Encircled by thorns,
A Christian symbol
Salvation was born.

Emerging in autumn
To clusters of red,
Eating the berries
Is fatal - it's said.

When mature fruit
Eventually expire,
Embryonic berries
Rekindle its fire.

A holly leaf lingers
Sometimes seven years,
A gardener's dilemma
Is dodging the spears.

It's deemed unlucky
Destroying this tree,
But stripping its boughs
Is accepted, you see,

To make Yule decorations
Look festive and jolly,
Chose gleaming garlands
Of evergreen holly.

For chronic chest ailments
It heralds a cure,
It's used for bronchitis,
And colic...I'm sure.

Its powerful potion
We can't live without,
A tea for high fever,
For jaundice and gout

And numerous diseases
From which we'll survive,
We need this great herb
In order to thrive.

When trees in midwinter
Look barren and bleak,
The holly's still stunning,
Its beauty...unique.