While I hate seeing invasive ivy choking tree trunks unchecked, campanula is a different story altogether. It is easy to control and doesn’t take over, being fine-stemmed, and there’s the benefit of the little blue star-like flowers. It creeps across the ground among other plants, popping up now and again.

Somehow, it has made its way to the back garden and makes a cosy blanket over the ‘Hamish’ statue of a boy reading a book (he was named by the staff at the plant nursery where I bought him). I can pull it away easily if I need to, but for now it looks charming. It has been joined by a Mexican daisy – ever the opportunist.