Samphire Hoe, the early spider orchid and this tasty seaside vegetable

This is an exceptional, diminuitive rare orchid, which when found is often kept secret, so that it is safe from botanical bounty hunters. But, when kept safe, and in the conditions that it likes (where the sea meets the land, where sand becomes mixed with soil, and where moss may have begun to take hold, but grass is still grappling to find its feet), it is at its happiest. It has an acid green/yellow colour, with a firm stalk, and a dark chocolate brown velvety body from where it takes its name. 

 This is so at Samphire Hoe where plants numbers have multipled from 67 found in 1998 up to the 11,500 counted earlier in 2012.  Samphire Hoe was created by Eurotunnel reusing the chalk marl taken during the the building of the Channel Tunnel. It is a beautiful strip of land, running alongside the Dover Cliffs, and located between Folkestone and Dover. It is home to wildlife, migrating and native birds, and loads of wildflowers. You reach it by turning off from the M20, travelling through a dark, chalk tunnel to emerge into a white seabright landscape beyond. It's worth a visit just to do this.

Why is it called Samphire Hoe? It was named through a public competition, and refers to Rock Samphire which used to be collected from the neighboring cliffs, and Hoe which refers to the spit of land that sticks out into the sea. Of course, it is illegal to transplant any wildflower or plant, so collecting from the cliffs would be taboo. But, you can still see Samphire at the Hoe, adjacent to the cafe and successfully planted at the top edge of the seawall.

If, like us you fancy trying to cultivate Samphire, we have found Victoriana Nursery which supplies small plants replete with full instructions on how to care for this maritime vegetable. The fun thing is that you have to water it with salt laden water (30g to l litre) and can try sea water, which I am keen to do. Most of the fishmongers around the coast sell this maritime delicacy, although the main type sold tends to be marsh samphire that grows in the salt marshes. If you can't get to the Hoe, and don't fancy giving growing it a go, do try and taste, it's crunchy taste  won't disappoint.

Snails and the seaside garden

This is the last time that I am going to plant delphiniums and lupins. For the third time in as many years, these have been decimated by these slimy creatures; this is despite the judicious use of pet friendly slug pellets, copper rings, grit and nematodes.

From now on I will concentrate on the plants that have their own inbuilt defence system. The papaver orientale laughs in the face of these slippy customers, brushing them off with its coarse bristly leaves, and the alliums with their distinctive oniony scent are not plat du jour in the snail world.

My roses escape unscathed too, with their dagger like, thorny stems which quite happily catch and climb towards the skies. These are performing brilliantly this year. Souvenir Docteur du Jardin and the William Lobb deep pink/lilac rose, both in their third year have many buds and my Seagull rambler has really found its feet in its new spot, and i hope that the recently planted Vichenbleu will do the same in a few years.

I have planted around 200 alliums in this small sized plot, ranging from the dazzling firework Schuberti, elegant Mount Everest, Purple Sensation and my favourite Chistophii with hundreds of starry flowers per bloom. I always get a bulk order from Devines Nursery who display these magnificent blooms at the Chelsea Flower Show every year.

My shady corner, with Japanese ferns, wild garlic and our own native hellebore happily grows without any critters nibbling its leaves.

Whilst the hostas, planted deep in a gravel strewn pot, and perched up high at the base of a tree fern seems free from snail damage at the moment. I will keep up my regular snail raids to keep these fighting fit, but I'm pretty sure I know who will win this battle, and it won't be me.

Any good recipes for snails anyone?