I'm usually completely stressed out after a day slogging away at work so when I get home all I want to do is to kick off my shoes, pour myself a glass of red and head for my scented bower.

I'll explain. It's a bench placed up against a hedge, with a simple wooden arch over it. But here's the lovely bit, it's absolutely smothered in climbing plants so that, once inside, I'm totally private and snug and surrounded by gorgeous green leaves and flowers that are just oozing with heady and sensuous perfumes. Mmmmmm.......

I like to run my fingers (the ones not holding that second glass of vino) through the herbs I've placed in terracotta pots just next to the bench - lavender is very calming, as is santolina, which has the most the most beautiful pale yellow button-like flowers.

Anyhow, let me tell you about some good climbers to plant over this arch or indeed over anything that'll take a climber in your garden - walls, fences, tripods, trees, porches......

First, because I can see the bower from my kitchen window, it has to look good all year round. And because Joan and Eric next door are always peering out at me I wanted to make it private, and all this means that the first plant in is ivy. It's evergreen, smart all year round, has lovely leaves and is fast growing - much to Eric's chagrin! I've used a variety called Hedera helix 'Kolibri' because it's beautiful with small green shiny leaves edged with cream and is as tough as old boots..

I've been really greedy next in choosing climbers for scent because that's what I really love most, so I've got two. First there's a gorgeous healthy rose that from the end of May is smothered in delicate shell pink flowers with an amazingly evocative scent which reminds me of my granny's face cream. It's called New Dawn and flowers its socks off all summer.

And then, on the other side, I've got a jasmine, Jasminium officinalis, with tiny glossy leaves and tiny white flowers which give off the most amazing scent, especially at night, when I take a few candles out with me as well as the wine.

So that's it. Three of the nicest climbers over an arch, with a bench underneath it to sit on equals.......my personal little scented sanctuary.