There was a time when gladioli were deeply unfashionable, and although they haven't become quite as trendy as their very stylish sisters the dahlia, they're well on their way. They are so easy to grow, plant them as corms in spring and they'll re-appear, with only a small amount of … [Read More...]
Isn't this the prettiest plant combination, it has colour, texture and a nice selection of shapes to compliment each other, all perfect for a sunny … [Read More...]
If you struggle to decide what plants look good together, or just need ideas for new groups of plants, let me introduce you to blue and green with a touch … [Read More...]
A few weeks ago I wrote about making a bug hotel to attract all those beneficial insects into your garden, so I was pleased to see that they featured in lots of show … [Read More...]
The summer holiday season is upon us, but while you're off gallivanting what's going to happen to those plant pots that have been lovingly planted up and tended for … [Read More...]
July at the allotment or vegetable plot is the time of year when you can easily run out of time and energy, sure you've hopefully got lots to harvest, but there can … [Read More...]
The Rose Marquee at Hampton Court is a must for me to visit every year, why not join me on my tour. The scent is the first thing that hits you when you enter, … [Read More...]
This dreamy combination of plants features the creamy-purple flowers of Daucus carota with the grass Stipa tenuissima and fennel. These cow-parsley type … [Read More...]
If you're going to be one of the 130,00 visitors to The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year, I thought you'd like a little preview so you can plan your … [Read More...]
We've had some beautiful summer weather here, yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far. As we're well into mid-summer I'd suggest spending your time wisely, … [Read More...]
This is the perfect time to sow Biennial plants, and just a few packets of seeds will give you hundreds of flowers next year. A biennial grows over two years, … [Read More...]
I've been thinking about how to preserve as many flowers and vegetables as I can against the pests that prowl my garden and allotment. One of the easiest ways to … [Read More...]
No doubt you've noticed that weeds are growing like mad during this hot, damp summer. The problem with weeds is that they compete with plants for food and water, … [Read More...]
Organic gardening, does it all sound a bit worthy, a bit 'good life' and scruffy? Do you have an image of watching helplessly as precious plants get … [Read More...]
There's a new show in town, the first Grow London contemporary garden fair opens on Hampstead Heath in London this weekend. Starting first with plants, top … [Read More...]
When you're in France and anywhere near the Berry region, try and make time to visit this beautiful garden in the former Orsan Priory. This was my second visit and I … [Read More...]
There are lots of garden events happening in June, they're great places to go for inspiration and a good day out, so here's a taste of what's happening in June 6 … [Read More...]
One of my favourite gardening jobs is to wander round the garden, with a cup of tea in hand, and dead-head flowers. It’s a good way to relax and keep an eye on … [Read More...]
Lots of plants need support to stop them flopping around, permanent planting like the tall purple/blue flower spikes of herbaceous Agastache, Dahlias or annuals such … [Read More...]
If you fancy a bit of foraging, now is the perfect time to make elderflower cordial. It’s really simple to make, tastes delicious, doesn’t contain any … [Read More...]
I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend. One of the nicest things about this time of year are the long days, June has the most hours of daylight up to the summer … [Read More...]
We had a trip to France earlier this month and visited a couple of favourite gardens, both had inspiring Potagers. I love the idea of a vegetable garden looking … [Read More...]
I’ve been absorbed by The Chelsea Flower Show during this last week, now that it’s all over, I wanted to share some of my highlights of the Show. The Paradise … [Read More...]
Back to the Chelsea Flower Show to have a look at some winning plant combinations and popular flowers that seemed to be everywhere, though I’m sure the designers … [Read More...]
Chives are easy to grow and so useful with they're mild onion flavour, that it's an essential herb for my garden. Once planted, it's a permanant … [Read More...]
Gardening is mostly about growing plants, making sure they thrive and look nice, but if you want the whole garden to look good you'll need to step back and see the … [Read More...]
May in the garden is a wonderful month, longer days, rain and warmer weather pushes everything on at a fast pace. Spend some time mooching around your garden, … [Read More...]
It's International Compost Awareness Week ( 5-11 May ) this probably won't fill you with excitement , even if you're a very keen gardener, but just give … [Read More...]
It's really useful to grow vegetables in plant pots or window boxes, even if you have a garden you may not have enough room for vegetables. There are other good … [Read More...]
I love having home-grown vegetables, but with a garden that's mostly surrounded by trees and not much spare space, my options were limited, an allotment was … [Read More...]
If you're wondering what to grow in containers this summer, can I recommend Pelargonium. There's a wide range of colours and types from classically simple to … [Read More...]
The buzzing of bees is an evocative sound, it's the sound of summer, a backdrop to relaxed pottering in the garden. But these little creatures do have a … [Read More...]
This is one of my favourite plants for those dry, shaded areas of the garden. The sort of place, usually under trees, where plants start off well, but then … [Read More...]
I'm a firm believer in maximum output for minimum effort whatever I'm doing, and this is particularly the case at the allotment. I'm not there every day but when I … [Read More...]
If you fancy having your own home grown fruit, rhubarb is a good one to start with. Apart from anything it needs hardly any looking after, isn't prone to disease … [Read More...]
I often cook omlettes, and use a variety of ingredients, it's a nice quick meal when time is short, but what always makes such a difference is adding fresh … [Read More...]
Isn't this a great time of year? I'd like everything to slow down a bit so I can relish the new, fresh green of the garden and all the lovely blossom in the … [Read More...]
It wasn't that long ago that dahlias were thought of as old fashioned and mostly grown on allotments, but that's all changed and now they're uber trendy. … [Read More...]
Summer flowering bulbs are such an asset in a garden, they pop up every year and need little attention. Fritillaria imperialis or crown imperial, is … [Read More...]
Some people love a bowling green lawn without a weed in sight, others are happy with a nice looking lawn and don’t mind a few daisies. I fall into the last … [Read More...]
From a practical view, there are many good reasons to grow your own vegetables, it’s cheap, you can grow types you can’t find in the shops etc. But the real … [Read More...]
It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer, those days when we want to relax in the garden with a cuppa. If you’d like an abundance of flowers to admire while … [Read More...]
I always feel a bit torn between enjoying what's happening in the garden right now and looking forward to what's happening later in the year, so I try to aim … [Read More...]
Peonies are pretty irresistable, they're romantic and sensual with a hint of old fashoined nostalgia. The beautiful flowers range through soft pink, white, … [Read More...]
Just when we thought it would never stop raining, the sun came out, the birds started singing and it was really quite warm. Making it a lovely time to get … [Read More...]
It’s true that plants are usually the eye catching element of a garden, especially in spring and summer. They sing out and grab attention, … [Read More...]
The days are longer, the birds are singing and it's starting to warm up out there. Much as I love Spring, it seems like a good time to feast our eyes on some … [Read More...]
Winter's finally coming to an end so it's a good time to think about how your garden is going to look over the next few months. I took myself off to the RHS … [Read More...]
I love seeing sculpture in gardens, it's a permanent feature that adds another layer of interest to a garden, but the stumbling block is that it can be very … [Read More...]
Snowdrops are bursting into bloom now, so weather allowing, it's the perfect time to visit gardens that specialise in these little … [Read More...]
It's easy to give up on a garden that has really damp soil for most of the year, except that is, when it bakes rock-hard in summer and is equally difficult. … [Read More...]