And we’re off! … its time for the first vegetable seeds to be sown. January is too cold & dark for most seeds, but ideal for chillies. Chilli plants like warm, sunny weather, slightly cooler nights & hate being wet. They’e originally from South America, so that gives you a good idea of … [Read More...]
Garden Plans For 2019
Here we are, teetering on the edge of a new year, with dreams of a garden of lush vegetables, fragrant herbs & sweet smelling roses. But this will only happen … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In January
Given kind weather, gardening at this time of year is a particular joy. I spent a couple of happy sessions having a clear-up in the garden during the … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In November
Winter is a balance between getting things cleared away & ready for the next year whilst not being over-zealous about clearing away too much. I’m fond of a … [Read More...]
Glorious Autumn Colour For Your Garden.
I hope you're enjoying the autumn colour, that last fiery farewell in the garden before winter gets a grip. I've made a determined effort … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In October
Bright days, cold nights & beautiful autumn colours are breaking out all over. Tall grasses that have played a supporting role, become more … [Read More...]
Kokedama Workshop at Jamie Oliver H.Q.
Its easy to see why houseplants are back in the spotlight, at little cost, they instantly transform a room into a more vibrant space & boost your mood, we all … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In September
September in the garden is a pleasure. The weather is mild, the Miscanthus grasses are flowering, a couple of roses are flowering again & I'm harvesting spinach, … [Read More...]
Growing Salad Leaves Through Winter – The Low-Down
Home grown salad leaves are one of the joys of growing your own vegetables, & there's no need to stop at the end of summer So much cheaper than supermarket … [Read More...]
How To Avoid Watering Your Garden
We're right in the middle of a summer heatwave here in the UK, which has meant soaring temperatures of at least 85 degrees on a daily basis, & no … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In July
July, what an interesting month you've been. Vegetables have been slow coming this year, what with the slugs that thwarted my early sowings & the lack of … [Read More...]
The War On Slugs
One of the joys of gardens is how the same one can vary from one year to the next, as new plants are added, & how the weather affects the size, shape … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In June
Here we are half-way through the year, with the longest day on the 21st. June celebrates the joy of gardening, the roses are at their best & there … [Read More...]
Plants At The Chelsea Flower Show 2018
Now that the initial excitement of the Chelsea Flower Show is over for this year, I've been looking back through my notes & photos, & I’m reminded just how … [Read More...]
Great Gardens At The Chelsea Flower Show 2018
The Chelsea Flower Show this year was a good one, it's inspiring to see how over the years, many of the designs have adapted to the world we live in now. Generally … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In May
May is such a lovely month in the garden. Vibrant, fresh growth, the promise of things to come, & all with a backdrop of the sweetest birdsong. But time is … [Read More...]
How To Grow Your Own Herbs.
Growing your own herbs is one of the easiest things to do for a more sustainable life-style, & fresh herbs straight from your garden, have so much … [Read More...]
Three Simple Ways To Garden Sustainably
Hello how’s your garden (or window box) growing? Rain has limited gardening outside, so I’ve been sowing seeds & pottering about in the greenhouse. This has … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In March
I’m not a natural list maker, I have to fight the urge to just get on & do things, but, when I’ve made one, I immediately feel organised. They've … [Read More...]
New Garden Gear To Make Life Easy, Stylish & Sustainable
The view from my kitchen door, early one morning, just before heading off to London last week for the day. I love a visit to London, to walk through the city … [Read More...]
Spring Flowering Bulbs – A Quick Hack
I rather like this stage of winter. The trees are still bare, the light is steely-grey, but a close look reveals green shoots nosing their way through the … [Read More...]
The Garden In January
It’s a bright, cold day here, & if I wasn’t writing this, I’d be out in the garden, … honestly I would, because if you’re wrapped up well, it’s a fine place to … [Read More...]
Last Years Favourite Garden Visits.
When I lived in Oslo in the 80's, I'd ask Norwegian friends how they got through the long winters. Their answer was always the same, warming … [Read More...]
Come & Have A Look At This Beautiful Garden.
As the year draws to a close, I've been thinking back on gardens I visited this year. One of my favourites, had a few moments of fame as the backdrop to a recent BBC … [Read More...]
The Garden In December.
December in the garden is a good month. It's the ideal antidote to the business of Christmas, a time to wrap up & quietly get on with things outside. I've … [Read More...]
The R.H.S. Autumn Show 2017
Hello, it's nice to see you here, I wanted to share my visit to The R.H.S. Autumn Show in London last week with you. I hate to miss this one, it always feels like … [Read More...]
Join Me On A Visit To Sissinghurst Garden
Sissinghurst, that iconic garden, is only a 90 minute drive from us, but it’s been at least 4 years since the last visit, so on one of those beautifully, bright … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In October
I hope you're enjoying the autumn colour, if you're in this part of the world? It almost makes me happy that summer is over. I've got a whole list of things to do … [Read More...]
A Fabulous Garden Tucked Away In The Welsh Hills.
Arriving at Allt-y-bela feels a little like driving straight into a picture, perhaps because I know it so well from all the magazine pictures I’ve seen. Despite this … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In September
We’re at that time between summer & autumn, when the garden is poised & ready for change, & when a few simple tasks, will make all the difference to the … [Read More...]
What Do We Think About Garden Power Tools?
Generally I like my gardening to be a calm activity. To maintain this calmness, any garden power tools have to earn their keep. For instance, I used a battery … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In August.
August is a busy, productive month in the garden. The vegetable garden is at full tilt & we're realising the fruits of our labours, picking vegetables … [Read More...]
Delightful Dahlias & How To Keep Them Flowering.
We’ve had plenty of sunshine & rain here recently, & everything has taken advantage of this, growing at a fast pace. This of course, includes the numbers of … [Read More...]
A Day The Hampton Court Flower Show 2017
I have hazy memories of visiting the first Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in 1993 & my how it's changed over the years. My impression is that in those … [Read More...]
Easy Elderflower Cordial.
Elderflower cordial is one of those things that's deeply satisfying to make. This is an easy recipe & has a lovely, fresh flavour & tastes so much better … [Read More...]
Best Gardens At The Chelsea Flower Show 2017
The best gardens at The Chelsea Flower Show, are the ones that I find myself returning to a couple of times during the morning, taking more photos & generally … [Read More...]
Hardening Off Plants Ready For The Big Outdoors
This is first year of having a greenhouse & it’s been so helpful to have extra growing space. Though without heat, seedlings were still housed on bedroom … [Read More...]
10 Tips for Sustainable Gardening, You Know It Makes Sense.
A new season in the garden, & a very busy one at that, but I've made time to think about how I go about gardening. We've been here for 2 years, so it seemed a … [Read More...]
Lemon Polenta Cake
This weekend has been designated a gardening weekend, there's loads to do out there, but we will find time to sit & have a cup of tea & a slice of cake in … [Read More...]
The Garden In April
It's all change out there, the roadsides are filling up with clouds of cow-parsley [aka Queen Annes' Lace] & the bluebells have begun to carpet the woods with … [Read More...]
The Vegetable Garden In March
The allotment or vegetable garden in March is gearing up to be a busy place, at this time of year I'm either about to sow seeds or I'm looking after early sown … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In March
Hello, I’m back from a wonderful couple of weeks in India. It’s good to be back, there’s s pretty froth of blossom in hedgerows & a noticable difference in the … [Read More...]
English Garden Visits 2017
Visiting gardens is such a joy, it's usually inspiring, a good day out, there may be little plants to buy, & there is always cake. Every year I have a list in … [Read More...]
The Vegetable Garden in February
So what's a good time for a vegetable gardener to go away on holiday? Of course you can't make this the only criteria for holiday planning, but it did cross my … [Read More...]
Finding Time To Grow Vegetables.
There's no doubt that growing your own vegetables is good thing, but when I first had an allotment I got completely carried away. In my enthusiasm I grew lots … [Read More...]
How to Grow Half-Hardy Annuals from Seed
How was your weekend? I spent some time looking through photos of summer gardens this weekend for inspiration , & I'm pretty excited about the flowers I'm going … [Read More...]
Growing Hardy Annual Flowers from Seed.
Although the temperatures here are a bit lightweight compared to say Scandinavia, what I call The Big Freeze carries on. I'm not complaining, it all looks rather … [Read More...]
My Guide to Sowing Seeds.
Our garden is frozen solid, & has been for a few days now, which is fine because staying inside & planning what to grow this year is a lovely thing to be … [Read More...]
Some Of The Vegetables I’ll Be Growing In 2017
2017 is going to be the year of growing vegetables again. Not having an allotment anymore & the new garden being re-done in 2016, meant thin pickings. I missed … [Read More...]
My Garden In December
With the end of the year just round the corner, it seems like a good time to look back on the garden in 2016. Our garden changed a lot in late summer when the … [Read More...]
Organic Gardening – Making Garden Bird Food
How's your garden, now that we're properly into winter? This shift in the season has made a welcome change, there's a kind of stillness in mine as everything … [Read More...]