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 hedgerows around here. It’s a good time to get out into the garden and do a few things, not a lot, just potter […]
A simple garden task that’ll make a huge difference to your garden.
It’s easy to stay inside tucked up by the fire at this time of year, but since it’s so mild at the moment I’d like to encourage you to venture out into the garden to do some gardening. It’s just the right time to give your garden a treat by spreading a layer of mulch over the soil. This […]
Colour in the garden part 3
Colour in the garden isn’t just about using plants and flowers, some great effects can be had by using coloured objects. Painting a wall introduces colour quickly and easily, and can be changed if you get tired of the colour. It’s good to think about what’s planted in front of the wall too, these white flowers […]
Colour in the garden part 2
It’s very useful to know how to use colour to create mood and atmosphere in the garden as discussed in the last post, but most people want too know how to combine colours together. Using the colour wheel is a good starting point if you’re unsure what to do. Colours opposite each other on the […]
A perfect plant for autumn flowers and some elegant Japanese style
Not only are chrysanthemums a stalwart of the autumn garden, they’re perfect for Japanese style gardens too, having been introduced to Britain from Japan in the early 19th century, where they have been associated with the nobility since the 13th century. They come in a range of beautiful colours from pure white, pink, yellow […]
How to plant spring and early summer flowering bulbs.
One of the great advantages of planting gardens for clients at this time of year is that I can include bulbs in the planting plan. It’s the perfect time to plant spring and early summer bulbs, here are my tips for a lovely display next year. Ideally, it’s best to plant them before November: daffodils, the small tete a […]
Gorgeous plants and ideas from Marks Hall Garden.
This beautifully designed walled garden has been made in the former 18th century kitchen garden at Marks Hall in Essex. Like many other grand houses, Marks Hall was demolished in the 1950s, having fallen into decline during World War 2. The garden and arboretum are now managed by The Marks Hall Trust. The entrance to […]
Friday Inspiration, autumn flowers.
Have you noticed lovely these little crocus-like flowers popping up recently? They’re called Colchicum, but you can see why they’re called autumn crocus. They’re also sometimes referred to rather coyly as ‘naked ladies’ because the flowers appear before the leaves. They like to be planted in moist, but well drained soil in a sunny position. They look lovely […]
A Tudor house and a beautiful garden
Tucked away behind this beautiful Tudor house in Coggeshall, Essex, is a simple but charming garden. The garden is divided into three distinct areas. The first section near the house has a handsome, herringbone brick path leading through to a lawned area. This style of path works so well with the Tudor building. There are plenty of […]
Save seeds from your garden for free plants next year – Part 2
The last post was about collecting seeds from plants in your own garden, have a look here if you want a reminder of how to collect seeds and why it’s s good idea. The easiest and most successful method is to collect the seeds of hardy annuals. These are plants that grow, flower and die in […]
Design ideas from a beautiful garden in the heart of the City of London.
How to begin a new garden or improve an existing one, can be a stumbling block for many people, including professional designers. I recently came across a beautiful little garden in the heart of the City of London, the attraction is the lovely plants, a great lay-out and that the whole garden fits in so well with its surroundings. It’s on the […]
A gem of a garden to visit in West Sussex.
Having lived less than an hours drive from this garden for years I visited this summer for the first time. I’m now rather obsessed with the garden and made a second visit a few weeks later. Woolbeding House and garden is managed by The National Trust and I’m not sure why it isn’t better known because it’s […]
Friday inspiration – have a seat in the garden & relax
A well-sited garden bench is a great thing to have in any garden. Preferably it’ll be weatherproof and in a permanant position, that way it’ll be easy and convenient to have a seat and enjoy your surroundings. This stone bench is perfect for the job, it’ll just need a quick wipe-down after rain, and it’s partially enclosed by plants […]
All about using a coloured back-drop in your garden
A well chosen background colour in a garden can make the difference between plants that look quite good and plants that look outstanding. The choice of colour also influences the atmosphere, red brings energy into a garden, whilst softer colours are more calming and restful. Wall colours can be soft and rather muted, like the one here that […]
Friday inspiration ~ bit of a catwalk plant, beautiful but demanding.
These gorgeous little plants look to good to be real don’t they. Apparently Auriculas were brought over to England by French Huguenots who settled in Spitalfields over three hundred years ago. Flemish weavers also brought them when they came over and worked in the mills in the north of England. These little […]
Olympic Park inspirational planting?
It’s difficult to spot exactly when trends in the gardening world change, there’s always talk of the latest trends at The Chelsea Flower each year, but recently there’s also been much talk of the 2012 Olympics bringing the naturalistic prairie-planting style to the attention of the public.
Late flowering treasures for your garden
I’m not one for placing too much emphasis on having flowers all year round in gardens, there are so many elements that make a good garden and flowers are just one of them, however