The burning bush Berberis flower cluster This Berberis has been on fire all this week and was emitting a smouldering glow to light up the dreary days before the sun came out again. Judging by it's size It's obviously a fairly old specimen and I think it must [...]
Gardening is a hobby best pursued with the assistance of others. Despite the plethora and accessibility of gardening assistance there is a concern that there is one area that fewer of us are accessing - the kinship of a garden community or horticultural society. Here I share my experiences as a newbie member and summarise the wonder that is the Great British Horticultural Society
My Six on Saturday is briefer than usual as various domestic crises (broken washing machine leaking all over the floor) and children's activities (sport, sport and more sport) have given me only a short window to write this. I'm bursting with news though and a few great pictures that I'm [...]
Need a focal point for a courtyard garden or terrace that looks good all year round? Consider growing an outdoor bonsai on a table-top against a plain wall. Hardy varieties provide year-round structural interest and offer the potential for blossom and interesting leaf shapes. They are also easier to look after than you might think.
This week has seen the entry of warp speed Spring as the weather warms up to above seasonal averages. I have been admiring Pieris and tulips, shopping for the shade and planting sweet peas.
If you want to grow sweet peas in your allotment or cut flower patch, training them straight upwards is preferable to a triangular obelisk. You'll get straighter stems and better quality flowers for display. Here I show how to build an easy string cordon on a cane frame.
Rivendell Garden in Amersham - a beautiful garden in springtime, open as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Featuring daffodils, hellebores and carefully selected spring beauties the garden layers early season impact above the emerging beauties of summer.
Forsythia seems to split opinion. Some people find sunshine yellow difficult to incorporate in a garden and I admit to having a love-hate relationship with it. Spring is when I'm most likely to love yellow and my Forsythia has not disappointed this year. Yellow and optimistic Forsythia blossom [...]
This week I have been gardening in perma-cloud but plenty of summer colour is promised in my dahlias, cannas, bananas and roses. Daphne mezereum is scenting the air and I welcomed some Trilliums into the garden.