Blog
The Ghost of Henry VIII, preparing for a party and taking time to enjoy the roses: February in the garden
What’s looking good at the moment Nothing to me says spring is on its way more than seeing the first snowdrops pop their heads up above the ground,. I know it’s still winter but those first shoots appearing always makes me think that the garden is starting to wake up...
Planning for brighter days ahead: January in the Garden
What’s looking good in the garden? I have both Sarcococca confusa and the purple stemmed Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ in the garden (I mentioned them last month). Now the Sarcococca confusa is in full bloom I’m loving the scent as I get out of the car or walk...
Filling the air with scent, cosy up with a catalogue and anyone for edimentals: December in the garden
What’s looking good in the garden? Now that all the leaves have dropped I can see the bare bones of the garden including all the textured bark on trees. Some trees I just want to run my hands over, particularly the shiny red-brown bark of Prunus serrula, with its...
Autumnal hues, more rain and its beginning to look a lot like …: November in the garden
I’ve noticed some apple trees not only have a few apples left but have also started flowering again, the weather really is causing confusion all round. Other plants in the garden have continued flowering on into the end of October and start of November. Particularly...
What’s looking good, tips and what I’m up to: June in the Garden
What’s looking good in the garden? Right now there are irises that have been flowering away in May still going strong. I’m particularly loving the blue of Iris siberica ‘Tropic Night’ and the purple of Iris ‘Purple Sensation’. Astrantias too are currently filling the...
Vivid Magenta: Applying Pantone’s colour of the year to the garden – part 3
While there are shades of Vivid Magenta (the Pantone colour of the year for 2023) for just about every season it can be hard to think about how to combine such a vibrant colour with other flowers and foliage in the garden. Do you favour the cool end of the red...
Vivid Magenta: Applying Pantone’s colour of the year to the garden – Part 2
Summer Colour The Pantone Institute has recognised that we all have a greater desire to be surrounded by living things. Whether personally decorating our homes with a love of house plants (still a big trend) or in commercial spaces adding living walls in office...
Vivid Magenta: Applying Pantone’s colour of the year to the garden – Part 1
Vivid Magenta Every December Pantone announce what the colour of the year will be, eagerly anticipated by the fashion, beauty, interiors and design industries. There is no reason why it shouldn’t be applied to our gardens too. The colour chosen for 2023 is Vivid...
Christmas Trends: Community Garden
Just as there are trends in fashion, interiors and even gardens there are also trends for Christmas. Something that John Lewis has been leading in and is still leading the way when it comes to decorating your home for the festive season. This year’s overarching theme...
Garden Design Trends: Colourful Planting
Colourful gardens are in! Having seen more muted colour palettes over recent years there is now a trend towards breaking out the vibrant colours. Think reds, oranges and purples, a colour palette that reminds me of autumn. It is very much in evidence at the moment,...
Garden Design Trends: Wild Gardens
According to Pinterest wild gardens are in the top ten emerging gardening trends in 2021, wildgarden was the number 2 hashtag (just under balcony gardening). However the wild garden isn’t a new concept, William Robinson (botanist, gardener and owner of GraveTye Manor)...
Garden Design Trends: Cottagecore
Cottagecore has been trending for a while now, but is unsurprisingly still popular. After all it harks back to a simpler life, time to make a sourdough starter and kick off that bread making hobby or just finding time to reconnect with nature, whether exploring your...