In January I banished grey days by reading The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair. It took me on a vivid journey through the history of colour, to explore the unknown corners of sepia, fallow, orchil, Isabelline and vantablack. As I read, I noticed how many of the terms are derived from plants like madder, … Continue reading 25 Colourful Crops for a Vibrant Vegetable Garden
Last month I wrote Why Nature Matters: In Our Gardens and Our Countryside exploring the inextricable links between gardens and the wider landscape - with all the benefits and responsibilities this entails. As we become increasingly aware of the direct effect of our collective actions on the environment, complex issues such as the use of plastic, … Continue reading Peat Bog Restoration: Protecting Ecosystems and Limiting Climate Change
Ripening in the garden this afternoon are the last of the 'White Marseille' figs (Ficus carica); the first, and therefore somewhat miraculous, harvest for 14 years. On either side of the fig are the fruiting canes of the pink, seedless 'Reliance' grape (Vitis vinifera) and in the front garden, a handful of Chilean guava (Ugni molinae) berries … Continue reading Prince and Pedlar: Forgotten Fruit
in Just- spring when the world is mud- luscious... … Continue reading Why Nature Matters: In Our Gardens and Our Countryside
When my godson was three his favourite foods were apples and peas: a predilection that I naively assumed was the norm for small children. When my son started on solid foods, I offered him fruit and vegetables with enthusiastic expectations, only to find he cried when peas appeared on his plate and the concept of … Continue reading Sowing the Seeds of Tomorrow
I can't believe it's already time to decide which bulbs to grow next spring. It's taken a while, but I've finally managed to whittle the current list down to ten - based on the most reliable, perennial and beautiful varieties we've grown in the past 15 years... 1. 'Ballerina' One of my favourite tulips with … Continue reading Tulip Time…
Published earlier this month, Dahlias: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden is a captivating celebration of the dahlia combining Georgianna Lane's sublime photography of single cultivars and mixed arrangements with Naomi Slade's lyrical and engaging text. I've been looking forward to reading Dahlias since May, when Naomi mentioned the new book she'd been writing. Having been kindly sent … Continue reading Book Review: Dahlias by Naomi Slade and Georgianna Lane
In 2012, Oxford University Press removed around 50 nature words from the new edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary, replacing them with technological terms such as 'chatroom', 'attachment' and 'broadband'. As Robert MacFarlane writes in his extraordinary celebration of the language of landscape and natural life, Landmarks, 'for blackberry, read BlackBerry'. These substitutions reflect changing times, with three-quarters … Continue reading Family Fun: The Great British Wildflower Hunt
Where better to take the kids on a sunny summer's day than the family-friendly garden show set in the beautiful grounds of Woburn Abbey? Now in its ninth year, the show attracts many visitors all looking for inspiration from the 100+ exhibitors, demonstrations, talks and garden tours. The talks - from Adam Frost and Pippa … Continue reading Woburn Abbey Garden Show: A Family Affair
Visitors to BBC Gardeners World Live have a busy, exciting show ahead of them this year. With 10 show gardens, 6 smaller gardens, more than 20 beautiful borders and over 100 stands selling plants and gardening equipment, the show will provide inspirational ideas for everyone to take home. Inspiration is everywhere at this year's show Made … Continue reading BBC Gardeners World Live – All About Inspiration