What is a garden? An ever-changing expanse of blue, lightness, the rush of air, freedom and energy. Swinging aloft, earthly concerns forgotten in the airborn joy of movement. In childhood days I thought little of seasonal changes, of buying plants or raising vegetables from seed, of compost, plant labels and copper tape as hosta protection … Continue reading Of Swings And Daisies
The winter garden is waiting, the new raised beds watching me through the windows, daring me to step out into the frost, the drizzle, the sunshine to tackle a host of gardening jobs. Instead I've been cooking, eating, playing, crafting, walking, cycling and enjoying this unusually long period of family time together. But this afternoon I … Continue reading Planning a Cutting Patch: Annual Choices
I started a cutting patch in the back garden last year. It was a disaster. I planted Echinacea purpurea, Monarda, Calendula ('Indian Prince' and 'Porcupine'), sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus 'Barry Dare', 'Cupani' and 'Arthur Hellyer'), Gladioli ('Flevo Cool', 'Flevo Flash' and 'Flevo Sylvia') and nasturtiums. It was a bit of an odd mix with little forethought, just plants … Continue reading Planning a Cutting Patch: Bulb Time
Biography, art history, botanical study - none of these terms do sufficient justice to Molly Peacock's expansive, lyrical and thoroughly readable account of the life of Mary Granville Pendarves Delany (1700-1788). Over a period of ten years, Delany created nearly a thousand cut-paper botanical images of flowers from all over the world. Living in a period of intense botanical … Continue reading The Paper Garden: Mrs Delany [Begins Her Life’s Work] at 72
It's been a dreamy summer holiday. We've been swimming in the sea, learned to ride without stabilisers, lost baby teeth, wandered around maize mazes, explored woodland dens and returned from the allotment stained with raspberry and blackberry juice. Now, in the first week of September, there's school on the horizon for both my 7 year old and … Continue reading Banish the September blues with my top 10 tulips
These days I spend much of my time in private and community gardens (and sometimes even my own) working with plants and I've learnt a great deal over the past few years about where garden plants will thrive, how they will combine with their fellows and when they will steal the limelight. But my knowledge … Continue reading Exploring wild flowers: 5 coastal plants with interesting edible histories
In 2008 I went to the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time and was entranced by another newcomer – the stunning red Clematis 'Rebecca' which was being launched at the show by Raymond Evison. The magnificent Clematis Rebecca named after Raymond Evison's oldest daughter Clematis Inspiration On the stand it was paired with Clematis 'Artic Queen' … Continue reading Clematis ‘Belle of Woking’: An Unusual History
Ten years ago I went on the allotment waiting list. Local sites are heavily oversubscribed and I was expecting a substantial wait. Five years later, with one small child and another on the way I decided to come off the list as allotmenteering seemed unfeasible in the blur of family life. Instead we worked on … Continue reading Allotment Beginnings
Returning home from Chelsea yesterday and on waking this morning my main recollections of the show were all infused with colour, my brain still awash with the contrasts and blends which lent a particular character to each garden and plant exhibit. I've been entertained, surprised and soothed by the colours of Chelsea in the past and there's no doubt … Continue reading Planting Palettes: Reflections on RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016