If you are contemplating a garden makeover this spring one of the main items of work could be the renewal of your existing paving or indeed, if you have a new garden design, introducing some paving where none existed before (hope that doesn't sound too obvious!). Thankfully, there is an...
Read MoreIn garden design there are certain plants that do it every time for me: the Chilean firebush Embothrium coccineum has to be one of my favourite plants. Although not successful in my own garden, due to our alkaline soil conditions (this is a plant that does well in gardens that...
Read MoreA carpet of bluebells in deciduous woodland has to be one of the most enchanting sights, at this time of year. And even if you are neither interested in the botanical nor the ecological value of these plants then surely you can't but be moved by the sheer pleasure of the...
Read MoreI am conscious of the fact that I haven't really done a specific garden design post to date. I have been mulling over how to present these. Shall I just dispense the information in a prescriptive way, like a garden doctor, if you will? Perhaps in bullet point format: All gardens...
Read MoreIt was with some relief that I managed to plant my potatoes last week. I know - can you believe it? - they were not planted until the 9th of April! Yes, the fact that they had not been planted by the purported St. Patrick's Day planting deadline had been troubling my...
Read More[caption id="attachment_1385" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Entrance to Wilson memorial garden[/caption] E.H. Wilson was born in Chipping Campden in 1876. A small memorial garden to the great plant-hunter can be found there. Barely noticeable, the garden is accessed through a small arch, which is not much more than a gap in the wall...
Read MoreIt is not my intention that my blog is used as a long term climate recording tool, but the ongoing variability in our weather is so dramatic that I will continue to comment on it as long as I feel it is impacting on the plants in our gardens. So...
Read MoreThe garden has been battered by near gale force winds for the past twenty- four hours. The blossom has been stripped from the trees, foliage has been flattened and debris lies scattered across the garden. I am residing indoors nursing my cold; doing some garden design sketches, at least. Nonetheless, I...
Read MoreEnvironmental conditions have changed abruptly: day time temperatures have tumbled to below 10°C in a spell of unseasonable cold weather, skies are in the main dull with some sunny spells, the wind has picked up, and we have even had a spot of rain - although, this is welcome to...
Read MoreAs a garden designer, one has to have a store of ready answers to often asked gardening questions. These need to be confidently rolled off the tongue, without hesitation, to instil client confidence in your abilities. I find that some practice is required here as the right answer may differ...
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