Greenhouse gems
This week I take a visit to the greenhouse to show some plants that are providing late colour and winter interest - an explosion of Chrysanthemums, a glowing salvia and a sand box of tiny alpine delights.
Autumn bites
Dull days need brightening with autumn colour and as we tip slowly towards winter, there are still plenty of flowers showing us their autumn best.
How to plant Wood Anemones
Wood Anemones light up the floor of deciduous woodlands in March and April with starry constellations of pure white or pink tinged blooms. The flowers are lifted above a shaggy carpet of lush green leaves, an emerald sky to the white star flowers. This is not a flower I was [...]
A stage for rock stars
This week I set about building a rockery - set to be the stage for some rock star alpines. I also plant some new woodland plants and collect seeds from a magnolia.
Growing Magnolia from seed
For the first time this year I have ripe fruits on my magnolia kobus tree. Growing magnolia trees from seed is a long game, and an uncertain one. The tree has gifted me seeds so I'm giving it a go. Here's how I prepared the seeds for planting next spring.
Ferns for woodland gardens
This week I bought some ferns for my woodland garden. Evergreen or deciduous, frilly or flat leaved, acid green or moss-coloured I hadn't realised how diverse they are. Some named after feathers and other lace, here are my favourite six.
Busy week in the garden
A busy week in the garden has seen the pond finished, a froggy staircase built, more parts of the woodland cleared, a mini stumpery started and some bonsai training.
Pond update and shady characters
It's autumn and friends are asking me what I am doing in the garden - am I putting it to bed for the winter? If my garden is a theatre show then far from closing the curtain and packing the props away, autumn is all about rebuilding the stage and [...]
Growing alpines from seed
My latest article for the Alpine Garden Society - the successes and failures of my alpine seed exchange sowing.