Have you watched the birds recently? If not, I’d heartily recommend it. Our UK birds include bully robins, timid wrens, gentle pigeons, and here-today-gone-tomorrow swallows all fighting for survival. It’s like a soap opera out there. I love it because bird watching is one of the few activities that doesn’t cost a lot and it […]
Kale is one of those fool-proof crops that everyone should grow because it’s hardy in the cold months, it’s resistant to most diseases, and grows in all types of soil. Kale is a member of the brassica family. It’s a cabbage-type plant that forms a loose unstructured head rather than the hard, round cabbage heads […]
Take a journey of DIY discovery, and see exactly what’s possible in your garden with a bit of creative flair and elbow grease. We’ve sourced 77 of the best garden DIY ideas. Garden Ideas for Children 1. Hobbit Playhouse Source Give your kids the playhouse of their dreams while indulging your Lord Of The Rings […]
The cut chrysanthemum is a familiar flower in supermarkets and florists, and is grown commercially in huge quantities. It is a traditional garden flower, and while its popular appeal has waxed and waned many times over the decades, it retains a strong following amongst its enthusiasts and exhibitors. Chrysanthemum cutting beds still take pride of […]
The Alstroemeria, or Peruvian lily, is a long-lived, free-flowering perennial that originates from South America. They grow from tubers, and produce lots of colourful flowers from June through to the first winter frosts on stems up to 1.2m tall, depending on the variety. The flowers come in a wide variety of colours, including shades of […]
The Phlox genus encompasses nearly 70 species, and includes annuals, perennials and shrubs. Most of the perennial varieties are upright, but a few species are mat forming. Most of the popular garden varieties derive from the species Phlox paniculata, an elegant, erect, herbaceous perennial with sword-shaped leaves. It produces loose, branching clusters of five-petalled flowers […]
Hyacinths are a delightful plant to grow for a burst of spring colour and fragrance. They can be grown in pots, window boxes and borders in groups to provide a lovely spring display. They are a great choice for growing in containers as they are quite compact with lots of flowers. Having them around a […]
Poinsettia has become the archetypal Christmas house plant. Its cheery red flowers are a common festive season sight in homes, garden centres and supermarkets across the UK. One recent estimate suggested that six million poinsettias are bought here every Christmas. The flowers do not have petals, and the showy bright red for which the plant […]
This evergreen shrub is grown for its mass of beautiful, star-shaped white flowers, which have a delicate citrus fragrance, in late April through May. It also has attractive glossy foliage with leaves that are aromatic and shaped like small palm leaves. One of the most common varieties grown, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ has lovely yellow to […]
Camellias are one of the most popular evergreen early flowering garden shrubs, providing a short-lived but often intense splash of colour. As woodland plants, they grow best in light shade, although with watering and care some types will also thrive in sunnier spots. The camellia is a close relative of the plant that fills our […]
