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The yellows of the silver birch, the ginkgo, and the field maple? The oranges of the Japanese maple, the tulip tree, and the oak? Or the reds of the cherry, the smokebush, the barberry, and the Virginia creeper? If you’re like me, as the year comes to an end, you find yourself drawn to thoseContinue reading “What’s your flavour?”

Flames and fireworks — Hawthorn and Ivy The garden is slowing down, and the colours of autumn are now a dazzling spectacle. The inspirational duo for me today is the hawthorn and ivy — both sharing a hedgerow like the perfect pair. While the hawthorn is retreating, its leaves turning blush red and russet orange,Continue reading “Winning combinations this week:”

A golden light casts its autumnal veil across the landscape. It’s around four in the afternoon. The harvesting days in my garden are numbered as the last of the pears cling to their branches. I pick one that hasn’t yet been pecked at, grateful for any at all and happy to share them with theContinue reading “Fruit, glorious fruit”

Yesterday it dawned on me in punchy shades of yellow and orange that the year was closing in when I noticed the leaves of the large Acer in the garden were already turning, signalling the shift from late summer to autumn. These trees are renowned for their vibrant green leaves which move through flame-like transitionsContinue reading “Maples in September: The Turning of the Year”

If your plum tree has barely any fruit and congested growth, light pruning in late June is okay—especially to improve airflow and reduce disease risk. Focus on thinning out overcrowded shoots, removing any inward-growing or crossing branches, and cutting back overly vigorous upright growth (like water shoots). Use clean, sharp secateurs and make clean, angledContinue reading “Late June: Selectively pruning plum trees”

Now is the time to sow native wildflowers in your garden, creating a vibrant, natural space that supports local wildlife and gives you a certain kudos at the same time. By choosing the right native mix suited to your soil type, you can help foster biodiversity, provide nectar for pollinators, and enjoy the charm ofContinue reading “Sowing Wildflowers: Embrace the Wilds with Snake’s-Head Fritillaries and More”

I long remember April for the well- known saying April showers bring May flowers… but dry, cracked earth is apparent across many of the gardens I work in. Drought can stunt plant growth, reduce biodiversity, and make gardens harder to maintain. So let’s consider how we can improve soil, choose drought-tolerant plants, and conserve waterContinue reading “Parched Earth in April…”

March 2025 Hydrangeas. The good, the better and the beautiful! With the spring equinox on Thursday gone, we can now truly say that spring has sprung. And so it is… one of my favourite seasonal garden rituals can begin – pruning hydrangeas! For me it’s like a symbolic transition, marking the end of what hasContinue reading “A spotlight… on just one thing”

On mild days when the earth is pliable and willing for growth, I continue to divide and transplant and find homes for the bare-rooted plants wishing for their place in the garden. Pulling the opportunists such as the brazen sycamore saplings and the other undesirables, which until now have evaded my trusted homi, means weContinue reading “Winter… What’s happening in the garden?”