Garden history

The Twisted History of Barbed Wire

From tranquil heathland to battlefields—a closer look at the humble fence reveals a tale of invention, conflict, and unintended consequences.

Plant profiles

Resist everything but temptation

Are you powerless against a favourite plant at the nursery? Me too!

Through the Garden Gates

Goodbye to my Portuguese garden

Six years of a steep learning curve

Plantspeople

The Old Man and the Garden

When I was young, gardeners were old... now I'm in my 70s, am I over the hill?

Trees

Simple Acts for Anxious Apes

Leaving a mark, sans saintliness

Plantspeople

A paradoxical appreciation of the ordinary

Life lessons, and a garden through the eyes of the extraordinary Mary Keen

Planting Design

Become a Plant Hunter on Your Own Doorstep

This trio of plants captivate me just as much as any garden stalwart

Garden Therapy

The courage to let go of perfectionism

How the garden can teach you what really matters

Growing for eating

Enchanting Potato Lore: From Devil's Apples to Lunar Planting

The traditional day for planting your potatoes is coming up: Good Friday. But how did this lore appear and what is behind it? And how does it tie very neatly into lunar gardening...?

How to

When April Brings You To Your Knees

On falling behind, looking closer, and what the garden does when you can’t keep up.

Collective

What we're up to

Join the Garden Collective in our own gardens to hear about how we're spending a gloriously sunny weekend

Sustainability

Don't be a plant hypochondriac

I am consulted on a daily basis by people who are concerned about the health of their plants. It's time to stop worrying.