Essays

Essays

Confessions of a Pots Addict

'My name is John, and I’m addicted to pots.'

Essays

Common Scents

Are we growing a pharmacy in our gardens?

Essays

Saying It With Flowers: But Which Ones?

February 14 is a day to love and loathe in equal measure for florists, but whoever you choose to send flowers to, it's time to think beyond a stiff-stemmed red rose for Valentine's Day.

Essays

What a Wonderful World

The freedom of being able to write about what you want seems great, until you sit down to start. This may well sound like some sort of personal statement, but bear with me and hopefully all will come clear after the rain has cleared!!

Essays

Cracking the Plant Code: A Botanical Conundrum

Finding the perfect plants for a far-from-perfect spot is proving to be a conundrum of sorts. One that shouldn't be that difficult, but it is challenging everything I thought I knew about growing plants.

Essays

Garden Therapy, or The Psychology of Gardening

Lift the lid on the highs and the lows of the unique relationship between gardeners and their gardens.

Essays

The Original Croconut

Explore the ephemeral beauty of Crocus tommasinianus and its offspring as they enliven the bright days of early spring.

Essays

Go Ahead and Double Dig - You Have My Support

Gardening isn’t about choosing sides, it’s about nurturing life. For too long, I’ve been caught up in the battle between different methods, forgetting that the real victory lies in in something far more important than proving a point.

Essays

In the Pink: Confessions of a Garden Grump

Pink is a hugely popular colour, but I for one find it quite difficult. Here's why.

Essays

Gateposts and Goalposts: A Council Estate Front Garden, Aged Seven

It doesn't have to be very much to be everything.

Essays

The Glory of Green

This is the time of year to celebrate all things green. When the sunlight filters through the branches, setting the leaves aglow, I feel my eyes drinking in all the wonder and intensity of the colour. The benefits of green should not surprise us.

Herbs

Mastering the Art of Growing and Harvesting Coriander

Love it or hate it, nothing beats fresh coriander. In this article I share some of my top tips on growing and using it successfully.