The Holly and the Ivy: the importance of evergreens
From ancient to modern times evergreens have uplifted the spirits, especially in the dead of winter, and in this article I discuss how important it is to maintain that tradition
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The death of gardens
Unlike other forms of art, gardens need their gardener to keep their shape. So what happens when they are left to their own devices? When does a garden become an ex-garden? Noel revisits some old favourites and finds them changed.
Mulch Ado: Triumph and Tantrums in the Village Hall
Jan Etherington is seizing the day (or seizing the flowers) and scouring her garden for entries for the village show. Competition is fierce and there is duplicity in the air... Can Jan triumph with an old favourite?
Mary Keen on good gardens and great gardens
What makes the difference between a good garden, and a great one? More importantly, who decides? It is a divisive topic, and Mary Keen has views, and some of them would shock an estate agent.
How not to garden: August
What begins as hosepipe-ban despair turns into one of the richest conversations they've had: a proper masterclass in secondary and tertiary colour, a working formula for building texture into a border, and a hard look at who you're actually gardening for. Spoiler: it isn't the neighbours.