Challenge and Transition: the story of a Show garden
I’ve heard it said that new experiences not only start the brain synapses fizzing but that taking on a new challenge keeps us fresh and full of life. Back in September it therefore seemed an excellent idea to try something we’d never attempted before – designing a show garden! Harrogate Flower Show were looking for designers to design and stage a show garden for their 2016 Spring Flower Show and so we thought – why not!
Green is the New Black
They say that art imitates life so it is no wonder that so many fashion designers take their inspiration from gardens. When haute couture meets horticulture a dazzling array of floral designed fabrics and organic shaped garments are paraded on the catwalks in style. Floral fashion is not an idea of the past, the Spring /Summer 2015 Chanel Catwalk in Paris was Bloom themed couture as imaged by fashion heavyweight Karl Lagerfield.
The most popular gardening events in the world
The world is a big place with many gardens, and it is not just in the UK where we take our approach to gardening very seriously. Now seen as an essential extension to the way we live, outdoor spaces -no matter how big or small, are an important part of our lives.
What to sit on!
So you have your new garden and now you need to decide what furniture to put in it. There is a lot of different garden furniture out there; you can choose from many different styles and materials and all budgets are catered for.
Getting started with pruning
One of the common reasons for plants not flowering is that they were cut back at the wrong time of year, and therefore emerging flower buds were cut off. At North Leeds Garden Design we find that people often come to us with questions about this and other queries about pruning: which plants need pruning, how do I know what time of year is best – and why do we do it at all.
An Italian garden
I’ve just returned from a wonderful holiday travelling around southern Italy. Whilst I was there I fitted in a trip to the island of Ischia and the stunning garden La Mortella up in the hills.
Top tips for great-looking summer flowers
For many of us northern UK gardeners...
Help take the pulse of nature
I’ve just joined Sir David Attenborough and Joanna Lumley in taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, run by the charity Butterfly Conservation. It only took me 15 minutes and it’s great to know I’ve played as a citizen scientist in the UK annual count to check on the health of our biodiversity.
How to Spruce Up Your Garden – Part 3
In our final part on the series of...
A Word About….Mulching
Once you’ve improved your border soil, added some beautiful new plants, and stepped back to admire the view, it’s job done – isn’t it? There is one more thing you need to do and that is mulching.