One of the things I love about gardening is the thrill of anticipation. While I’m not immune to the instant gratification of an immediate make-over, nothing quite beats going out every day to see how a favourite plant is doing, watching tiny growth each day, waiting for the moment when the ever fattening buds will burst. […]
GARDEN DESIGN BLOG. IDEAS, INSPIRATION AND NEWS
Please do browse my garden design blog; in it you’ll find garden ideas, inspiration and product reviews, reports from Shows including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, pretty pictures from places I’ve been, a bit of arty stuff (paintings and drawings) and anything else I find interesting that I think you might enjoy too.
Last Lady Gardens for BBC Somerset
I am feeling sad! I’ve come to the end of an era… I’ve been broadcasting pretty much monthly for BBC Somerset for around 8 years and today was my final outing on these particular airways; the reason being because I’m moving to Sussex. For existing and new clients in the West Country, don’t worry, I’m not […]
Open Garden, RNAS Military cemetery, Yeovilton
As part of the Society of Garden Designer’s 30th Anniversary celebrations, 30 gardens across the UK have been selected to showcase the best of British design and I’m delighted to say that my design for the extension to the military cemetery at Yeovilton has been selected as one of these gardens. The Open Garden event is Sunday […]
Read More… from Open Garden, RNAS Military cemetery, Yeovilton
John Makepeace’s garden of grasses, Dorset
I had a bit of a busman’s holiday last Sunday, visiting the eminent furniture maker John Makepeace’s garden in Beaminster. It’s always interesting seeing how a craftsman in one medium transfers ideas and concepts into another, and the Makepeace garden is no exception. I suppose it’s no surprise that there are few straight lines, given that […]
Chelsea Flower Show 2011
I’ve just come back from two days at the show – lucky me! You can catch my Monday morning broadcast for BBC Somerset during the next week on their website’s Listen Again feature (see ‘things I like’ for link). This is my 11th successive visit to Chelsea and one of the most interesting things over the years has […]
why I love winter
As I’m writing this, it’s lashing with rain, the wind is thrashing my black bamboos against the window and it’s not exactly warm, so why, you might ask, is this a season to enjoy? I realised a while back that while we all think spring and summer are lovely, there are just as many summer days […]
the delights of fading flowers
When I was an impoverished art student, I took to painting dead flowers. I don’t think it was the fact that I couldn’t often afford to replace any flowers I bought that led me to paint them, more that there was some intrinsic beauty in them that captivated me. This painting (below) was one of […]
contemporary cottage garden design
For many years I’ve admired a very pretty thatched cottage that’s on a small lane I occasionally use, so was particularly delighted when the new owners asked me to look at the garden for them! I think they were quite pleased that I not only knew their house but (in the nicest possible way) have coveted it for some […]
Tuscan inspiration
I’ve just come back, somewhat reluctantly it has to be admitted, from a couple of weeks in Tuscany. As ever when travelling (and one of my main reasons to travel), I come back inspired by new scenery, new architecture, quirky details and, in this case, some truly awe-inspiring paintings and sculpture. It was also lovely […]
20th century garden design in dorset and somerset
A week ago I had just come back from leading a tour of West Country gardens for Martin Randall Travel. I had given the tour the theme of 20th century garden designers, exploring a range of gardens from early Arts and Crafts (Athelhampton) through to two contemporary private gardens by Arabella Lennox Boyd and Dan Pearson. Christopher […]
Read More… from 20th century garden design in dorset and somerset
