landscape and garden design in Clapham, London
Finally, after many years, today I came up close and personal with one of my favourite plants growing and flowering in the wil
I first noticed the unusual oval shaped flower beds along the recently redeveloped Nine Elms Lane in Vauxhall this time last y
Chris and I often walk to Vauxhall from our Clapham flat to visit the new things popping up as the area regenerates, like the
When I first started seriously geeking out on gardening I kept reading again and again that “yellow is banished from gar
My biggest delight so far this month is the success of our perennial spring bulbs. Given the extreme cold weather this year I&
I was pottering around outside today in our little urban garden and while watering the ferns I spotted that little badger up t
Currently I feel I have the measure of my allotment, how long that feeling will last remains to be seen.
“We’re going in!” I hit the car breaks, indicated and abruptly swerved into the driveway. “ORCHIDSR
I attended the Garden Press Event for the first time this year and it was a wonderful meet-up for the gardening bloggers, jour
Over the last few years we’ve seen an explosion of interest in houseplants, largely driven by Instagram. As people’
The week during Storm Emma – the coldest week in our garden in eight years – was one of the most worrying weeks I&
If your garden doesn’t look something like the above right now, it’s time to act! Plan now to add a little sparkle
I know what you’re thinking moss fans, will he shut up about that bloomin rock what’s happening with Mossy Rock? Well, goo
The joy of the snowdrop, cherry blossom and tulip. The fritillary and daffodil, the allium and poppy. Momentary pops of colour
Over the last few years I’ve been growing Leonotis nepetifolia (thanks to Jonathan Gregson for correcting the species in
It’s been three years since we set up our garden. For the first time a large number of plants have multiplied so much th
A year ago I experimented with nipping out the growing point of my Aeonium ‘Zwartkop‘ to make it branch. It worke
In the air but importantly, not quite here. Yet on mild sunny days the signs of spring are all around us and, here in London a
Three years ago almost to the day I wrote this blog post about discovering the existence of Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward’s
Toward the end of autumn I find the battle against couch grass and other weeds relentless and with the coming winter, I just s
After an incredibly busy end to 2017 when all thought of our garden went up the chimney with Father Christmas, my mind is now
Some strange ideas run through my mind and I admit this is among the strangest. Last year I had to replace a section of fence
Zinnias are odd. Almost unlike any flower I’ve come across before, they just do not look or feel real. Like a primary sc
People tell you that magic isn’t real, that Utopia is impossible. They’re talking bollocks. I know because I’
For hours now I search for you Across chalky downs of grass Jewels a plenty everywhere But where are you I ask
The last twelve months have given me the chance to explore my design likes and dislikes in my own gardens and to study combina
The interplay of nature and humanity is endlessly fascinating to observe. Nowhere is it more obvious and at the same time hidd
Can you believe I’ve had my allotment for two years?! The excitement of taking ownership still feels like yesterday to m
I could write an entire book about our little inner city garden flat in Clapham. Instead, ta da! Here’s a supersized blo
So here’s a question: throughout the year, how much time do you spend planning and thinking about how your garden will l
One of the most enjoyable days for me this year was visiting my friend Philip Oostenbrink, a fellow tropical and rare plant nu
Exciting news! My little blog has only gone and won an award. A real one! LOOK: I’m very honoured to have been given the
It’s mid-November and some of our Dahlias in the garden are still flowering, just. This follows an absolutely epic windf
Chris and I popped up to Yorkshire this weekend to celebrate my birthday and my mum’s, both on bonfire night the fifth of No
I had a rare day to myself on Sunday and I used it to wander around one of my favourite wild areas and to spend time on my all
Hippeastrum (incorrectly called Amarylis by shops for some reason) are amazing indoor plants that flower in Winter / early Spr
As an artist, through each waking day there are thousands of wonderful things that catch my eye. In that split second when eye
If like me, you may have been coasting along on a post-summer ‘put your feet up’. Well, I’ve got news for yo
How to divide Pilea peperomioides to give to your friends and family while keeping the Pilea legend alive.
A report from our brief visit to the immaculately preserved Lanhydrock house and garden owned by the National Trust.
Heligan, a garden established in the mid-18th to the 19th centuries by the Cornish Tremayne family (Wikipedia), was only ever
ONE: as Chris and I entered the Rainforest Biome for the first time it was hard not to be struck by its depth. Tops of trees c
I’ve barely spent any time at the allotment in September. Bad Wallington. This has been a terrible but unavoidable mista
London has some of the best glasshouses in the world and some of the most interesting secret smaller ones, here’s my pic
Chris and I have been huge fans of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) charity for a long time. You can read about some of the NG
It’s been three years since I first set eyes on a dinner plate Dahlia at the National Dahlia Society Annual Show 2014. T
Forget the fancy house plants you keep spotting on Instagram. You know the ones, stylish Pilea, funky Peperomias, velvety Eche
Chris pointed out this week that the best sunsets happen at this time of year, something I’d never appreciated – I
No one else but me had set foot on my allotment since I’d owned it – I’ve just never really thought anyone w
The popcorn plants on my allotment are (later than normal) finally flowering and I thought I’d share some photos of the