Sue Taylor
Sweet Peas
The sweet pea is an annual vine in the pea family. In cultivation since the seventeenth century, it is immensely popular as a cut flower. It has been grown as an exhibition plant for many years and is renowned for its enchanting fragrance. Read More
English Daisies
A lawn weed to some, a delightful wild flower to others, the daisy is a plant that has been cultivated for hundreds of years. It has many cultivars, mostly used as spring bedding. Read More
Great English gardens - Bide A Wee Cottage garden
In a quiet part of Northumberland amid sheep grazing fields lies one of the most wonderful gardens in the country. Read More
Perfect Pokers - Stars of the Late Summer Border
Long neglected, Kniphofias, known as torch lilies or red hot pokers have recently enjoyed a re-emergence into the forefront of the late summer border. Wonderful new hybrids are enriching the hot colour spectrum. Read More
Move on with Cybister amaryllis
You've grown an amaryllis bulb from the box kit you got for Christmas. Welcome to the wonderful world of Hippeastrums! Now you can explore the many different varieties available and try the new Cybister hybrids.. Read More
In praise of the colour orange
Orange has long had a reputation as being the most 'difficult' colour to use in the garden. I've personally heard gardeners say they don't like the colour or find it too 'strong'. This bemuses me as orange is one of the most 'natural' colours in nature. Consider sunsets, autumn leaves, crackling fires, molten lava, pumpkins and well, oranges! Using orange in the garden can produce truly inspiring results. I hope fans of the colour will enjoy this article, and those who've never used it or are a little frightened of using it will give it a try. Read More
Gardening With Architectural Plants
Sometimes a border needs a big bold statement, something to draw the eye. This is where architectural plants come in! Read More
Christmas Box: Growing Sarcococca
A slow growing shrub which is an essential addition to the winter garden for its small powerfully scented blooms. A small evergreen, Christmas box brings much needed bloom and scent to the gardening off-season! Read More
Camellias - An introduction
Unrivalled as a winter flowering shrub, camellias are evergreen hardy shrubs native to Asia. The most grown is probably the tea plant, camellia sinensis, but for gardeners there are hundreds of hybrid varieties to choose from. They make wonderful additions to gardens, shrubberies and woodland plantings. Camellias are acid lovers and will not thrive in chalky soils. Read More
Bringing Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs out of dormancy
Hippeastrum bulbs provide one of the showiest flowering displays during the winter months when for a lot of us there isn't much to see outside in our gardens. They are readily available even in supermarkets, most often in boxes, for purchase leading up to the winter holidays. But after their display is over they are too readily discarded. I'd like to encourage you to keep the plants growing for another show next year, and also explain what to do when your plant goes dormant. Read More
