As often found in an alpine house as a greenhouse many Bellflowers, Campanulas, are rock garden and border plants. However some low growing and prostrate species are delightful under cover for filling in around the base of taller plants with their verdant foliage and masses of cool blue flowers. Campanula is an interesting, floriferous and […]
South Africa is a cornucopia of exciting plants, perfect candidates for the greenhouse or the garden in warmer parts of the U.S. Knowing and growing these rarely featured varieties opens up a whole new world of interesting designs. This month Iām talking to Sylvia Lukach, founder of Cape Lily, Floral Design and Travel. Sheās originally […]
When you are looking to buy a greenhouse you need to do your research very carefully, where better to see a glasshouse in the flesh than an RHS Flower Show, says Jean Vernon Buying a glasshouse is usually a once in a lifetime investment. Itās really important that you can see some of the options […]
Back in 2018, a few forward-looking people envisaged ā though it was largely wishful thinking ā a network of āpollinator pathwaysā. Today, weāre opening our first insect superhighway. Fenn was anxiously watching two screens at once. The one on his tablet showed footage streaming live from the Earth Court of Environmental Justice. The other was […]
Gardening makes me move about. It makes me stretch and lift and breathe fresh air and all of those other things that make me feel just that little bit healthier at the end of a day gardening than I do at the end of a day sat in front of the computer. But letās face […]
The Lupin is a plant of my childhood and my suburban London garden, just like most people’s gardens in the 1950s, contained George Russell’s lupins. I can still remember packets of seeds with George Russell’s picture on the front. By then he was elderly, but he still had a wicked twinkle in his eye, and […]
One of the first things you learn when working in a greenhouse is that long-handled tools can be a problem in such an enclosed space. While the toolās working end is where you want it, the other end may knock pots off shelves, damage plants, or even break window panes. The only long-handled tool I […]
Now your greenhouse tomatoes are growing steadily, it is important to remove the side shoots of ācordonā varieties to form a single productive stem. You donāt need scissors or secateurs, just snap them off with your finger and thumb. Make sure your tomatoes are well watered, too, particularly if they are in growing bags where […]
People rejoice in the summer sun and plants respond with lush growth. But there can be too much of a good thing. Iāve recently been reminded of that. My houseplants spend the summer every summer in the fresh air and sweet breezes of my yard, in the shade of buildings and trees. This year, I […]
Itās the season when our gardens are overflowing with flowers. So, I asked garden writer and photographer Janet Davis to share her delightful tips for creating wearable floral art. And with a greenhouse, you donāt even have to wait for the bountiful season. You could get this look year-round. Hereās how she does it. […]
Jean Vernon explains the June Drop phenomenon, what it means and what to do June can be a strange month in our gardens. While the garden is burgeoning with lush vegetation in the moist warm weather, something very strange is happening on our fruit trees. Particularly the apples. If you watch your apple trees carefully […]
Lobelia is a world-wide genus of uncommonly good glasshouse flowers, indeed almost every member of this large genus has attractive blooms, often coming in masses, usually in a shade of blue. Lobelia has shrubby, evergreen and herbaceous members, annuals, biennials and perennials, there are even a few hardy sorts for the outdoor garden. However the […]
