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Some plants are universally loved by gardeners. Everyone loves daffodils, roses and clematis. And now that Chelsea Flower Show is over, perhaps we have had our fill of alliums! But some flowers, that deserve to be in every garden, seem to be rather neglected. Daylilies (hemerocallis) are far from neglected because breeders around the world…

While we continue to enjoy glorious weather my attention is drawn to the agapanthus in the garden. It is a bit early to expect flowers, they are usually at their peak from July to September, but you will be able to buy plants in bloom. These tough perennials are admired for their glorious blue flowers….

When I started gardening it was normal practice to regularly use garden chemicals. I can still remember the smell of malathion, a nasty insecticide that was used in the greenhouse and, when we grew chrysanthemums for cut flowers in autumn at Nags Hall we kept black aphids at bay by burning nicotine shreds – a…

Whether or not the climate is changing, gardeners have long been obsessed with creating gardens that reflect warmer climates. Whether it has been planting ‘subtropical’ bananas and summer bedding plants in Victorian times or experimenting with palms and bananas in the garden in recent decades, we long for planting that can be enjoyed on those…

After the Easter break we are all enthusiastic about working in the garden! There is lots to do. It is also the perfect time to sow hardy annuals – plants that are sown now, where they will flower, and which will provide colour all summer. There is a huge range of heights, flower colours and…

Happy Easter. I hope you have a lovely weekend and the weather allows you to enjoy your garden. Although there is lots to do in the garden perhaps we can relax a little and enjoy the beauty of spring. Of course that can always include a trip to Nags Hall to stock up on seasonal…

Manure or custard? It depends if you are growing it or eating it! Rhubarb is a strange crop. Firstly, it is not really a fruit – fruits come from flowers. Rhubarb is a vegetable – but we eat it like a fruit. It is also a perennial and plants live for many years. Its popularity…

Spring is definitely here and the weather is lovely. But this is a tricky time for gardeners. We want to get on with planting for summer but the weather is still unpredictable and frosts are possible – even likely – in the coming weeks. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by…

Did you remember to put the clocks forward last night! As we ease into spring and thoughts turn to the outside garden one of the plants that is bound to attract our attentions are magnolias. Everyone recognises magnolias and their pink and white flowers are a feature of many gardens. Every flowering tree is worth…

We have had a mixed week of weather but the garden is warming up now and we can start to sow vegetables both out in the garden and in pots or trays to plant out in April and May. This week I will discuss sowing some vegetables. It was lovely to meet so many of…