Fabulous roses

by Laura | 26 August 2016

“I like my roses to flower into the Autumn, smell fabulous… definitely not red – rather apricots and soft pinks…” So uttered a client 18 years ago when designing his rose parterre garden. Some of these original plants now need replacing, so today I...

On Form 16…

by Laura | 10 July 2016

It all certainly was on the last day of the fabulous sculpture exhibition at Asthall Manor in the Cotswolds. Owner and co-curator Rosie Pearson (pictured) was brimming with energy and knowledge of the sculptures, including ‘Congo Bean’ in breathtaking Kilkenny...

Visiting gardens

by Laura | 23 June 2016

There is nothing like visiting a great garden to fire up imagination, enthusiasm and general joie de vivre. And some gardens stoke the fire beyond imagination. Bryan’s Ground in Herefordshire is one, the creative genius of Simon Dorrell and David Wheeler. Here is...

Robin Lane Fox

by Laura | 15 June 2016

This week I was lucky enough to taken for a tour by Robin Lane Fox around the gardens he has created at New College, Oxford. What a treat it was. Wordsmith extraordinaire, he brims with erudition, joie de vivre and great passion for many things including gardening....

Bearded Iris

by Laura | 4 June 2016

Here is a wonderful display of bearded iris at Woottens Plants. A true harbinger of early summer and so glamorous too! Here is Iris ‘Buto’ with the yellow standards of Iris ‘Rajah’ in the background. The flowers are total showstoppers, but not for long so we tend to...