And why it is it copper anyway? Contemporary gardeners often use dark colours…look how the ‘Queen of the Night’ tulip has become ubiquitous, and the black grass Ophiopogon planiscarpens nigrescens pops up in urn plantings or as a contrast to pale paving. There is something fascinating about the pool of shade that sombre colours cast… Continue reading Using Copper foliage in the garden
Copper Beech – a hedge for all seasons
Copper beech is one of the most elegant hedges available to the British gardener. It has all the qualities of green beech hedging; it grows almost anywhere where there are reasonable light levels and where the ground is not waterlogged. Beech is a true British native and as such it is happy growing across the… Continue reading Copper Beech – a hedge for all seasons
Deadheading Daffodils
Daffodils and Narcissi are undoubtedly among our most cherished and adored spring flowers, and they form a large part of our collection of flowering bulbs. The cheery flashes of bright canary yellow along our roadsides and verges heralds the start of spring and tempts us with summery thoughts of the sunshine to come. In the… Continue reading Deadheading Daffodils
Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire
Dogwoods, members of the Cornus family, are often the unsung heroes of the winter garden. Although there are exceptions, in summer they tend to be unremarkable. This is because they are covered in foliage when daylight hours are longer and their crowning glory is their bark which can only be seen when the leaves… Continue reading Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire
Bramley Apple and Almond Pudding Cake
This decadent cake is a brilliant way to use up any Bramley apples left over from the season. Serve warm with crème fraiche or even custard if you fancy, it will soak into the rich sponge and balance the tart apples Serves 8 Ingredients For the apples: 2 large Bramley apples, peeled, quartered and cut… Continue reading Bramley Apple and Almond Pudding Cake
Honey fungus: The tree killer
Honey fungi, Armillaria, are a group of parasitic fungi. They attack trees, shrubs and woody perennials, and are one of the most destructive fungal diseases in the UK. They are also among some of the biggest living organisms in the world, their underground networks often covering many miles and living for up to a thousand… Continue reading Honey fungus: The tree killer
Living sculpture: Topiary plants a little less ordinary
Shrubs trained as topiary are at home in any garden. From a cottage setting where intriguing forms nestle casually between flowers and vegetables, to a much grander scheme where repetitive shapes are rigid and regimented, topiary can be both charming and formal. And let’s not forget that when you trim your humble garden hedge, you’re… Continue reading Living sculpture: Topiary plants a little less ordinary
Recipe: Homemade damson vodka
2013 has been a bumper year for damsons. A hot summer, with just enough rain to swell the fruit is best for damsons and results in branches that are groaning under the weight of all that fruit And while you can of course make damson jam, damson cheese, damson chutney and damson sauce, there is nothing… Continue reading Recipe: Homemade damson vodka
Recipe: Chicken sauté Normande
As the sun wanes and the days get shorter, this dish is guaranteed to keep those summer days fresh in your mind (and on your tongue!). And we love it even more because it uses three apple ingredients: Bon appetit! Ingredients (serves 4) To garnish Method Serve with… Friends and sunshine… oh, and a fresh… Continue reading Recipe: Chicken sauté Normande
Choosing and planting potted hedging
Container-grown hedging plants are perfect for planting all year round. Generally speaking, hedging is put in the ground over winter, using young bareroot plants when they are dormant. However, some circumstances call for a more instant, mature hedge – which is where container-grown (or potted) hedging plants play their part. Why choose potted hedging? Among… Continue reading Choosing and planting potted hedging