Lifestyle
Kew’s 30th Orchid Festival 2026
Kew’s 30th Orchid Festival 2026
Like the White Rabbit I fear being late. But unlike that poor creature I am not out of bre...
Bay Watch
The wind is moaning down the chimney, and I can feel an icy draught flowing across the kitchen floor. This is only to be expected livin...
Ornamental Crab Apple Trees.
Ornamental Crab Apple Trees.
Mother wasn’t a domestic goddess. However, due to the era she was born into, domesticity beca...
A Botanical Paradise in the Heart of Crouch End
A Botanical Paradise in the Heart of Crouch End
“Ali, can you come to the tills?” asks the voice on the radio. Why does th...
Abelia: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
I am sweeping up piles of crisp brown leaves in the carpark at Alexandra Palace Garden Centre. The unusually warm and dry summer we hav...
Sow Easy!
Sow Easy!
How have you been coping with the recent soaring temperatures? While it’s easy to flake out with this heat, even...
Some Like it Hot
Some Like it Hot
As I write I can see the first gentle drops of rain falling outside; a welcome sight. However, this mizzle ...
An Urban Oasis in Waltham Cross
An Urban Oasis in Waltham Cross
Do you want to explore beautiful private gardens while supporting charitable causes? Then ...
The Agius Evolution Garden: a Journey Through Time
The Agius Evolution Garden: a Journey Through Time
I find it astonishing that in 1998 I was working full time, and after wor...
Planting a bird-friendly garden
Planting a bird-friendly garden
The best start to a day is, surely, to be lulled into wakefulness by the sound of chirping...
World Bee Day 2025: Celebrating the Importance of Pollinators
World Bee Day 2025: Celebrating the Importance of Pollinators
“Enough paperwork…” growls Dan, the deputy manager. “Get wat...
A Passion for Paeonies
With often flamboyant blooms in shades of pink as well as ruby, lemon or white, paeonies can be real showstoppers, bringing much-antici...
