Over the past few days I have passed two specimens of Prunus sargentii in a garden while taking the children to school; this lovely small tree, renowned for its early autumn colour, never lets me down. It bookends the growing season, with masses of pink flowers in spring and is one of the earliest trees […]
Many moons ago I wrote a dissertation on crop plants for the future, sadly it was pre computers and I doubt wethter I could lay my hands on a copy of it now. It was back in the days when the quest to save the world’s food crisis was all about feeding the starving rather […]
It is a well-known fact that during winter, incidents of burglary are more common throughout the country. As the nights draw in, burglars and thieves are able to use the cover of darkness to extend the hours of their ‘work’. Thankfully however, there are steps that we can take to help secure our gardens from […]
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My greenhouse floor is currently covered with what looks like pots of soil, all neatly labelled, some with a covering of grit over the surface. I have been planting bulbs in pots, something I always mean to do and very rarely get around to. But it’s a fine thing to do, packing away little pots […]
Some of the drivers behind the peat-free roll-out are surprising and not all are admirable – but that doesn’t detract from the benefits to the gardener and the natural world.
Hartley Botanic are proud to be in association with the SGD & The Raymond Blanc Heritage Garden Competition. Congratulations to Anne Keenan MSGD who has been named the winning garden designer in the inaugural Raymond Blanc Heritage Garden competition. Anne’s design concept was chosen by a judging panel that included Raymond Blanc, Bob Sherman from […]
I have been cooking with herbs a lot this past summer, making use of the basil that I have finally worked out how to grow (essentially: have a hot and very sunny summer, plus a greenhouse) to make pesto in a vibrant shade of green you never find in the shops, and sprinkling with abandon […]
Last month we were fortunate to visit the RHS flower show at Tatton Park and travelled by train from Leeds to Knutsford (via Manchester) to reduce our carbon footprint. It was then a just short walk through the town to the gates, where a free courtesy bus took us to the entrance of the show. […]
In these days of credit crisis, what we grow to eat in our gardens and greenhouses plays a more and more important role in our lives. These days it’s not a lifestyle choice to grow your own, but a moral obligation and for many a commonsense solution to making ends meet. Greenhouse space is often […]
Step back, let live, and try a little gardening on the wild side. A laid-back approach has all sorts of benefits – starting with more time to enjoy it all.
