More Big Butterfly Counts for Butterfly Conservation

I’ve been so busy this week, but whenever I’ve been able to get outside and take a 15 minute Big Butterfly Count – I have taken a break and made the most of this lovely chance to relax and observe butterflies.  I adore the Big Butterfly Count!  Every year I look forward to this event, as I find taking a Big Butterfly Count is inspiring and relaxing, and just such a wonderful thing to do.

The Rose of the Year 2023 is Rosa ‘Peach Melba®’ (KORmelpea)

Every year I wait in anticipation to discover the newest winner of The Rose of the Year Competition.  I adore growing roses and I particularly enjoy trialling plants and finding new, naturally healthy roses I can recommend.  In February 2023, Roses UK sent me a new bare root rose to trial – the winner of the Rose of the Year 2023 Competition – Rosa ‘Peach Melba®’ (KORmelpea)

An Update From My Wildlife Pond in Autumn

Hello and welcome to my wildlife pond – it’s lovely to be able to share my pond with you and show you around!  Since my last update, my wildlife pond is now looking more autumnal; the plants in this area of my garden are draining the energetic green tones from their foliage and starting to display a few yellow leaves as they gently let us know that autumn has arrived.

November Gardening Tips & Ideas

November is an exciting month, full of opportunities in the garden.  Take time out to enjoy the fleetingly beautiful glory of the moment, as leaves of burnished gold and crimson light up the landscape.  At this time of year, it’s important to plan ahead and to plant trees and bee friendly flowers, for future generations to enjoy.

As autumn turns to winter, days shorten and the prospect of warming ourselves by the fire may be more enticing than being outdoors, take time to warm your heart with thoughts of elegantly perfumed roses.  This is the perfect opportunity to order roses as bare root plants to plant during the winter time, while the plants are dormant, to deliver charming, beautiful rose blooms and delectable fragrance to your garden or allotment next summer.

Inside The Festival of Roses Marquee at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2017

Each summer I look forward to being enveloped by the delightful summery warmth of the tea-rose perfume that fills the air inside The Festival of Roses Marquee, at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.  Whatever the weather at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, I look forward to the wondrous feeling of being encompassed by the combined scent of hundreds of roses inside the Festival of Roses Marquee.  

The Festival of Roses Marquee at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

One of my favourite features of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, is The Festival of Roses Marquee.  This marquee features the latest rose introductions, many of which are launched at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, alongside modern roses, historic roses, and old, much loved favourite roses.  

Award winning nurseries

Every year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, you’ll find a wealth of plant knowledge and expertise inside the Great Pavilion, where specialist nurseries, expert growers, and plants people, come together from all over the world, to showcase some of the special plants they grow and love.

Here’s a look at some of the nurseries and exhibits that were inside The Great Pavilion, at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016…….

New Introductions from David Austin Roses for 2016

Every year, at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, David Austin Roses unveil their newest rose introductions, launching them for sale in The Grand Pavilion at the world’s most prestigious horticultural Show.  This is an event I look forward to each year with great anticipation – I love roses, I get so much pleasure from seeing the new rose varieties for the first time, and discovering their fragrances.

Edible Plants to Entertain

To create a really sumptuous and relaxing outdoor area where you can dine and unwind, as well as sun loungers, garden furniture, fire pits and BBQs, you’ll require the perfect blend of aromatic, delicious and attractive plants to enhance your entertaining area.

The Festival of Roses at Hampton Court Flower Show

For me, one of the loveliest features of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is The Festival Of Roses Marquee, where new roses are launched and displayed alongside historic roses and more modern favourites.  The scent inside The Festival Of Roses Marquee is divine, it’s filled with the sweetest, most delicious, tea rose fragrance, which envelopes each visitor to this very special marquee.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant Of The Year Award 

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant Of The Year Award was first awarded in 2010 to celebrate and recognise the exciting and diverse range of new plants launched at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show each year.  Every year, for the past six years, exhibitors at Chelsea are invited to submit their new plant introductions for consideration and assessment by the RHS Plant Committees, the RHS Director of Horticulture and the RHS Garden Curators.