Garden Thoughts

  • September Is The Month To Plant Bulbs For Christmas

    by Maureen Catlin
    Prepared Hyacinths are probably the most popular Christmas flowering bulb. These have already been treated to bring their natural spring flowering ...

  • Ornamental Grasses

    by Maureen Catlin
    Ornamental grasses are one of the most versatile groups of plants for garden planting. They are unfussy, free from disease and easy to grow being t...

  • The Cottage Garden

    by Maureen Catlin
    The true cottage garden is very informal with a mix of plants from climbers to bulbs planted close together so when one plant stops flowering anoth...

  • Nectar Rich Flowers For Butterflies and Bees

    by Maureen Catlin
    Since 1976 our Butterfly and Bee populations have really been in decline. The destruction of natural habitats by more intensive farming methods and...

  • Exotic Summer Plants for Patio Pots

    by Maureen Catlin
    This year more than ever we need to treat ourselves. We can’t go out to eat in a restaurant. We can only go to the pub garden. Holidays abroad are ...

  • Sow and Grow

    by Maureen Catlin
    Growing plants from seed is a very economic, interesting and rewarding hobby. It allows us to experiment with unusual varieties but for success we ...

  • New Season New Plants

    by Maureen Catlin
    At last its March the worst winter weather has past the Covid Pandemic is coming under control after exactly 12 months as more of us receive a vacc...

  • A PLANT THAT FLOWERS FOR 12 MONTHS OF THE YEAR

    by Maureen Catlin
    Ask me “What is your favourite plant” and my reply is CLEMATIS. Why? Well within this plant genus there is a variety that will be in flower every w...

  • Plant Trees For Future Generations

    by Maureen Catlin
    This month I am supporting the campaign being promoted by Prince Charles and Dame Judi Dench to plant trees for the future.   A year ago I wrote “W...

  • What Better Christmas Gift

    by Maureen Catlin
    “Plants are Good for You” All Gardeners know this. Plants make superb Christmas Gifts for all our friends and family.   They are visually appealing...

  • Edible Berried Treasure

    by Maureen Catlin
    Berried fruits are very productive and really worth growing. They produce some of the healthiest food we can grow and many can be accommodated in q...

  • October Gardening

    by Maureen Catlin
    The rose is probably the most popular plant in most English gardens. It is also one of the oldest in cultivation with fossil evidence of having exi...