At this years RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, I resolved to do things a little differently. No galloping all over trying to see everything, but a more measured pace, and a closer look at a smaller selection. One garden that I’ve been looking forward to seeing for months was Pollyanna Wilkinson’s Naturecraft Garden.
Read moreWeather for weeding
Death and taxes, wrote Benjamin Franklin, are the only certainties in this world. I feel he could quite safely have added “weeds” to the list without the least risk of damage to his reputation. My own cv comes up pretty short in the area of Founding Father, but rather the opposite under the category of Proficient and Joyful Weeder. And this is just the time to indulge in a prolonged bout of that particular activity.
Read moreThe beautification of weeds
You can be a long way into a game before you even realise that’s where you are. Who defines the field of play, the value of each piece, the manner in which one element should engage with the others? You might wonder what the Cinderella syndrome could possibly have to do with gardening, but consider how we designate certain plants as weeds, and all should become clear.
Read moreBirdsfoot trefoil
While most people will stroll along the borders marvelling at fabulous specimens, I spend half my time peering at the lawn or at cracks in the paving to see what's taken root of its own accord. It’s in exactly this kind of situation where I’m likely to encounter birdsfoot trefoil, a plant which the Victorians, for reasons best known to themselves, associated with dark feelings of revenge.
Read moreThe Weeds of May
Depending upon your perspective, May is a great month either for wildflowers, or for weeds. However you choose to view the often statuesque plants that appear fully grown almost overnight in our hedgerows and gardens, their presence is hard to ignore, and their fresh, frothy and voluminous presence provides a welcome space filler after the drabness of winter.
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