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First time I've had time to take a breath since we finished the garden. We got a silver medal, btw. Despite the rain and the double plot size, we did think we'd managed a silver gilt, and the judges said they came back three times before
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That's probably the toughest day I've had in my short show gardening career. There were up to 8 of us on site today, painstakingly bringing the garden to completion. We worked till the sun went down, planting, making benches, scrubbing, mulching, edging, painting and tweaking to
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Apart from a dry spell this morning it's been raining for more than 24 hours onto ground already wet from rain earlier in the week. It's still raining - harder than ever now. This really isn't what we need when we're building
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My RHS practical exam is over - a six hour skills and knowledge scrutiny that had a 40% fail rate last year. I think it went OK and am just glad it's behind me. On with Tatton Show tomorrow - four days left to complete the garden. With
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My not so baby brother turned 40 a couple of weeks back and laid on a Rock and Pop themed bash to remember in leafy Surrey. All the stars were there, along with the papparazzi of course. Suzy Q made an appearance and seemed to be having a fine time.
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Some would say I've been twittering on for years, but this time it's for a good reason. This year's Tatton Show project is The Lunch Hour Garden, co-designed by my friend and garden landscaper Isabelle Brooke, and myself. (Sponsored by top IT secuity company
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How our mediaeval ancestors survived to breed us is a miracle. What did they live on between February and June? Without freezers? If you were poor with just a strip of land? OK, I know some of the answers, but it's only when you make a real attempt
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Midsummer, that magical point in late June where the days are as long as they can be and the second half of the year begins. It's a turning point for gardeners too, biennials like Foxgloves and Wallflowers can be sown now and won't bolt, Fennel and
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In winter I crave more daylight, staying outside until it's too dark to see. So June should be a joyous month for me, but I feel an odd sense of overload. It's still light at 10pm and the sun rises at 4.30am. My brain shuts
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First time in weeks I've had to sit still for a whole hour! I've read OK mag (5mins) and helped my hairdresser choose some new plants and still got half an hour to kill. Let's see how long the battery lasts... Top topic is
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I received my 20 seed packets from the Hardy Plant Society earlier this year, but instead of names, the packets were numbered, presumably with the catalogue number. I've sown them, and most have germinated, but I have no idea what any of them are. Does anyoneout there have
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I've been asked several times what I made of Chelsea this year. I've tried and failed to distill my perceptions to a pithy soundbite so here are a few odd thoughts and pictures instead. Purple and claret is the combination of the moment. The very posh