Anyone who has read this column from time to time may have noticed my affinity for the more unusual plants in the garden. I often find myself captivated by a strange “creature” that catches my eye, leading me down a rabbit hole of research. So, it won’t surprise you to hear that I have a […]Read More

Louise gives us an update on the Naturalistic planting started last year. In an earlier article, I explored the subject of Naturalistic planting, as I discovered a local group of gardeners working on this type of scheme. I realized it was a great opportunity to observe their efforts. Recently, I went back to check on […]Read More

Louise Tomlin takes a look at the captivating climbers that are Clematis At last, we are into late spring, almost summer, and everywhere I look it seems that there’s so much colour and richness out there in the gardens. It’s a joy to behold, maybe it’s because to me has felt like such a long […]Read More

Louise Tomlin considers taking a more natural approach to planting In recent years I’ve become aware of the increasing popularity of naturalistic planting. This is a style of planting that is inspired by natural environments that attempts to echo how plants occur in the natural world, that is aesthetically pleasing and allows them to compliment […]Read More

Louise Tomlin takes a look at some topical treats, the winter flowering Christmas rose, or Hellebore. I may well have mentioned previously that I’m not a fan of winter at all, but as the years go by I’ve got much better at developing coping strategies to help me get through the worst of the winter […]Read More

Louise Tomlin tries to get to the bottom of the unique ability of the Hydrangea to change colour There was a point a few years ago when I noticed that a hydrangea bush I was looking at had two different coloured flowers on it, pink and also blue. I was genuinely puzzled once I’d checked that […]Read More

Louise Tomlin takes a looks at the not-so-humble hyacinth and ponders its link to our wild bluebells I’m hoping that by the time you read this that Spring will have well and truly sprung at last. For me it seems to have taken a long time to arrive this year. It’s still pretty nippy now […]Read More

Do you like the the big bearded variety or something more sedate? Louise Tomlin takes a look at the different types of the popular Iris. Searching through my photo library recently I came across some lovely images I’d taken last summer whilst visiting Walmer Castle Gardens in Kent, which is something of a hidden gem, I […]Read More

Louise Tomlin focuses on the bright and cheerful tulip to remind us that spring is just around the corner Louise Tomlin focuses on the bright and cheerful tulip to remind us that spring is just around the corner Here we are in the midst of what the popular news media are dubbing the ‘winter of […]Read More

Louise Tomlin muses on the importance of keeping an open mind and realising there can be more than one right answer out there. Have you ever had a moment when something you know, or think you know turns out to be wrong? It can be unsettling when it’s a long held belief or nugget of […]Read More