Somerset gardener Marie Salmon has this autumn refused to tidy up her garden and seems to have learned to appreciate decay. As the great Piet Oudolf once said “A plant is only worth growing if it looks good when it is dead”. I have taken heed of this in my Somerset garden, same county as Piet’s garden but in a …

Even a small garden arch can add height and drama but it’s the choice of plants or even vegetables which is key. It is easy to concentrate on beds and borders when you’re planting your garden, but making use of vertical space is a great way to add drama.  Adding an arch is one of the quickest ways to give …

Alliums are hugely popular for their wonderful displays of early summer flowers and now the number of cultivars has expanded hugely, gardeners have no excuse in not growing them No other plant or flower attracts quite such admiration in borders and beds than wonderful alliums. They’re architectural, loved by bees and are ideal cut or dried flowers. Allium colours vary. …

Magnolias and their astonishing goblet or star-shaped flowers are perhaps the oldest genus in the world and of course the admired and loved icons of spring

Spring gardens throughout the county are about to burst into colour but at one stage they were a plant too labour intensive to survive Some of the most famous gardens in Cornwall- Caerhays, Tregothan, Trewithen and many more all reflect the reason the county has a special association with camellias. It’s a garden classic plant, one of the world’s most …

Arum lilies make striking architectural plants with large, glossy foliage which, in late spring and early summer, is joined by large, white, hood-shaped flowers. The white arum lily is a thing of great beauty. They are known and loved for their magnificent flowers in perennial borders or simply as a houseplant. Always a favourite with florists they have now become more …