Great Dixter in East Sussex, England, is a mecca for avid gardeners. Michael and I visited last May, spending several hours marvelling at the topiaries, plant combinations and container displays, as well as enjoying a guided tour of a few of the lush perennial beds with Fergus Garrett, head gardener and chief executive officer at Great Dixter. We came away full of … [Read more...] about Inspiring ideas for planting from Great Dixter
England
A visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden
The walled Chelsea Physic Garden in London is a peaceful place to spend an afternoon, regardless of your gardening inclinations. While sitting on a bench, soaking up a tiny bit of sunshine and the herby fragrances floating by, one of my seat mates turned to ask if I visited often. "No, this is my first visit - and you?" I asked. "Oh, no! We're not gardeners, but we come every … [Read more...] about A visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea’s show gardens: A sampling
Chelsea's show gardens are what many visitors flock to. There's anticipation - what will Designer A's garden look like this year? There's suspense - who will win gold? There's trend spotting - what plants will be featured? For me, I was curious to see if I could relate to the designs and plant choices - would I glean ideas translatable for our Canadian gardens? Chelsea … [Read more...] about Chelsea’s show gardens: A sampling
Overwhelmed at Chelsea Flower Show
Where to begin this report on the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show? The show gardens? The perfectly grown plants in the aptly named Great Pavilion? Everything ranged from gorgeous to stunning to awesome to outrageous, despite temperatures so cold I could see my breath. I'll start with plants and save the show gardens for a second … [Read more...] about Overwhelmed at Chelsea Flower Show
Flowery street scenes
London may be tightly packed with buildings, people, narrow alleyways and the like, but residents and shops manage to squeeze in colourful blooms wherever they can. Here are a few vignettes that caught my eye while walking around Soho and Covent Garden. … [Read more...] about Flowery street scenes
