Apple Season Returns
As I walked through the garden I heard a thud. It was a particular type of thud, one that has become familiar to me over the last decade of gardening. [...]
Ben Probert
Six Things About Hiring A Gardener
I've had a rather adventurous decade as a professional gardener. Lots of great experiences of course, but some difficult ones and even one that left me concerned for my life. [...]
Reclaiming The Sunflowers
The common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is probably one of the widely recognised flowers on Earth. Native to a range across the US, from Mexico in the south to Canada in [...]
Plant Shaming
I love a good strong opinion. Something robust, well considered, and even backed up with a few facts and figures just to round it off. For example it is my [...]
Championing Professional Gardeners
I've recently noticed a gentle increase in the number of well-known and fairly well-known garden designers championing the work of professional gardeners. Podcasts, articles and social media; there's sense that [...]
Storm Goretti: Six Months On
On the night of the 8th of January 2026 my fellow gardeners down in Cornwall went home after a long day's work. There was a rare official red warning for [...]
Baptisias On Trial
It might just be an impression but I think British gardens have fairly few North American plants, compared to how many European, Asiatic, and even South African plants that are [...]
The Perils Of International Garden Writing
I've just been out planting a trough in front of my house. In it I have plants from Asia and North America, plus some British-raised snowdrops. Hopefully things will settle [...]
Conserving Plantspeople
I've just spent an enjoyable weekend at the Royal Horticultural Society's National Rhododendron Show at Rosemoor, a lovely garden here in the South West of England. What a great show [...]
Can Gardening Be Fun Again Please?
Did you know that forsythias kill bees? No? I didn't know either. It could be because this fact is actually completely false. It's another one of those 'internet facts' that's [...]
Do You Have The Daffodil Disorder?
I spent last weekend at a small but excellent local flower show. I was there in various capacities – judge, helper, clean-up crew – for both days. It was nice [...]
A Plantsman’s Confession
I don't think it's right to call yourself a plantsperson. It's one of those those words that has a sort of status to it but no actual firm meaning. Is [...]