Colour me happy! Fragrant phloxes help brighten up those tricky gaps between seasons Nigel Colborn says border phloxes are valuable summer perennials Colourful, fragrant and with sturdy stems, best could carry flowers in September UK-based gardening expert they grow best in fertile, free – draining soil By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: 22:05 … Read more
Loopy about lupins! These versatile favourites give a riot of colour all summer Colour of lupins run from blue, pink, red and white through creams to yellow Lupins are easy to grow from seed and much cheaper than buying plants Gardening expert Nigel Colborn, says lupins prefer free-draining soils in sun By Nigel Colborn for … Read more
Self-sowing seductors: There is nothing staid about Granny’s Bonnet — and they reproduce prolifically Nigel Colborn says Granny’s Bonnets, also called columbines, are delightful British gardening expert reveals almost all columbines are easy to grow He says columbines tend to be short-lived but will self-sow copiously By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: 22:07 … Read more
My purple patch! Plants with plum-coloured leaves may need more pampering but they’re worth it for the splash of colour they serve up, says Monty Don Monty Don says purple-leaved plants need more pampering than green-leaved British gardening expert claims purple-leaved plants add more depth to a border He reveals purple-leaved plants in his Jewel … Read more
This spring has been exceptionally cold and dry so far, but lovely for all that, with frosty mornings dissolving into bright, clear days. Normally late frosts – any time in April or May – are a disaster for the gardener as the tender new growth is the first to be damaged and blossom is reduced … Read more
Perfect peonies: Make a statement in your garden with these vibrant summer blooms Nigel Colborn says peonies have the ability to stand out on any planting scheme British gardening expert explains peonies are native to Europe and Asia He recommends growing in well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail … Read more
Three years ago I sowed a packet of seed of the beautiful, ethereal feather grass, Stipa tenuissima. At first they appeared as hair-like seedlings but by that autumn the small plants were growing in individual pots and the following spring I planted them out into what was then the new Paradise Garden. These were the … Read more
Perennial pleasures: It’s too early for tender annuals, but what about beauty that lasts? The main attraction in garden centres will be summer plants for containers Tender plants like those won’t be safe outdoors before the middle of May Gardening expert Nigel Colborn said hardy perennials thrive in all weathers By Nigel Colborn for the … Read more
Between the ages of seven and 16 I was at boarding school, and on my birthday in early July my parents would visit with the special treat of strawberries from the garden at home. The quantity varied enormously. Some years I was presented with just one small punnet; in other years I could feed practically … Read more
As she walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey ten years ago this month, Kate Middleton held a bouquet of white flowers in her hands. It was relatively modest in size but exquisitely pretty, and the component plants were carefully chosen for their significance and seasonal beauty. The smallest white flowers were from lily of … Read more