Dahlias, planted from tubers or cuttings in spring, are prized for their continuous blooms well into late summer and autumn. Those of you who live in Southern areas of the U.K may wish to risk leaving your Dahlia tubers planted in the ground throughout the winter and simply put a thick mulch over the soil[…]
How To Lift And Overwinter Dahlias
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Bulbs, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening Nov 02, 2021
Tip Top Tulip Collections
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Colourful combinations, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Ornamental gardening, Spring Aug 31, 2021
The tulip has long been a beloved favourite of mine. Their innate beauty comes at a time of year when many of our garden plants are still dormant. Apart from a true blue, one would be hard pushed to imagine a colour of the rainbow in which their alluring blooms are not available. Their flowers are[…]
The Importance Of Spring Bulbs To Bees
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening, Spring, Wildlife Gardening Aug 17, 2021
You may have heard many people talk of how important it is to preserve our population of bees, but why? Well, nearly 85% of food crops for humans are pollinated by bees. Many cattle fodder crops are also pollinated by bees. The plants they pollinate also create food and shelter for other wildlife. It is[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Handsome Hyacinth Collections For Your Garden
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Spring Jul 27, 2021
Hyacinths are often thought of as a houseplant for indoor colour from Christmas onwards. Whilst these forced arrangements can provide welcome decoration during a time when there is little garden colour, we must not forget the joy of Hyacinths in the garden, both in borders and containers. These beautiful bulbs burst up through the soil[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Canna Tropicanna Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Summer Jun 22, 2021
You may have seen Cannas used as central dot plants in council bedding planting. However they are invaluable in the garden for their lush architectural foliage and bright, gladioli-like blooms. Their height and their dramatic, large, banana shaped leaves make them perfect for an exotic, jungle style garden. The Tropicanna series is particularly stunning, with[…]
12 Top White Flowered Plants For The Garden And Home
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, Houseplants, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Roses, Shrubs Feb 02, 2021
White flowers add brightness to the dingiest of corners. Whole borders and even gardens have been based around white flowers against a foliage background of green or grey. The most famous perhaps is the White Garden created by Vita Sackville-West at her home, Sissinghurst Castle in the Weald of Kent in England. In this part[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Desirable Daffodil Collections
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Spring Sep 01, 2020
Many among us are delighted by the appearance of the first daffodils, more correctly known as Narcissi, heralding that spring is well and truly on the way. Some of us will always love the quintessential yellow trumpet varieties that perhaps remind us of halcyon days. There are of course many other types these days in[…]
How To Grow Saffron
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Bulbs, Container gardening, Fruit and veg gardening Jul 29, 2020
Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, so why not try your hand at growing your own. It comes from the Saffron Crocus (Crocus Sativus) and is prized for adding flavour, colour and aroma to dishes such as Paella. It is also used as a dye and over the centuries it has been reputed to[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Six reasons to grow the magnificent Roselilies
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice Feb 25, 2020
Lilies are a long standing favourite in our summer gardens, but what is so special about the Roselilies? Well there are some important advantages that I attempt to list below:- Stunning, double blooms which unfurl like roses. A light and pleasant perfume which is not overpowering like the spicy scent of some traditional Oriental hybrids.[…]
Planting a Spring Bulb Lasagne
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Bulbs, Container gardening, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening Sep 04, 2019
A bulb lasagne is simply layers of flower bulbs between layers of compost. The reason for doing this is to greatly increase the season of interest. For example, you could plant tulips on their own. This, though undoubtedly beautiful, would only provide weeks of colour. By planting layers of bulbs that come into flower[…]