The title of this post is a little bit of a challenge: just how many health benefits can you think of that plants provide? We can probably all name a few obvious ones quite easily. First up is the pleasure we get from seeing a beautiful flower or plant; they have a positive effect on our mood and can really help to cheer us up. Think about how lovely it feels to be given a bunch of flowers and you get the idea. Then there's the impact ...
Giveaway: Rex London Paloma ceramics bundle
Welcome to a fab new giveaway courtesy of the lovely people at Rex London. I’ve got a bundle of beautiful ceramics from their new Paloma range to give away to one lucky winnner. I love Rex London. Previously known as dotcomgiftshop, their site its just brilliant for home accessories and gift ideas - and with Mother’s Day just around the corner it’s a great place to find the perfect present. There’s even a whole section dedicated to Mother’s ...
What to plant now for your Summer garden
A glorious summer garden. Sitting here in the depths of winter it feels a long way off, doesn’t it? Planning for your summer garden by sowing seeds and introducing plants at this time of year may sound a little hasty, but it really isn’t too early to make a start. It’s actually very sensible to start planning your borders now, because doing so will give you plenty of time to grow a large proportion of plants yourself and save you lots of money ...
Revamp your space with Greenery: pantone colour of the year 2017
What’s your favourite colour? That’s a question I get asked a lot at the moment; Lily is very into colouring right now, and seeks my opinion on pretty much a daily basis. My answer is always green, followed by her current favourite in second place to keep her happy! I’ve always loved the colour green. I suppose when I think about it, that’s probably a big part of why I love gardening and plants so much; it gives me a chance to submerge myself ...
Tips for installing a raised bed this spring
If you're looking for inspiration on spring garden projects, this guest post from gardening and home repair enthusiast David Miller exploring the world of raised bed gardening is a great place to start. Heading towards spring and the return of warm weather, it’s always fun to think of the different ways we can work to improve our gardens. Whether it’s something as simple as planting a few new bulbs, or something as involved as constructing a ...
2. The 10 minute gardener: Midwinter gardening jobs
If ever there was a week on the calendar where you need to cut back the garden jobs, it’s this one! Frankly the garden and allotment are nowhere near the top of my to do list; our house is awash with wrapping paper, teacher presents, half-finished festive jobs and crazed children, and I feel like I’m clinging on by my fingernails. Yes, it’s all lovely fun stuff, but hectic nonetheless. But surely I can reclaim 10 minutes from somewhere for ...
10 easy to grow succulents for every home
Autumn is in full swing, and our gardens are slowing down for the colder months. At this time of year you're probably spending less time gardening outdoors, which gives you the chance to spruce up your indoor garden game. If you’re hoping for a beautiful and easy indoor garden sanctuary this autumn, why not try succulents? Succulent plants come in a variety of shapes, colours, and sizes, making them suitable for all kinds of interior ...
A Grow Along project with Tiger Sheds
Welcome to our latest kids gardening project! We're joining up with Tiger Sheds for their #TigerGrowAlong. They've sent us a fab kit so we can grow some lovely fresh herbs. Planting up a small herb garden in a container is a great gardening project for children. It's small enough for them to manage it all on their own, the seeds are quick to germinate so they won't lose interest, and it's a great opportunity to teach them about where ...
5. A Grow-Your-Own Photographic Diary with Baby Bio Outdoor
Welcome to the final instalment for this year in my photographic diary series. Since late Spring, I've been keeping a grow-your-own photographic diary of my allotment, and it's been such a brilliant project. It's allowed me to follow my plants' progress really easily, and given me a reference point for next year's planning. It's also been hugely rewarding seeing the growing journey from tiny seedling right through to harvest. To help my ...
Win £52 worth of plants from Blossoming Gifts
Autumn may be upon us, but there are still so many plants that you can enjoy both indoors and outdoors - and I've got a new giveaway that will help you do just that. One lucky winner will receive two beautiful plants from online gift retailer Blossoming Gifts, worth a total of £52. Blossoming Gifts offer a wide range of online gifts, including fresh flowers, hampers, wine and personalised gifts. They've also recently launched a new plant ...