gardening thought

This plant is native to North Africa and is used for medicinal purposes such as gall bladder treatment. Perhaps you noticed it at your feet as a child. Fumaria capreolata ( White ramping fumatory) As a child, this was one of my favourite plants. It used to be abundant in the hot and shady wasteland close to the Thames, but has died out there to be replaced by other herbaceous plants. I adore…

Spring growth underneath the birch in April 2026 I’ve been planting underneath this birch for several years now as you can see from some of my previous posts. Borage, grown from seed. Tulips. Sweet Peas: everlasting. Underneath the birch: 2026. By Hermione. The birch was pruned back too heavily a few years ago, but it recovered by throwing our sal to wars off pests and is thriving with the…

A woodland plant growing at the side of woodland. I am reliably informed that this is Italian Arum Italian Arum. Photograph by Hermione Laake also writing as Hermione Wilds A woodland walk brings all the joys of spring and the reward of finding things. I often walk and dream up my next book or short story. When Cycling, I get some of my best ideas for articles. I speed past the plants when on…

Can you tell the difference between the leaves on these two plants? When not in flower, I often mix them up. Take a look and see. Borage. Photograph and plant grown from seed by Hermione Laake also writing as Hermione Wilds And this one is…? Honesty: Lunaria annua. Photograph and plant grown from seed by Hermione Laake, also writing as Hermione Wilds Yes. Honesty Lunnaria annua. This plant…

Arum Maculatum Also known as lords-and-ladies and cuckoo pint, this woodland flower can be abundant in the shade. Wildlife enjoys it. Try thinning in spring. Arum Masculatum. Photo by Hermione Laake Facts: This plant self seeds and blackbirds and thrush love the red berries. Problems Beware: poisonous and skin irritant. Woodland anemone Photo by Hermione Laake Facts: A beautiful,…

This month, I’m taking you into the garden to shown you the grape hyacinths (Mascari). They like a sandy soil and grow in most western gardens easily, but beware as they can become invasive. I keep mine in pots. Grape hyacinth. Photo by Hermione I’ve also planted my favourite anenome; anenome blanda blue. You can see it leaning towards the daffodils, perhaps for shelter. in the photograph…

Fig from a distance. Photo by Hermione Laake. I am pruning this fig in February, as we had a dry day. Tips Cut just above a shoot and make sure the cut is at an angle and the shoot is pointing upwards. Encourage this by cutting at an angle. Watch the video to clarify. Prune every year to avoid the plant becoming leggy like this one. I know it is tempting to leave it, but please don’t. My…

Thyme in winter, next to Osteospermum. Photo by Hermione Laake Did you know that Thyme and Oregano are relatives and belong to the mint family Lamiaceae? Thyme – genus: Thymus. An aromatic perennial. You can grow this herb in a large shallow pot. It prefers dry conditions, so you won’t have to water it too often. In a sheltered spot, it survives winters in the south west. Tips: 1. Place by…

Hello, I am working on a new garden this year. Here are some early photos to show you the lie of the land. A scrappy unloved garden needs rescuing. I’m planting Alcea and Calendula in February since we have spring rains, for summer brightness. January. Leaf clearing and general tidy up. This bare patch of earth may beed some pebbles to stop one from slipping. I have cleared the ground and…

It’s Spring. Here we are in Ruth’s garden in spite, yes, in spite of the wind. I have been nurturing the primroses. This year the conditions have been perfect for primroses. They enjoy an open and sunny position. primroses and paths Last autumn, I planted up a bed with moon daisies and some irises. I am looking forward to seeing this garden in May when the lavender which I grew from a cutting,…

I love the gradual progress of transforming a messy, unloved garden. I started work on this garden in spring 2023 and finished in December 2024. You can see the transformation from the photographs, which clearly record my hard work. Take a look. Overgrown and unloved in 2023: Photograph of garden before and after by the writer and gardenerTransformed into a spring oasis. Photograph is by the…

Grafted cherry trees can be pruned of branches which shoot up straight and spoil the look of the tree. Prune your weeping cherry when dormant; when there are no leaves or blossom on the tree; in spring. Any branches which are almost touching the ground should be pruned back by several inches. This stops them getting damage. Damage to branches can allow fungus in to the tree. Clean your saw…

Five years of careful planning and I have created and shaped this once woodland garden with nothing but trees into a Romantic retreat. Romantic retreat. Video clip by Hermione Romantic retreat by Hermione I used Salvia’s and Calendula (Pot marigold), with French Lavender and Blond Lavender, flanked by Nemesia. Cottage garden design and installation by Hermione Cottage garden by…