10 Years – GardenRant

10 Years – GardenRant

On the 11th of November 2014, a cold but dry day, I started the engine of my little van and drove to work. This time was different. I’d just been made redundant and this was the start of my new life as a freelance gardener. It was an awkward start; I’m a natural gardener, not … Read more

I’ve fallen in love. – GardenRant

I’ve fallen in love. – GardenRant

I’ve fallen in love. I love my garden, I do. It’s at the heart of my life. But just recently I’ve been drawn back and back to a windowsill by some sweet dwarf pelargoniums. Here’s one: Dwarf Perlagonium Golden Mist – sweet?! I wanted something small, easy and sun loving for the windowsill of the conservatory … Read more

UK Ground Cover Plants: Evergreens, Perennials & More

UK Ground Cover Plants: Evergreens, Perennials & More

Image source: Edimoh / Shutterstock.com Ground cover plants provide a dense carpet of beautiful foliage and flowers that can be an amazing addition to simple and elegant gardens while greatly supporting pollinators, such as hummingbirds and bees. These low-growing plants usually spread quickly and are generally easy to maintain. They can be positioned around taller … Read more

Plant Hardy Cobra Lilies for Fab Foliage – A Lily Guide for Arisaema consanguineum

Plant Hardy Cobra Lilies for Fab Foliage – A Lily Guide for Arisaema consanguineum

Arisaema consanguineum Silver Center, or Himalayan cobra lily has silvery foliage. One of the biggest challenges that I found with high latitude (i.e. Maine gardening) gardening is looking for bold-foliaged plants that can take mild summers and cooler nights. There are the usual suspects: canna, caladium, and bananas but each of these plants really are … Read more

How we Wassailed our New Apple Tree

How we Wassailed our New Apple Tree

Jen Sundeen is one my dearest friends and partners in crime.  We are going to spend this year exploring all manner of earth-based celebrations, recreating them where we can, attending them, documenting them, and bringing you along for the fun.  The hope is that through this exploration, we will, ourselves, have more than a few great stories … Read more

Gathering Osage Oranges – GardenRant

Gathering Osage Oranges – GardenRant

Fallen fruit of the single Osage orange tree in Yakima Arboretum. (c) Lorene Edwards Forkner When October arrives, some people get out their heavy sweaters and rake leaves. Others switch over to pumpkin spice lattes, play a round of touch football, or jump in said piles of leaves. Us? We drive roughly 300 miles to … Read more