Jen Stuart-Smith

At this time of year our Norwegian grandmother would have her eyes peeled for branches and stems that she could bring into the house and ‘force’ to bloom. Forsythia was a favourite and later would come branches of apple and pear. It seems to be a Scandinavian thing… plus Grandma was a little impatient by […]

Choose from a selection of gifts and cards, whilst eating festive goodies and warming yourself with a mug of Belgian-style hot chocolate. You can also combine it with a trip to the Musket Brewery to collect your festive ale… We’ll be selling rose-hip bunches, wreaths, seasonal foliage and much of this year’s stock of quirky

Much as we love our flower plot, we always like to get out and about, speak to other flower growers and get inspiration from other interesting businesses. So, at the latter end of the wedding season, Bek and I have managed to clear a few days in the diary and do just that. Last week

Beata Andrews, former head gardener for Sarah Raven at Perch Hill now runs Botanika, her own, unique floristry business where she uses flowers from her allotment and garden to make her arrangements more than a little bit special… What’s behind the boom in British cut flowers? Everyone thinks it’s a nice lifestyle to be growing

If I were to instigate a thriving cut-flower garden at my home, Doddington Place Gardens, near Sittingbourne, I would look to Parham House, West Sussex (www.parhamhouse.co.uk) for inspiration – although I very much doubt I would need the prodigious quantities of flowers that Parham grows. An astonishing 20-25 buckets of cut flowers from the garden

Do you feel overwhelmed by your garden at this time of year? Or maybe your back’s playing up? Take the no-dig approach to gardening and your will find you have time – and more produce – on your hands Experienced gardeners and anyone who has ever trained with the RHS will find it hard to