Readings

Versatile is not a word on its own that would particularly inspire me to buy a plant, but versatile and beautiful? For me, that’s a winning combination! Our plant focus this month is Beautiful Climbers and we have picked some lovelies for you.

Get ready for summer fun this July with the help of a classic, yet always fresh plant - Lavatera. Popular name mallow, it’s a fantastic, floriferous shrub that grows quickly and vigorously. An established specimen may put on thousands of flowers, each one of which is a delight to the eye and a draw for bees and other beneficial insects. This characteristic makes it popular with children or the child in all of us! Who doesn’t want to do their bit to help our friends the bees – we’d be in trouble without them.

Are you faced with having to find the right plants for a location with dry soil? Fortunately, there are many beautiful perennials that will thrive in the most difficult spots – even beneath tree canopies.

As the mercury begins to rise and the flowers bloom we round up the best gardens to visit in the UK. Finally, summer is here. Our beautiful English gardens are lush, green and flowering and are exactly where we want to be on a beautiful sunny day. Here are our top picks from around the country. 

As you adopt the Downward Dog, you see behind you how the wind is playing with the ornamental grass. You take another very deep breath, sniff the lavender scent and relax into the Sun Salutation. Yoga in the garden: try it with these plants around you.