Herbidacious

REVIEW: Avon Bulbs – mail order nursery

July 5, 2020June 30, 2020 by Keir Watson

△ Photo of the team at Avon Bulbs courtesy of Neil Hepworth At the beginning of lockdown, with all the local garden centres and nurseries closed, I went online to find mail-order suppliers to get my spring gardening started. Unfortunately, …

WoodShed Renovation

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 by Keir Watson

△ My woodshed, before and after renovation Pages in this post Page #1: Structural Repair ► Page #2: CladdingPage #3: Renovating the roofPage #4: Paving In this four-part post I detail how I renovated a 14 year old rustic garden …

Wildflowers make the most of lockdown

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Keir Watson

Ox-Eye Daisyis just one among many common wild species that has flowered in lockdown, unimpeded by the council mowers this year. During the Coronavirus lockdown, there have been many reports of wildlife returning to towns and cities. In our little …

Incredible buds of Agapanthus africanus

July 4, 2020June 21, 2020 by Keir Watson

One of the joys of garden photography is that it makes you look more carefully, not only when seeking out a good shot, but also afterwards: Once the photos are uploaded to the computer, details become evident that we’re previously …

Aquilegia ‘Blue Star’

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 by Keir Watson

Aquilegia ‘Blue Star’ 18in (45cm) 14in (35cm) mauve / blue / white May-June Sun / Part-Shade This Aquilegia is one of the prettiest and most photogenic columbines I have grown. This year, ten years after planting, it provided me with …

Give Green a Chance
The importance of foliage in planting design

June 18, 2020June 8, 2020 by Keir Watson

Designing a planting scheme on a foliage-first basis is a sure-fire way to a classy garden. In this post I will show you how I have created beautiful designs that are stylish and dramatic despite being almost entirely green. … …

Libertia grandiflora

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 by Keir Watson

Libertia grandiflora (Syn. Libertia chilensis) is, I believe, a little-known and undervalued plant which has some great design potential given the right situation: Evergreen, architectural, easy care, free-flowering… what’s not to like?

Four fantastic hardy perennial salvias

July 4, 2020June 1, 2020 by Keir Watson

Unlike the culinary sages (Salvia officinalis) with their grey or purple evergreen foliage, the hardy perennial sages (Salvia nemorosa and Salvia x sylvestris) are herbaceous perennials primarily grown for their vivid flowers which have an exceptionally long season from May …

Pyracantha espalier

July 4, 2020May 29, 2020 by Keir Watson

Nothing is easier to train into an espalier form than the Fire Thorn (Pyracantha). If you want to get in some practise before launching into espalier apples and pears, then this is a good way to start. An espalier is …

Early pastel colours for the dry garden

May 24, 2020May 23, 2020 by Keir Watson

#rockgarden #mediterraneangarden #drygarden #gravelgarden #pastelshades Here are four less common perennials currently in flower in my new Pond Garden. They are highly floriferous, easy-care and flower for weeks from late April right through May and into June. Amazingly, all four …