Potpourri Magazine

A good pair of scissors is always useful for gardeners for cutting twine, snipping herbs or a spot of deadheading.  And the good news is Fiskars, makers of the iconic orange-handled scissors, have introduced a recycled version of their multi-...

Pretty bulbs are springing up now in the garden, and although it can feel a shame to pick them, making a small posy to admire up close adds freshness to your house. 

The beautiful combination of blue grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) or brunnera with...

A passionate gardener and designer, Mike Palmer has recently launched his own podcast.  He already had a busy Instagram account where you can see him live on his ‘Sunday Stroll’, showing us round his garden and sharing his knowledge. Mike also...

Dreamy romantic gardens seem to be having a revival in the world of garden design.  Their untamed wildness ties in with the trend for naturalism and there’s something comforting about the old fashioned picturesque beauty they exude.

In the Romantic...

Charlotte has established a hugely successful garden design business creating stylish and elegant contemporary gardens.  She also won a Gold medal at the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower Show as well as numerous industry awards.  Here are some key elements of...

The sight of billowing pink or white cherry blossom against a cloudless blue sky is a joy to behold.  In fact, this vision gave such comfort during the first Covid lockdown that the National Trust is leading a project to create...

Immersing yourself in the sensory elements of the garden is a great way of creating a haven from the busy world.  And while the health benefits of a garden’s visual impact has been well researched, a recent study by the...

Some of us enjoy being alone more than others.  But if Covid has meant spending more time in your own company than you’d like, research by the RHS shows that getting into the garden could help relieve pangs of loneliness. ...

Designers are increasingly turning to bricks and clay pavers, to add warmth, character, texture and pattern to hard landscaping.  Reclaimed-style bricks have a rustic charm that work well in a traditional garden, while clay pavers can look at home in...

Tell us about your journey into horticulture

After being made redundant from my job as a broker, I started my own gardening business and trained in horticulture.  I saw an advert for a gardener at Hever and have been...

You’d be surprised how much there is in the garden in February to pick and bring inside.  Snowdrops, primroses, violets, aconites, or anything else you can find, make pretty posies.  You could also float hellebore heads in a bowl of...

One of our foremost gardening writers, Anna Pavord is extremely well respected for her horticultural knowledge and articulate, engaging writing style.

Born in 1940 in Abergavenny, both Anna’s headmaster father and teacher mother were excellent gardeners.  She grew up going...

Organic gardener, author, blogger and vlogger Tanya Anderson’s successful YouTube channel, Lovely Greens, has masses of weekly posts on organic vegetable gardening as well as growing herbs and plants for making natural skincare products.

Originally from America, Tanya moved from...

Coldframes are a useful bit of kit for extending your growing season.  Basically, a box that lies flat on the ground with a transparent sloping roof, a cold frame allows maximum light whilst providing shelter and protection form the elements.

If you’re struggling to remember which bed you planted the onions in last, or the name of a particular variety of perennial that did well, perhaps this is the year you start your gardening journal. 

You could use a simple...

Using fresh herbs in your cooking gives really lifts flavours and the smart indoor garden from Veritable allows you to have a range of fresh herbs and mini vegetables throughout the winter.

This well-designed device has an LED grow light...

In its video guides, the UK’s biggest organic gardening charity, looks at a range of different solutions to gardening without chemicals.  Chris from Garden Organic is a fan of houseplants and has filmed an informative video on making a mini...

Who:  A talented garden designer with a light touch, Sarah’s exquisitely sensitive planting style is informed by her empathy with the natural landscape.  Her scope is wide ranging, from public planting design to private garden design and RHS show gardens.

Dried foliage and seedheads used to have a dusty image, but a new breed of florists is using them to create bouquets with a fresh contemporary feel.  

Using ornamental grasses such as miscanthus with its silky flower plumes, fluffy Calamagrostis...

Planting more trees is invaluable for the environment and helps complete a garden by adding height, shade and an extra layer of beauty and year round interest.  Multi-stem trees in particular are increasingly in demand with designers.  Created by cutting...

There’s nothing like making plans to give you a sense of purpose and positivity.  So, put the kettle on and start a list of your good gardening intentions for the New Year.  Here are a few ideas:

Get those plants...