Potpourri Magazine

Q&A with Dutch designer, Carien Van Boxtel
How did you get into horticulture? I’ve been gardening and cutting flowers since I was four, as both my parents and grandparents were keen gardeners.  We had vegetables from our...
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Body, soul and gardening - soil makes you happy
Whilst wearing gardening gloves protects your hands, in the right circumstances and for those who are generally healthy, it might be beneficial to get your hands dirty occasionally.  Research into...
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Garden trends - coast-inspired gardens
Resilience is a buzz word in garden design with designers looking to environments such as the coast, where plants are exposed to the extremes of weather, for planting inspiration.  The...
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Shrub of the month - Exochorda
Also known as pearl bush, this is an excellent shrub for an uplifting display of early blossom.  In early April to May, this otherwise unassuming shrub is belle of the...
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How to ... take softwood cuttings
Growing plants from softwood cuttings is an excellent way of bulking up your garden cheaply and duplicating favourite plants in your own or a friend’s garden -a cutting also makes...
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Podcast - Two Good Gardeners
Dan Cooper and Julia Parker present this podcast for fellow gardeners where they share their wealth of experience of growing and their passion for plants and gardens. Dan is a...
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Technology in the garden - dipping tanks
Collecting rainwater has become a priority for gardeners looking for sustainable ways to grow.  But while most water butts aren’t particularly attractive and tend to be hidden away behind a...
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Technology in the garden - pressure washers
It’s at this time of year that our patios tend to look dirty and green from the inevitable moss, dirt and algae that builds up over the cold wet weather. ...
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How to... winter prune wisteria
There’s something glorious about the sight of wisteria dripping with gorgeous purple or white perfumed flowers in late spring and early summer.  They are stunning trained against a sunny wall...
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Podcast - UK Wildlife Podcast
Presenters Victoria Hillman and Neil Phillips explore the incredible plant and animal life we have in this country, from urban Bristol to the Outer-Hebrides. Each episode kicks off with the...
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Shrub of the month - edgeworthia chrysantha
Winter is when edgeworthia suddenly shouts its presence to the world with a mass of fragrant golden flower clusters on bare branches.  This is a stunning deciduous shrub with an...
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Q&A with Maddy Bailey, house plant specialist
How did you get into horticulture? I inherited a deep love of plants from my mum. Since I was little, we'd plod around the garden together - she'd point out...
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Garden trends - feeling peachy!
Peach Fuzz has been named the Pantone colour of the year.  It’s the prettiest of colours, soft and warm, sitting somewhere between apricot and pale pink that will add a...
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Body, soul and gardening - get a memory boost
One of the myriad benefits of gardening is that it may be particularly good for the memory.  In fact, a Swedish study shows that daily gardening may lower the risk...
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Q&A with Neil Lucas, Knoll Gardens
Tell us about your route into horticulture? I worked for the civil service before deciding I wanted to be a gardener.  I helped tend the grounds of my parents’ hotels...
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Body, soul and gardening - gardening for fitness
We all know regular exercise is important for physical and mental health, but if running around the park or going to an exercise class isn't for you, remember that gardening...
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Garden trends - recycling your plants is all the rage
When designing gardens, it’s tempting to rip everything out and start again with a blank canvas, but as our interest in sustainability continues to grow, there’s been a move towards...
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Shrub of the month - Daphne
Daphnes are exquisite shrubs with clusters of beautifully-scented white or pink flowers, which, depending on the variety, flower in late winter, early spring through to summer. They have a bit...
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How to... prune dogwood
Dogwoods (Cornus) with their wonderful red, orange or green stems are stunning in winter gardens, especially in the clear winter light or planted en masse or in groups of several...
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Podcast - Ins and Outs
Garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson and interior designer Jojo Barr share their wealth of experience in this podcast, which is a great insight into the ‘ins and outs’ of design –...
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Technology in the garden - Shoot Garden Design
If you’ve been looking to improve the design of your own or a client’s garden, or simply redesign the planting in a border, gardening website, Shoot, could help save time...
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