Potpourri Magazine

Vlog - Agents of Field
Sophie and Ade’s YouTube channel won the Garden Media Guild’s Vlog of the year  with the judges calling it entertaining, well presented and informative. Run from their kitchen garden in...
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Q&A with Debbie Roberts from Acres Wild
What are some of the highlights of the winter garden? Frost can create a magical effect on shrubs, grasses and those sturdy perennials able to retain their structure.  Low winter...
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Technology in the garden - nesting box cameras
A birdbox provides a safe place for garden birds such as blue tits, thrushes and sparrows to nest.  Installing a specialist bird box camera will give you a wonderful insight...
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Body, soul and gardening - winter scent to lift your mood
Scent has a powerful effect on our mood and this is particularly welcome as we move into the colder months.  Winter flowers tend to have a particularly powerful perfume as...
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Garden trends - festive container planting
Container planting is a growing trend with the sale of outdoor plant pots going up by 225% last year, according to the RHS.  Planters can create an instant garden in...
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Cut flower corner - flora for Xmas
There’s a surprising amount of foliage, berries, branches and even a few blooms to pick and bring in to help decorate your home this Christmas.  Yew and fir are perfect...
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Gardening hero - Jamie Oliver
The celebrity chef, wife Jools and five children, have fabulous gardens surrounding their beautiful 16th century mansion, Spains Hall in Essex. As you’d expect, they enjoy eating al fresco together....
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Q&A with hellebore expert, Kevin Belcher, of Ashwood Nursery
Can you give us an overview of the different species of hellebores? Helleborus x hybridus are more showy and colourful than most of the species.  H. niger, the traditional Christmas rose,...
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Podcast - Andrew O'Brien, gardens weeds & words
Gardener and RHS writer Andrew O’Brien’s podcast is an interesting combination of thoughtful, lively conversation, horticultural advice and readings from garden and wildlife writers and poets.  Guests include both gardeners...
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Technology in the garden - eco-friendly thermal weeders
If you’re looking for ways of avoiding polluting the environment with chemical weed killers, but find hand weeding time consuming and unreliable (it’s often hard to get the whole root...
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Body, soul and gardening - black vegetables for health
As well as fruit such as blackberries and blueberries, black vegetables like carrots and tomatoes not only look amazing in your garden and on your plate, they’re also extremely nutritious. ...
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Black plants and foliage - drama in your garden
Whether it’s splashes of inky tulips or swathes of purple foliage, dark hues add depth and drama to the garden borders.  There is a wealth of dusky beauties to explore. ...
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Gardening hero - Danny Clarke (aka The Black Gardener)
Garden designer and television presenter, Danny Clarke is passionate about transforming gardens, and can be seen on our screens as part of Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden team on ITV...
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Garden trends - fashionable black features
From seating and planters to fences and walls, black looks stylish in the garden.  It’s also versatile, working in both contemporary and traditional settings.  Here are three ways to use...
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Cut flower corner - stylish black berries
Berries are great for adding contrasting texture and shape to floral arrangements.  Black berries are particularly sophisticated.  Here are a few varieties of to look out for.  Several viburnum varieties...
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Black gold - leaf mould
As well as being free and easy to make, leaf mould is one of the best soil improvers there is.  Here’s what you need to know: Made entirely of leaves...
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Savon noir - black soap for natural garden health
As gardeners we’re always seeking out products that look after our plants as well as the environment and Le Savonnier Marseillais black liquid soap is a natural way of protecting...
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Cut flower corner - what to pick in late October
There’s something very beautiful about the warm, faded colours of autumn, moving us slowly into the colder months.   There are fewer flowers in the garden, but you might still...
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Body, soul and gardening - companion planting
Companion planting is a natural and healthy way of protecting plants from pests and diseases.  Growing particular species together, such as aromatic plants next to a row of vulnerable vegetables,...
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Garden trends - greenhouse for living
Having a greenhouse in the garden for growing tomatoes, sowing seeds and extending your growing season is ever-popular.  But as well as this, people are increasingly using greenhouses for other...
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The Celebrity Gardener - the Duchess of Cornwall
It’s well known that Prince Charles is passionate about gardens, the countryside and the environment.  But less so that his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, shares his passion for gardening. ...
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