Potpourri Magazine

Seasonal produce - pumpkins and pumpkin pie
With Halloween and Thanksgiving upon us, now is a great time to get creative with pumpkins.  These huge striking orange fruit look almost surreal growing on the earth connected by...
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Garden trends - cosying up in the middle of winter
As the temperatures drop, instead of packing up the garden for the winter months, why not embrace the Scandi ‘hygge’ way of life?  This advocates wrapping up and enjoying the...
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Body,soul and gardening - gardens that bond us
One of the great joys of plants is being able to give and share them.  A garden filled with flowers that remind you of your favourite people appeals on an...
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Body, soul and gardening - beating air pollution
As well as being beautiful and relaxing, gardens can also shield us against air pollution from fossil fuels and petrol that damage our health.  According to the World Health Organisation, 90%...
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Seasonal produce - sloe gin
The hedgerows are brimming with sloes, so remember to take a pot with you next time you go on a nice autumn walk and gather enough to make some sloe...
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Garden trends - ornamental grasses
The fashion for naturalistic planting continues, and key to this soft, unstructured look is using ornamental grasses.  When planted amongst perennials and loosely pruned shrubs, they give the garden wonderful...
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The secret gardener - Emilia Fox
The actress, famed for her role in the BBC drama Silent Witness, loves to unwind in her garden.  ‘I’m a big gardener, I love gardening’ she says, recently telling Woman...
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Gardening tip - Winter violas
Winter violas are wonderful hardy little gems that will flower on through the coldest months.  Try sowing some seeds now to flower in a few months’ time.  Sow seeds thinly and evenly in...
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All about apples
Homegrown apples are a world apart from supermarket-bought ones.  An apple tree, with its gorgeous spring blossom and autumn fruit makes an attractive and wildlife friendly addition to any garden,...
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Technology in the garden - easy top fruit pickers
The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us.  But if your apple and pear trees have grown so tall you can’t reach the fruit at the top of...
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Our vlog pick - Huw Richards: Grow Food Organically
Huw is only in his early twenties, but he has been creating YouTube videos on veg growing since he was 12 and is incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  His hands-on advice...
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Technology in the garden - the chair to save the oceans
If you’re in the market for some more garden furniture and are wanting to do something about the environment, the DuraOcean could be the answer.  This ground breaking chair, designed...
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The joys of lavender
Drifts of lilac-coloured lavender, humming with bees against a blue sky is a wonderful summer sight.  As well as being beautiful, lavender can also be dried – hanging the sprigs upside-down...
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Our vlog pick - The Garden Ninja
The Garden Ninja, aka Lee Burkhill, is a garden designer from the north of England whose YouTube videos give clear, practical advice on design and gardening, helping people avoid common...
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Monty Don - 5 things you didn't know
The much-loved gardening broadcaster and writer was born in Germany in 1955 – the youngest of five siblings - and christened Montagu Denis Wyatt Don.  He is married to Sarah...
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Your August gardening to-do list
Everything is growing very fast now, with plenty of harvesting, deadheading and seed-collecting to be done.  Here’s how to keep the garden looking good into autumn. Keep deadheading annuals, perennials and...
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Seasonal produce - what to do with plums
Plums are a delicious tangy fruit, great eaten raw but also great for stewing or making jams, crumbles and tarts.  ‘Victoria’ is a well-known variety and ‘Blue Tit’ and ‘Opal’ are...
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Garden trends - zones to make the most of your space
Gardens are working harder than ever as people spend more time in them and appreciate their potential.  Designers are increasingly creating separate zones with different purposes to maximise the use...
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Body, soul and gardening - wellbeing from tactile plants
Gardens that stimulate the senses are a great way to create relaxing outdoor spaces, helping us to physically connect with nature.  As well as the familiar scented gardens, tactile gardens...
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How to create a bee-friendly garden
It’s a joy watching bees in the garden.  Sadly, however, they’re on the decline due to systemic pesticides and loss of varied habitats, amongst other things.  Bees are vital for...
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Technology in the garden - wheelbarrows
The latest innovations are designed to ease the strain and make gardening easier. The Bucketbarrow.  The wheelbarrow is a mainstay bit of kit for gardeners, yet since its invention thousands of...
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