The parkland at NT Calke Abbey has many beautiful huge, old sweet chestnuts. Some have long, trailing branches that appear to prop it up like a drapey candelabra and this is quite possibly what they are doing.
The vast acreage of the Upton House gardens (National Trust) may be difficult to replicate but there are plenty of design ideas that can inspire and be used on a much smaller scale. This is a quiet, shady corner on a little path feels quite enclosed and hidden.
This bright blue firework of a flower is an eryngium (or sea holly) – a fabulous architectural plant. There are many different eryngiums mostly grown ornamentally and can be annual or perennial (this one is perennial), usually blue or white (the most well-known being ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’).
I visited Weston Park for the first time this week for a heritage event – previously I’ve only got as far as The Granary restaurant. It’s a fabulous place so if you’re at a loose end this weekend and it’s good weather, I highly recommend it.
These seed pods belong to the plant honesty. It’s a lovely plant originally from central and southern europe which has been adopted by gardeners, mainly for these unusual seed pods. There are a few varieties but only two colours: purple or white.
These are zingy! Even more so in real life – I couldn’t quite get the red tones when photographing them. They’re California poppies (or Eschscholzia californica) – very easy to grow from seed and will self-seed wherever they fall.
Before it’s too late, head off to your local public access bluebell woods – there’s nothing quite like them. Blue is an unusual colour in the flower world and to see these en masse is just stunning.
The flowers of our quince tree look like tiny strawberry and vanilla icecreams! Sadly they don’t stay like this for long but happily their fruit have an amazing scent
Here’s a lovely planting combination for spring – not my design! I’m always looking for simple and striking planting combinations and this one’s a winner: mini tulips (probably T. Bakeri Lilac Wonder) with grape hyacinth
Happy Saint David’s Day. The daffodil was chosen as the floral emblem of Wales by Lloyd George as it’s reliably in flower on Saint David’s Day, and commonly found across the country. Bunches of daffs are traditionally thought to bring good luck and abundance.