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At the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Putney the garden had become a bit tired and congested, with some shrubs not thriving so well or become outsized. The beds had become infested with mind-your-own-business and other weeds, and lavender and rosemary had succumbed to rosemary beetle.  In addition, the soil was heavy and had few earthworms, …

Exmoor, where the upthrust of the rock mass contrasts with the frozen fall of boulder and scree. Rock dominates the landscape, even when clothed with fertile pasture. Rock is folded and crumpled at strong angles. Going up a coastal hill or along a ‘cleave’ to the sea is walking in divine sculpture. I found lots …

I was asked, in the light of the drought and hosepipe bans due to come into force at the Easter weekend in south east England, which vegetables require little water.  I had to bite my tongue as there’s not a crop that doesn’t require regular watering. It’s much more about using basic sustainable practices in …

A potager, or kitchen garden, has a geometric design of easily maintainable beds with hard paving around them.  I’ve had a lot of fun lately working with pattern for a potager for a very nice early Victorian villa.  Thank goodness for computer-aided design, making and remaking design options. Selecting veg varieties with ornamental value is …

I’ve just plugged in the propagator. Tomatoes and peppers originate from central America; aubergine from the Indian subcontinent. These plants need a lot of heat and light to grow and for the fruits to ripen, so an early start under cover is important. Could have been earlier, but what can you do?! After last year’s …