Sorted?
In 2012 Rory Stuart published 'What Are Gardens For?' and in it he offered a critique of Veddw. Amongst other things (get the book..) he said: 'The avenue in the meadow should lead somewhere, perhaps through a gate or an arch into the shade of the Cotoneaster Walk'. I...
Painful truths about Camellias
It being the season, and garden writers needing to endlessly provide reading material, I recently read a piece in praise of camellias. Understandable - they are quite attractive flowers with a good shiny evergreen leaf. Hmm. And people go long distances to visit them...
August at Veddw
Someone, thinking of visiting, recently asked me what is in flower at Veddw in August. So, my apologies to all those of you who would like words here, and to all those who are spring focused and can't bear to imagine August right now: here are a selection of August...
Is winter interest interesting?
The term ‘interest’ in relation to gardens has irritated me for years. Partly because the use of the word seems totally wrong and I’ve found it hard to say why. I think it’s actually because interest (apart from when applied to money) implies thinking, or curiosity –...
How do we define ‘gardeners’? by Anne Wareham
What is a gardener?
Not all Glooom
Yes, I've been neglecting anyone who is kind enough to follow this blog. And right now I'm somewhat out of words, having been frantically book writing in every spare moment since June...words words words.. So, I'm cheating. Some pictures of Veddw in November. (though...
Thinkingardens Supper
My apologies for those who want words - this is a post principally for the interest of those who came to the thinkingardens supper at Veddw, to discuss beauty and gardens. And much else besides. And eat cake....drink a little... # .. and there are no pictures...
Interesting feedback.
An Addition to the visit from Brockweir, Hewelsfield and St Briavels Garden Society's feedback The group leader now points out to me that I only asked about the people who didn't appreciate the garden: the majority did like it. And she asked me to add a new last...
I speak. For the Herefordshire Horticultural Hub.
I understand there will be WINE - and it's in the cause of the Herefordshire Horticultural Hub, so you can drink and feel very worthy if you come. It'll be great! I'll be being interviewed by Tristan Gregory. Topic: Are Gardens Art? Here's what happened - a review To...
Pride and falling…
I was dead chuffed about this sight in June: - the euphorbia looked wonderful for weeks. I boasted about it and showed off. So serves me right - the euphorbia got rust. And because I don't just do the odd plant in amongst lots of other different ones, preferring...
Sitting
We just bought a new seat . And put it together. (both of us - would have been impossible alone - but I took the picture so you can't see me slaving away.) We've always wanted a seat in the meadow, but there never seemed to be the right place. Then some...
Gravel
I remember reading, many years ago, that one of the changes the death of Vita Sackville-West brought to Sissinghurst was that the paths had to be paved. The increase in visitors and wear and tear on - grass? - created the necessity. And changed the garden...
Shadows
Light is the magic in a garden. The most wonderful garden in the world can struggle to excite in rain and gloom. And spring and autumn do special light: because the sun is low, suddenly unexpected things are illuminated. And you can get dramatic shadows. Shadows are...
Enter the Replacement
Just in case you wondered: this is really only of interest to family and friends - or in the unlikely event that someone was totally gripped by the birdbath saga - it's for them. It's the post script to this account of the Big Bird Bath Disaster. Now anyone who says...
Hug a Slug by Anne Wareham
This piece was published in The Spectator on the 8th of March 2014 under the title 'The War on Beauty': Next week is ‘Hug a Slug’ week. Well, come on, you did believe it for a couple of seconds. We’ve all grown so used to the fog of humourless eco-rectitude that has...
For Karen – a Walk in the Woods.
This is a special for my great friend Karen, (@wildelycreative ) who bivvies in this wood when she can, but it's been ages now...(and with apologies to the real Walker.) This is the other side of that gate into the woods: There are not many flowers out yet. The...
Voted one of the UK’s Top 100 Gardens by Garden News
Recent Posts From: thinkinGardens
Are Gardens just for Gardeners?
Do you visit art galleries and museums? Do you enjoy theatre and concerts? Hauser and Wirth – art gallery and Oudolf Gardens As a garden writer and garden maker I deeply regret that my audience for both appear to be almost exclusively gardeners. It is as if the works of painters and sculptors were only […]
Should thinkingardens migrate to Substack?
I think it’s possible that such platforms are the future. At least for as long as blogs were, once.
Otherworldly Gardens by Mary Keen
“The question to ask is, ‘what is here that is true, that is underneath the superficial things? What is here that matters?”
Autobiography of a Garden by Patterson Webster: a review
Autobiography of a Garden is about the garden making, Pat’s life, the history of the land, the ideas, the art, the plants and the devouring deer.
Garden regionally, get inspired globally by Marianne Willburn
But to dream, and perhaps more importantly, to innovate, we should inspire ourselves globally:
Chelsea or Chaumont? by Catharine Howard
“Have issue. You were so adamant that you wouldn’t go to Chelsea again. Discuss, please”.
Gifting the Ephemeral
. And now, knowing we won’t live forever, we’re thinking about what will happen to the house and garden when we die.
Hadspen aka The Newt in Somerset, by Anne Wareham
The garden is actually interestingly old fashioned. It’s not just the bedding but the relentless inclusion of every garden cliché, however brilliantly executed.
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