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?”
Mingle or clump? by Thomas Rainer
This is old and gold – a post by Thomas Rainer followed by a response in the next post by Noel Kingsbury. Eight years ago – so forgive the quality of the pictures. Definitely worth re-reading. = This is going to be challenging and interesting, everyone,...
Can professional designers really hope to emulate those for whom a garden is a life’s work?
These are high achievements for professional designers to aim towards….
Posh Day Out for Katherine Crouch
Although this took place quite some time ago, it seems to me that many thinkingardens readers will find interest in what goes on at this prestigious annual event. And others will simply find it very entertaining. With thanks to our willing victim, Katherine Crouch....
Can a walk be a garden? The High Line revisited by Bridget Rosewell.
We’re back, troublesome as ever. Has anyone else bar Bridget found the High Line less than perfect? Count on thinkingardens for a different view… Anne Wareham, editor Bridget Rosewell: What is it about the High Line in...
Designers Damned by Lou Nicholls
I know that garden designers, gardeners and garden makers read and contribute to thinkingardens, so here’s a cat to set amongst you pigeons. Does it hit a spot? Or is it totally unreal? Feel free to comment, or even to offer a piece countering the case made...
Old Fashioned? Review by Mark Laurence
One of the earliest books I bought was Beth Chatto’s ‘The Dry Garden’ (1978) – no idea why since I garden in the wet West. (I did buy ‘The Damp Garden’ too though.) Dry gardens are still her theme thirty eight years later. Wonder...
Gardeners, Designers – or Garden Makers? by Anne Wareham
My apologies. This was not the piece I intended to publish this week, and I had no intention of popping up again so soon to annoy you. But today I got annoyed and you know how rare that is. For many years I had wanted to define and articulate the difference between...
Garden Magic by George Carter. Reviewed by Ann Hawkins
Here’s a garden designer I really admire and enjoy. This is his latest book, Garden Magic, reviewed by Ann Hawkins. Apologies for fuzzy pictures – you’ll just have to buy the book…or visit George Carter’s website) ...
Messing about in Boats by Cherie Lebbon
“Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing!” Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows Here’s someone who has responded to that challenge....
Does employing a garden designer lose you your garden? by Michael McCoy
Perhaps it’s not easy to feel that your garden is really your own when you have had a garden designer working on it? Do you feel free to amend the planting and to make changes? A version of this article by Michael McCoy originally appeared in the excellent...
More Chelsea
I’m risking boring everyone with more Chelsea stuff – in this case, some thoughts about the actual 2014 show: mine and those of Katherine Crouch. I promise that normal service will be resumed shortly. (ie not quite so often ..) Anne Wareham, editor I...
Everyone has their idea of paradise: an interview with John Sales by Anne Wareham
I’ve been preoccupied with the gap between the professionally designed garden and the garden of the serious amateur for some years, particularly because I experience garden design as an ongoing process which I am involved with daily at Veddw, rather than a one off...
Clump or Mingle? by Noel Kingsbury
Now, after all that discussion and noise in response to Thomas Rainer’s piece about intermingling planting, here is Noel’s reply to Thomas. (and sorry, he hadn’t read all your comments before writing it..) I must apologise to all those who...
Recent Posts from: Veddw
Favour the Ferns
Many years ago The Financial Times sent me to do a feature on the RHS ‘Flower Show’ at Tatton Park . I was totally naïve and had no idea what I was supposed to do or to write about. So my excitement was tempered by acute anxiety. The term ‘imposter syndrome’ could have been invented for me. […]
Snowdrop mania is coming…
In the UK, right now, the horticultural world is about to drive us all mad with snowdrops. Pictures of. Articles about. Gardens with them. Anything people can think of to bash us over the head with snowdrops.
Brilliant Brecon
Recently we made a visit to Brecon. This is not far from us, in case anyone was getting over excited about the possibility that I might have been travelling again. It’s in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons, recently re-christened Bannau Brycheiniog.
You should have been here Next Year
Charles made a complaint recently when we were walking in the garden.
When I complained about him complaining he told me that it was good for me to have complaints about the planting.
Garden Seats – to make and sit on.
I am discovering more and more often that it is important to have a great many seats in the garden. In fact there should probably be one every three feet or so.
