I have loved plants since I was just 5 years old, and I especially love unusual, odd, weird plants, and plants that do things you don’t expect them to…! My career has taken me all around the world in my quest to find and learn more about plants! I have now brought all this together…
It’s Michael
I think I’m comfortable with referring to myself as the ultimate plant geek- as my obsession with plants has been persisting for over 30 years now, and shows no sign of letting up! I have been responsible for introducing hundreds of new plants into the UK, most notably novelties such as the Egg and Chips plant and the Fuchsia Berry! Despite…
A Mr Plant Geek guide to houseplants
Did you know that there’s a revolution going in the gardening world right now? And it’s all about houseplants! The Instagram and social media generation have discovered the joy and beauty of growing indoor plants, and uploaded 1.1million images of them to date! Of course, keen gardeners and plants-people already knew that houseplants were cool,…
10 Weird & Wacky plants you can grow at home
As Instagram has shown, everybody seems to love houseplants right now. From succulents to Aloe vera, we can’t seem to get enough of all that green. And, according to Horticulture Week, we haven’t yet hit ‘peak houseplant’, which means there’s still time to get on the bandwagon if you haven’t already. On my Weird &…
An easy way to get kids into gardening
There are those of us who like to appreciate plants from afar, and some who like to get our hands dirty. When it comes to kids, I think it’s safe to say that most of them prefer the latter. Hands up if you ever made mud pies when you were younger! While it’s easy to…
The top 5 rudest Weird & Wacky plants
People might say these plants are rude – I just call it botany. The plant world is a fascinating place, and it continues to surprise us with plants that look, well, a little familiar. From orchids which look like little naked men, to a phallic fungus, it’s easy to see where these plants got their…
Plants, art & history in one beautiful Normandy location
If you’ve followed my Instagram page closely, you might have wondered what those round, grey faces were doing in amongst some unsettlingly neat topiary. These are sculptures in Les Jardins d’Etretat, hidden in the beautiful coastal cliffs of Etretat, Normandy. Les Jardins d’Etretat sculptures in The Emotions Garden These dynamic sculptures are the work of Spanish…
Your top 10 favourite floral paintings
We all have our definitions of what art is. For some, it’s Tracey Emin’s ‘My Bed’ or Damien Hirst’s ‘Mother and Child (Divided)’. For others it might be Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’. But whatever your preference, I think most of us can agree that a plant geek’s favourite art has to include floral paintings…
10 Weird & Wacky plants your kids will love
If you’ve ever been to a show on my Weird & Wacky Plants Tour, you’ll know that things can get a little smutty. However, if you’ve ever thought your kids would enjoy learning about weird and wacky plants too, don’t worry because they definitely can! I’ve compiled a list of unusual plants for kids, so…
This gardening product will actually make you want to clean
Keeping your outdoor space clean and tidy won’t just make your garden sparkle, but it’ll also keep pests and disease at bay. However, maintaining a happy and healthy garden isn’t always easy. Who wants to spend weekends on their knees scrubbing patios, balancing on ladders, or dragging your old knackered pressure washer out of the…
9 early predictions on 2019 planting trends
There’s only one place in the UK that you can view over 5000 patio containers, 650 hanging baskets and colourful borders packed with 25,000 plants, and that is Ball Colegrave in Banbury. This is the place where the garden centre buyers and mail order product developers go shopping for new plants and fresh ideas. This…
7 insects you’ve been loving in summer 2018
Last month, I asked you on Facebook and Twitter what your favourite summer insects have been this year – and you came back with some truly fabulous specimens. A couple of you even sent in photos of sleeping foxes and curious frogs! As a plant geek, it’s in my interest to promote the welfare of…
Enjoy Lilies without the drama with this new invention!
Lilies are much loved, but also much feared, in the eyes of cat lovers. The pollen of real Lilies can be poisonous to cats. Rather than take the risk, most cat lovers have removed all traces of lovely Lilies from their gardens. Likewise, fashionistas often go to great lengths to avoid Lilies for fear of…
Adding personality to your garden
You may not think that jewellery is your thing. But have you ever thought of using it in your outdoor space? Accessorising the garden can add flair and personality. In some cases, it can completely transform your outdoor space, even if you’re on a budget. Now, just to be clear, we aren’t just talking about…