Travel is one of the best ways to gain knowledge and inspiration. From cultures, to food, to people, there’s always something new waiting at the end of a plane journey – even new gardening styles! I travelled to Canada earlier this month. In a country where the weather is so extreme, you wouldn’t think…
Category: ADVENTURES
What is Barakura style gardening?
Forget everything you know about planting. This is “Barakura style”! In shorthand, this is horticultural freedom, this is flower arranging but with REAL plants! The Barakura style gives immediate enjoyment, and is designed as a container installation! You’ll be mixing the plants of your wildest dreams, in a density that gives impact from day one….
Behind the scenes of a Chinese flower shop
Whilst I’ve been spending time in Shenzhen, China, I’ve been buying lots of house plants for our apartment. One of the spots that I’ve been coming back to time and time again is a small shop in the expat area called iFlower. I was very lucky to get the chance to interview Julie, who set…
Five things we’ve learned from Flower Trials 2019
If I learned one thing at this year’s Flower Trials, it’s that I’ll never get tired of going to this wonderful, creative, colourful event! However, I fortunately learned far more than that! Flower Trials 2019, held across three regions in The Netherlands and Germany, uncovered lots of exciting trends that are about to take the…
What’s happening at Flower Trials 2019?
The annual Flower Trials (11th-14th June 2019), held in Holland and Germany each year, is attended by buyers and retailers from all over the world, looking for what’s hot in plants. A little bit like Fashion Week, this event determines the big trends going forward – and it’s all rather exciting! At this year’s event,…
Big Begonias in great China
What’s the furthest you would travel to see a plant? Well, how about 4500 miles! Yes, that’s right, I flew all the way to China to see the largest plantation of Begonia BIG. And here’s the story behind my trip! I have admired the breeding company Benary for a long time. They have brought some…
The best of the men’s World Naked Gardening Day 2019 photos
Are you ready for another World Naked Gardening Day 2019 photo round-up? I’ve been on my phone all day, looking at the #WorldNakedGardeningDay hashtag. I’m super impressed at the standard of photos this year – plant geeks and gardening enthusiasts all over the world are getting in on the action, and taking it a step…
I answer your questions about Keukenhof!
This week, I visited the breathtaking Keukenhof bulb gardens in Lisse, The Netherlands, with KLM UK. This sea of colour is a must-see for plant lovers – the photos really don’t do it justice! Keukenhof’s history dates back to the 15th century, but it wasn’t until 1949 when leading bulb growers suggested using the 200…
A visit to Bangkok’s special plant market
I had heard a few whispers about a special plant market in Thailand, with people calling it the best plant show of the year. They described rows and rows of tropical plants and sumptuous exotics, not to mention some of the world’s most collectable cacti. I planned to go last time I was ‘in this…
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…
Getting behind the scenes in the flower industry
Have you ever wondered how and where we choose the plants you grow in your gardens at home? The Flower Trials in Holland and Germany are the most important few days in the horticultural trade calendar year, and buyers and retailers flock from around the globe to see what’s hot and what’s not! During the…
Your guide to visiting the world’s largest flower garden!
It’s great to have a bucket list, but how many on your list do you think you’ll be able to fulfil during your lifetime? Well, here’s one that’ll be super easy to tick off; a visit to the world’s largest flower garden, the enchanting and magical Keukenhof. What is the Keukenhof? A whopping 32 hectares,…