Derrienne Bell has won the two free tickets for GW Live in the prize draw competition. All names were included in the draw and Derrienne’s name was randomly selected.
Thank you for taking part in this prize draw.
The organisers have also given me a discount code to pass on to blog readers. Please read the terms and conditions carefully. Remember that car parking is not included in any offers and is expensive.
The organisers say:
You requested a discount code for your followers. These are:
SAVE20: 20% off standard adult/concession entry tickets (applies any day),offer expires 23:59 on 7 May 2025
SAVE15: 15% off standard adult/concession entry tickets (excluding Saturday),offer starts 8 May, expires 23:59 on 4 June 2025.
*Discounts valid on adult/concession standard entry tickets. Not valid on VIP, 2-day tickets, added extras or with any other offer. £3.95 transaction fee per advance order. Details correct at time of print.
I’m looking forward to viewing the show gardens again this year. There’s always a good selection of styles, and they are more relevant to me than the expensive RHS show gardens.
Thank you again for reading my blog. Have a great gardening week! Look out for more book reviews and tickets coming up…..
You might find this info and link useful for car parking for the show, which can be expensive if not purchased in advance.
“You’ll find parking info at the link here: https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/whatson/getting-to-the-show/. The organisers strongly advise advance booking for pre-paid parking (up to 24 hours prior) to save time and secure the best rate, £8. This price has been subsidised by Immediate Media.”
*Please remember to leave your name, or comments just come up as ‘anonymous.’ Thank you.
Dan Hartley Eco Oasis Garden
Each year, the organisers of Gardeners World Live offer my blog readers the chance to win two free tickets. This has been successful and I’ve had wonderful reports back that winners have enjoyed a really lovely day out.
It’s very simple to enter. Just leave a comment in the box below and names will be randomly selected on Sunday 30 March.
Please read the terms and conditions carefully. Tickets are for a specific time and date. The prize does not include car parking which is expensive.
The organisers say: “We can offer you a pair of standard adult tickets, valid Sunday 15th June, 9.00am entry, RRP £58.00 per pair. The organisers will not be issuing paper tickets. Winners will be emailed a link to register online and will receive tickets by email.
“Tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable and non-transferable, and do not include travel, accommodation or expenses. There is no cash alternative. Details of giveaway and prize correct at time of print. Ticket terms and conditions applyhttps://www.immediatelive.com/ticket-terms-and-conditions”
Please leave a comment below including your name, otherwise the comment just says “someone.” Look back to check if you have won the tickets. The draw will be at 6pm. If there’s no response within 24 hours, the prize will be re-drawn. Good luck!
Update: Derrienne Bell has won the two free tickets. Thank you for taking part.
Here’s some info from the organisers regarding parking for the show.
“You’ll find parking info at the link here: https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/whatson/getting-to-the-show/. The organisers strongly advise advance booking for pre-paid parking (up to 24 hours prior) to save time and secure the best rate, £8. This price has been subsidised by Immediate Media.”
Details on the Broadwell Manor website say Lauren trained at the world-renowned Central St Martins. Lauren found it impossible to ignore the lure of plants, which were the focus of her degree show. Her love for the natural world is perhaps to be expected, given that Lauren is Rachel de Thame’s eldest daughter and she grew up surrounded by plants. Some years after graduating, Lauren decided to focus on botanical painting. Predominantly working in the time-honoured, traditional but painstakingly slow technique of applying layers of watercolour to vellum. For this workshop she will be showing how to use watercolour on paper to paint the charming detailed ‘faces’ of individual auriculas. Lauren was recently featured in House & Garden Magazine and her work is being widely commissioned and collected.
Lauren recently produced a series of paintings of flowers and graphite drawings of insects for A Flower Garden for Pollinators, written by Rachel de Thame.
The website says: This workshop is aimed at complete beginners and you will leave with an understanding of how to mix colours, both on the palette and on the paper. You will also take home your own set of watercolours and a brush to continue practicing!
Meet at 5.30pm in our Coffee Room, before embarking on a two hour class from 6pm-8pm, where you will learn the basics and beyond of working with this special medium. You will leave with techniques you can replicate at home and a deeper understanding of colour.
The website says: If your garden is not achieving everything you envisaged and you’re unsure what to do, then why not join internationally renowned garden designer David Stevens for this very special workshop.
David will take you through all the basics, as well as looking at specific plants, showing how they work best in a garden, planting techniques and preparing a planting plan.
David is in great demand as a designer and lecturer in garden design all over the world, so this day is a treat not to be missed!
Price includes tea/coffee, lunch and entry to the Gardens.
Thank you for reading my blog. Are you planning to attend any courses this year? Please leave a message in the box below. If you are new to the blog, please follow and sign up for notifications via e mail, and remember to say hello in the comments below! Happy gardening!
A big welcome to members of Southwell Garden Club! I hope you enjoyed my talk last night! Here’s more photos of my garden, to give some inspiration for creating spring colour.
Our garden was created from a field. We moved here when we were in our 20s.
We planted 260 tiny sapling trees which came from a scheme promoted by the Woodland Trust and Rushcliffe Borough Council. The plants were free to anyone converting farm land to woodland.
Down one side of the plot I planted a kind of ‘avenue’ or ‘holloway’ of ash trees given to me by Michael Beeby. He was a lovely, keen gardener who lived in our village and wanted to save the little seedling saplings growing all over his garden. He regularly visited the garden to see how his trees were getting on. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. In memory of a kind and generous gardener I’ve named this area of the garden the Michael Beeby Walk. And every time I walk along this path I think of Michael and how he cared about nature. He was always smiling, always supportive and encouraging. He’s not forgotten.
There are some wonderful sunsets from the gardenTrees on the hill
There’s a gap in the hedge. I walk to this point every day and look through the hole in the hedge. I see hares, deer, owls. No one can see me.
I mark the changes in the seasons. Each day, the view is different.
All the trees we planted have grown to produce a lot of shade. Over the years, the lavender, penstemons and salvias have had to give way to woodland plants. Snowdrops thrive in the cool shade. Madeline is a favourite with its elegant ‘lightbulb’ shape and delicate yellow markings.
I have a little helper in the garden. He’s three years old. We are at the same stage in life, both marvelling at the beauty in everything. Living in the moment.
Polar Bear, a new variety, late flowering. Viridapice with green tipped markings Robin Hood. Named for the X markings. Appropriate as we live right on the Nottinghamshire border. Plain, simple single snowdrops, Galanthus Nivalis. Still my favourite to be honest. In my grandfather’s Sankey terracotta pots.
Hellebores also thrive in the semi-shade of trees. I bought a few colours from John Massey at Ashwoods Nursery in Birmingham. They have seeded all over the garden in shades of white, cream, pink, and inky- black.
Some remind me of stained glass.
Floated in an inch of water in an old zinc container.
A favourite double cream-white hellebore. In amongst the hellebores we have wild violets. The sweetest scent. Originally from one single plant my grandfather brought here over 30 years ago. Now the whole gardens is full of them. I look at them and think of him. Wild anemones. Such a joy, emerging just as the snowdrops are going over. And full of bumblebees today. Crocus Joan of Arc. The best white. Also bumblebee heaven! Phlomis Fruiticosa. Also ladybird heaven! An important plant to grow as they hibernate within the soft woolly leaves. A posy for my mum with flowers from the garden. Small flowering cherry, Prunus Kojo-No-Mai blooms on bare stems and has glorious orange and red autumn foliage. Come back another day for some summer-themed flowers.
Thank you for inviting me to talk, and for reading my blog.
I’m karengimson1 on instagram.
Please leave a comment in the box below, and sign up for e mail notifications for further posts. Enjoy your gardening!
Thank you for reading my review of Daffodils by Naomi Slade. The winner of the prize draw copy is Cathy from https://wordsandherbs.Wordpress.com.
The book is published by Pavilion/ Harper Collins UK who kindly offered a spare copy to give away in a prize draw.
Narcissus Viridi
The author highlighted 60 different varieties, including this striking viridiflorus seedling propagated by WF Lee and and raised by Manuel Lima. Images are provided by one of the world’s leading floral and garden photographers, Georgianna Lane.
Pink Paradise
Pink Paradise is another variety that stands out in the book. “Ivory white double petals that form the basis of this flower would be unassuming enough, were it not for the immoderate presence of rogue petaloid segments that have stuffed and wedged their frilly selves in between more modest neighbours.”
Lilac Charm
“The white petals are elegantly reflexed due to the flower’s Cyclamineus heritage and their waxy, rather than papery substance comes from a crystalline finish, giving the flowers a gleaming, sparkling quality. The snout is similarly shapely, with a prominent, slightly flared funnel, ribbed along its length with a kicked-back frill to the end; forming a cylinder that is pistachio-green at the very base before becoming a pale yellow-peach followed by a rapid transition to a pale and lovely lavender pinkish hue.” Lilac charm was bred by Brian Duncan in Ireland. It’s a fantastic and eye-catching variety for the show bench, the garden and for cutting.
A double page spread from the book
In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful book of the year! I have the book open on different pages each day, set out on my kitchen table where it can brighten my day while I work.
I never fail to be delighted and amazed by the beauty of flowers and daffodils in particular are such a spring joy.
Congratulations to Cathy for winning the prize copy. There are many more books to follow. It seems a particularly good year for horticulture-themed books. And also free tickets for flower shows are coming up.
Can there ever be anything more cheerful than the first sign of daffodils in spring. I sigh with relief as soon as they emerge from the recently frozen, muddy ground. The worst of the winter is behind us. Spring is well and truly on the way. We have come through the cold, dark days and survived the winter once more.
Naomi Slade’s latest book is a joyful celebration of daffodils. Colour springs from every page with the wonderful photography of Georgianna Lane combined with the glorious descriptions by the award-winning author. It really is the kind of book you’d want to leave open on a different page every day. Just to gaze at the photographs and read Naomi’s words is like a balm.
Contents page
Naomi splits the daffodils into categories: charming and cheerful, ruffled and fluttering, demure and delicate, glorious and glowing. There are sections on the history of narcissus, as well as growing advice, and information on pests and diseases.
Excerpts from the book Naomi describes 60 varieties with suggestions for planting, growing and cutting. The book would make a lovely gift for any fan of spring flowers, for gardeners, florists and collectors alike. Actaea. One of my favourites. Selected varieties are each given a page of description. Delnashaugh – a large double cream and apricot variety. Ruffled and layered, makes a lovely flower for a vase or a bridesmaid’s posy. Royal China. Introduced in 1997 by British grower Clive Postles. ‘The rounded petals present themselves in two overlapping layers, in a gentle shade of pearly white that sparkles subtly in the sunshine. The central corona, meanwhile, is exquisitely formed; ivory white along its length with a greenish yellow splash at the base and a crisp pink frill to the rim.”Lilac Charm Pink Paradise Trigonometry The ever-popular tete-a-tete Katie Heath
Katie Heath is a muted palette of pink and cream. Lovely with willow twigs and catkins. “Named in honour of the mother of Brent Heath, who has himself found fame as one half of the well-known American bulb nursery duo that is Brent and Becky’s Bulbs.”
About the author and photographer
I can wholeheartedly recommend ‘Daffodils’ by Naomi Slade. It’s written in a cheerful, enthusiastic style with just the right amount of detail to answer all your questions.
Daffodils is the latest in a series written by a Naomi and photographed by Georgianna. Previously, I’ve reviewed Lilies, Dahlias, Ranunculus, and Chrysanthemums. There’s also Hydrangeas and Lilacs. This latest book is just as brilliant and inspiring as the others. A triumph again for this super talented duo!
Thank you for reading my blog. The publishers have kindly offered one copy to give away to readers. To be included in the prize draw, please leave a comment and your name below. Sorry, uk only. There’s no cash alternative and the publisher’s decision is final. The draw will be on Saturday 15th March 6pm. Please look back on Saturday to check if you have won. The prize will be redrawn on Sunday if there’s no reply from the winner.
Ian Piper faced one of the saddest situations in life, the death of his baby grandson Otis. Otis died aged just 7 weeks. He and his family were greatly helped by Rainbows Children’s Hospice in Leicestershire. I met Ian while I was giving a talk to a garden club, and Ian told me of his fund-raising activities for Rainbows. I’m sharing his story here as I feel we all need inspiring people at the moment. Ian and his endeavours remind me there are wonderful people in this world doing good things and helping others. Here’s Ian’s story, in his own words.
“Five and a half years ago our first grandson died at Rainbows when he was seven weeks old. The support and kindness provided inspired us to see if we could help in any way. We especially loved the remembrance garden. Otis’s name was engraved on a glass leaf and displayed on the memorial tree in the centre of the garden.
“The opportunity for us to start fundraising happened when we had a glut of pumpkins on my allotment in October 2021. As we are not permitted to sell allotment produce, my wife, Jayne, suggested that we could put them at the end of the drive of our house and ask for donations which would go directly to Rainbows. It proved to be surprisingly successful, so we decided we would continue with other surplus produce from the plot. In the spring of 2022 and all through the growing season that year we continued to raise funds from produce. I said to Jayne that it would be wonderful if we could raise £1000 by the end of the year. She was doubtful and I tended to agree.
Fruit and vegetables for the Rainbows fundraiser.
“What we didn’t anticipate was that the lovely people of Ravenshead would take on board what we were doing as enthusiastically as they did. Not only that but the other plotholders of the allotments where mine is located also became involved. By the end of 2022 we did pass the £1000 mark.
“As a result I kept the Ravenshead Facebook pages updated with how things were progressing. To our surprise and delight, things snowballed. Other plotholders offered extra produce and brought it for me to put out. Not only that, but many of the village residents started to bring surplus vegetable plants, plus both indoor and outdoor plants, fruit and produce from their own gardens too. On occasion we looked a little like a mini garden centre!
“As I moderate one of the Ravenshead Facebook pages I began to photograph what was available and post it on not only that page but the other Ravenshead pages too. It has allowed us to continue fundraising and in addition we are having really lovely conversations with many residents that we would not normally have met. We see people now driving past most days to see what there is available- sometimes even before I have had the chance to post on the page. Currently the total that we have managed to raise thanks to the generosity of people who have donated is around £4300. Our next target is £5000 which we should hopefully achieve by the summer, fingers crossed!
“It has been really wonderful to think that we are helping Rainbows in a small way as a thank you for how kind they were when we needed them.
“We will certainly be continuing to raise as much in funds as we possibly can for as long as we can. I must thank Jayne for having the original inspiration in the first instance.
“It just shows that a germ of an idea no matter how small can prove to be so worthwhile. I would strongly urge anyone to try and engage their local community in any way possible. It’s surprising how supportive people can be. Rainbows is the most wonderful facility for families with children with life-limiting conditions and any contribution, no matter how small, can make a huge difference.”
Thank you for reading my blog. I wrote about Rainbows hospice here:
Bramble Garden 