Head gardener Fergus Garrett chooses the gorgeous red Rosa 'Florence Mary Morse' as a favourite for the June garden – plus 8 other summer picks and where to go to enjoy the best of the season
Rosa 'Florence Mary Morse'
While the Chelsea Flower Show is busy celebrating a magnificent 100 years, its more alternative younger cousin, the Chelsea Fringe, is gearing up for its second year.
If you are in London for the Chelsea Flower Show, it's well worth popping along to some of the Fringe events. From community and guerilla gardening projects, to art installations and pop-up restaurants in inspiring venues, just about anything goes for the Chelsea Fringe, as long as it asks us to reconsider our ideas on what gardens and landscapes, flowers and plants can be about. There are over 200 events taking place in and around London – PLUS - if you're not in London look out for a selection of events taking place at regional locations.
A few highlights:
If you're going to the Chelsea Flower Show, visit the Gardens Illustrated stand and sign up to our special subscription offer. Save 40% on the shop price* and choose from either Piet Oudolf's latest book or a Haws copper watering can as your free gift.
Subscribe to GARDENS ILLUSTRATED at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21-25 May). You'll save 40% on the shop price* and you can choose a FREE gift as part of your subscription package. Choose from either:
This year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is celebrating 100 years. Here's a selection of key moments through the decades.
Chelsea Flower Show timeline
We note some of the key moments in the 100 year history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Busy, long-lasting and often sweetly scented, the erysimum can brighten your garden, bridging the months from spring through to summer. Read about the legend behind their name and expert Val Bourne's pick of the best to grow
The best wallflowers to grow for spring display
With the long Easter weekend just ahead of us, make sure you have this year's National Gardens Scheme Yellow Book to hand - there's a selection of early gardens open for visiting, or spend some time planning your visits for the year ahead. We have a special reader discount offer, too.
Our Design Sourcebook picks out nine of the best lawnmowers to get your grass looking perfect - whatever the size of your lawn
You could consider cutting the lawn a chore but if you have the right kit for the job then there's no reason for it not to be enjoyable. Here's some 2013 mower recommendations that we like the look of .
MOWING BY HAND
Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter, selects his favourite plants for the March garden. Here we highlight Pulmonaria 'Diana Clare'.
A first-class clump-forming lungwort with glittering long basal leaves 25cm long and covered in a silver wash. The leaf midrib and leaf edges remain a contrasting green. Produces clusters of shallowly lobed funnel-shaped flowers held in purple brown calyxes on elongated stems, which are decorated with small silver spotted stem leaves. The flowers open rosy purple and change colour to violet and violet blue. The whole plant is covered in bristly hairs. Benefits from a haircut after flowering.
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Your guide to the best courses available in garden design and horticulture
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An extensive guide to the best horticultural specialists.
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Sweeping plains, majestic mountains, stunning vistas and miles of unspoilt coastline...
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Hartley Botanic, in collaboration with the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community
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Set your New Year budget with help from the right bank account
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If you have ever thought that greenhouses are as alike as peas in a pod, then think again.
