Cold climate plants
If you garden in tough conditions, take inspiration from these woody plants that thrive in one of the toughest places in Europe, Sweden.
If you garden in tough conditions, take inspiration from these woody plants that thrive in one of the toughest places in Europe, Sweden.
Hostile climates come in many forms. Gardeners may face long snowy winters with a short spring, sub-zero temperatures when the ground freezes for months, exposed headlands or hillsides where the wind chill factor takes its toll, or garden at altitude in northern climes with a growing season measured in a few short weeks.
Drought-tolerant plants
Cistus nursery near Portland, Oregon, offers a huge range of drought-resistant plants. Gardens Illustrated had a chat with Cistus's proprietor, Sean Hogan to discover his favourite drought resistant plants.
Cistus nursery near Portland, Oregon, offers a huge range of drought-resistant plants. Gardens Illustrated had a chat with Cistus's proprietor, Sean Hogan to discover his favourite drought resistant plants.
Drought-resistant plants at Cistus Nursery
Reader Event: Painting the Modern Garden - 30 March 2016
Gardens Illustrated readers are invited to the Royal Academy for an exclusive viewing of the landmark exhibition, Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse
Gardens Illustrated readers are invited to the Royal Academy for an exclusive viewing of the landmark exhibition, Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse
What to plant in 2016
Ten experts tell Gardens Illustrated their top plants for 2016.
Ten experts tell Gardens Illustrated their top plants for 2016.
With so many plants to choose from - and never a big enough garden - how do you choose which plants to grow? Here, ten experts tell Gardens Illustrated their top plants for 2016.
Val Bourne
Garden writer and plantswoman, valbourne.co.uk
Conserving New Zealand's native flora
The Banks Peninsula is a remote area of New Zealand's South Island. The rare, native plants that grow here are protected by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, which was established in 2000 by Jill and Richard Simpson. Here Jill shows how the garden she has created interplays with the landscape and she lists 9 key plants from her garden.
The Banks Peninsula is a remote area of New Zealand's South Island. The rare, native plants that grow here are protected by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, which was established in 2000 by Jill and Richard Simpson. Here Jill shows how the garden she has created interplays with the landscape and she lists 9 key plants from her garden.
Book of the month: The book of pears
Garden writer and allotmenteer, Lia Leendertz delves into The Book of Pears: The definitive history and guide to over 500 varieties by Joan Morgan.
Garden writer and allotmenteer, Lia Leendertz delves into The Book of Pears: The definitive history and guide to over 500 varieties by Joan Morgan.
The book of pears: The definitive history and guide to over 500 varieties
By Joan Morgan, illustrations by Elisabeth Dowle
Ebury Press, £45
ISBN 978-1785031472
'Everything you could ever want to know about the pear in one beautifully constructed and satisfyingly detailed volume'.
2016 garden design trend forecast
Top garden experts share with Gardens Illustrated their design trend forecast for 2016.
Top garden experts share with Gardens Illustrated their design trend forecast for 2016.
With an increasing awareness of the complex yet vital role nature plays in our lives, how do garden designers see this reflected in what we want for our gardens? Here is their trend forecast for 2016.
Planting terrariums
Terrariums are miniature gardens created under glass and they are making a comeback. Here we show you how to plant up your own terrarium with an easy step-by-step guide.
Terrariums are miniature gardens created under glass and they are making a comeback. Here we show you how to plant up your own terrarium with an easy step-by-step guide.
Terrariums not only add a dynamic element to a room, but also create a tiny eco-system you can enjoy close up.
Below, Ali Bell explains how to build one of these miniature gardens in a glass dodecahedron; she says 'the geometric shape [of the glass dodecahedron] both magnifies and frames the symmetric forms of the Echeveria and other small sculptural succulents, whose intricate details are best appreciated close up.'
Hardy annuals for challenging conditions
We continue our look at hardy annuals with a further selection chosen from gardener Philippa Hodkinson's garden on the edge of a windy moor in Northumberland.
We continue our look at hardy annuals with a further selection chosen from gardener Philippa Hodkinson's garden on the edge of a windy moor in Northumberland.
Philippa Hodkinson gardens in England's most northerly county, Northumberland. Here she picks 15 of her favourite annuals that grow successfully in her windswept garden. Click here to see a further selection from Philippa's garden.
The best books for plant lovers
We consider the best horticultural books that all discerning gardeners need on their bookshelves.
We consider the best horticultural books that all discerning gardeners need on their bookshelves.
There are plenty of books that specialise in planting, whether their focus is on planting schemes, garden design or the botanical properties of the plants themselves. As there is so much literature to choose from, Gardens Illustrated put together a list of the best books for plant lovers - the titles any discerning gardener should have in their library.
