Plants

The palaces and gardens of North India were built by the 16th and 17th-century Mughal emperors to house their great courts.

As well as visiting some of the major sites and gardens, the journey also takes in many of the less visited yet stunning gardens and palaces in the region, thanks to the connections of your tour leader, the distinguished designer John Brookes. A number of events have also been planned for the party.

Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Yukigotan’

We are delighted to feature Beth Chatto’s list of 100 must-have plants in the February 2012 issue of Gardens Illustrated (issue 182).

The nursery is offering readers a 10% discount on plant orders made from its mail order list. The offer covers not only the plants on Beth’s 100 must-have list, but any other plants you select.

Don’t miss visiting a snowdrop display this winter. Even after a mild winter, their delicate blooms always manage to lift the spirits.

Here’s a selection of gardens opening for special snowdrop days. There are plenty of others to choose from. Check your local press, or organisations such as the National Gardens Scheme or the National Trust also list events

DAPHNES
In the February 2012 issue of Gardens Illustrated (issue 182) Roy Lacaster gives his choice of favourite daphnes to grow. Here we bring you his advise to success in growing these worthwhile shrubs.
 

Inchbald School of Design is offering an aspiring garden designer a free place on one of its online courses.

Every garden needs a few special plants that seed themselves, springing up to fill gaps and make spontaneous combinations. Here’s plantswoman Derry Watkins gives us her guide to the best

Papaver rhoeas Mother of Pearl Group
A strain of the wild corn poppy selected by artist Cedric Morris. Subtle grey, lavender, pink and white, the colour appears to be stippled on with a fine paintbrush. It is vital to grow well away from wild corn poppies, or they will all end up red.
Typical height (H) 30cm.

We asked designer and gardening presenter James Alexander-Sinclair to give us ideas on giving your garden a New Year brush up. He also got some thoughts from well-known gardening friends

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’

This witch hazel makes a magnificent shrub that is more compact and less unruly than some Hamamelis. The narrow, twisting petals form spidery flowers with a strong, sweet scent; they look fragile but are tough enough to withstand the iciest weather. This Hamamelis can also put up with a windy location, but it dislikes shallow, chalky soil, and waterlogged conditions will kill it, so it is always worth digging grit into the soil when you plant it.

Garden writer Lia Leendertz has put together a selection of wholesome party delicacies made with fresh produce from the garden along with foraged fruit and nuts. You'll find the full selection of her dishes in the December issue (180). Here's just a taster of some of the exciting things she came up with .