Purple Wellies

Yesterday saw Painted Fern’s annual pilgrimage to the Chelsea Flower Show. Many of the designers opted for much loved stalwarts of the garden such as Lupins, Geums and Aquilegias with Paeonies featuring heavily too. All the gardens looked amazing, but I’ve picked out a few of my favourite plant choices used at the show, to highlight some of the ones that may escape the armchair viewer at homes notice.

That depends if you follow the meteorological or astronomical calendar. Either way your garden is starting to reawaken.

It’s been documented more and more that gardening is good for your health. From the physical benefits of digging over the soil, the nurturing element or to the well-being effects and stress-reduction of just looking at a plant or natural scene.

I should think myself lucky. I’ve toyed with the idea of moving to a bigger garden in the past, (and I do mean just that – garden not house) the dream of what could be, but then realism set in. Are you ever going to get this lucky again and do you really want the ominous task of moving half a garden or abandoning all treasures and starting again? I should count my chickens and be grateful for what I have.

If, like me, you are an outdoorsy sort, then you will be itching to get gardening. Traditionally plots were cut back and put to bed in winter, with the exception of pruning tasks. The warmth of the potting shed beckoned for repairs, or browsing seed catalogues. Planning ahead, reflection and forethought are good but there are still jobs to do. Much is still flowering now in fact.