Garden Blog

After an unexpectedly warm April, May seemed to arrive in the blink of an eye.

For many gardeners, it’s one of the most rewarding months of the year— bursting with vibrant growth, fresh colours, and the promise of summer just around the corner.

As the daffodils fade, the roadside verges are now alive with delicate clouds of cow parsley, while the woodlands are glowing with a breathtaking carpet of bluebells.

It’s been a busy month, filled with floral beauty every single week.

Earlier this month, I spent a truly delightful day at Broadwell Manor, the beautiful Cotswolds home of Rachel de Thame, attending a tulip painting course led by the talented Rosanna Morris.

The cutting garden was a riot of colour, with raised flower beds brimming with tulips of every shade and cultivar. We were invited to pick a few blooms to use as reference for our artwork, which made the experience even more special. A delicious three-course lunch, lovingly prepared by Rachel’s husband, added to the charm of the day. Bathed in warm May sunshine, we painted, chatted, and eventually left with our own unique works of art—and memories of a truly wonderful experience. I have shared a few images from the day below.

The RHS Malvern Spring Festival at the Three Counties Showground is always a highlight of the gardening calendar. As one of the first major shows of the year, set against the stunning backdrop of the Malvern Hills, it never fails to inspire.

I’m always especially excited to attend on press day, when I get a sneak preview of what’s to come. My first stop is always the Plant Marquee—an unmissable hub where nurseries from across the country gather to showcase a spectacular array of spring bulbs and plants. Best of all, many of these treasures are available to buy! I’ve shared some of my favourite finds and highlights from this year’s show below.

Just before the Chelsea Flower Show— which, for the first time in 35 years, I sadly couldn’t attend due to work commitments— I spent a truly wonderful three days in Surrey. I had the joy of staying in the most enchanting private greenhouse belonging to Louisa and David and aptly named, Our Beautiful Glasshouse, running my little garden shop as part of their open garden event for The National Garden Scheme. It was a magical experience that more than made up for missing Chelsea.

Staying in that fabulous greenhouse was a treat in itself, but what made the experience even more special was having the opportunity to wander through the magnificent gardens once the visitors had left. It was a rare chance to fully appreciate the beauty and unique character of the place in peace and quiet. I am incredibly grateful to Louisa and David for offering me such a fantastic opportunity, and to everyone who helped make the open garden event and day so memorable.

With sunshine gracing most of the month so far, plants that would normally still be in bud have sprung to life, bursting into bloom earlier than expected. My outdoor pots are thriving like never before, overflowing with abundant growth. It’s been a wonderful surprise to see everything flourishing so early. Here are a few images of what’s currently in bloom.

I can’t help but wonder what June will bring—will any of these blooms still be holding on, or will they have made way for the next wave of flowers?

It’s always a delightful surprise to see how the garden evolves!

Happy gardening and look forward to showing you what I have been up to in June.