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How some of the finest 'English' rose gardens are in the hills of Lazio and Umbria
Gardeners like plants that do well for them and, for the Italians, there is no flower more adored than the rose. They have become connoisseurs, creating some of the finest rose gardens in the world. Charles Quest-Ritson explains more, as well as taking the wonderful photographs on this page.
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Winkworth Arboretum, the 'Museum of Trees' that celebrates the art of planting for autumn colour
When Dr Wilfrid Fox began his arboretum in 1938, he envisaged not simply a collection of tree species, but planting on such a scale as to create its own landscape. Under its new manager, this extraordinary place is, at last, being given the attention it deserves, reveals Charles Quest-Ritson.
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Mulberries: Firmer than a blackberry, juicier than a raspberry, and squirtier than any other fruit
Charles Quest-Ritson lavishes praise on the all-too-easily-overlooked mulberry, and explains how to grow them in your garden. You'll thank him.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: English gardens are the envy of the world, but the countryside is even greater
Reminiscing on an encounter with a group of garden tourists gives our columnist pause for thought about the nature of horticultural beauty.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: Why every gardener in Britain should be growing philadelphus
Charles Quest-Ritson's list of flowers that every garden should own includes the usual names — rose, daffodil, clematis. But he'd also add the less-well-known philadelphus. Here's why.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: What English country gardeners can learn from their German counterparts
Charles Quest-Ritson has spent years making trips to Germany to gather ideas and new plants — but is puzzled that nobody back in Britain has been able to replicate their most famous garden style.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: Moving back to an English country garden has been a joy — but we do miss the cheese
Giving up life on the Cherbourg peninsula to return to England has brought huge happiness to Charles Quest-Ritson — but there are still a few things he misses.
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The national collection of rambling roses at Moor Wood, 'one of midsummer’s most beautiful and romantic gardens in England'
Charles Quest-Ritson visits the National Collection of rambling roses, which shows these most romantic of plants at their very finest. Photographs by Britt Willoughby-Dyer for the Country Life Picture Library.
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The truth about bees: 'I'm a hopeless fan... but plants are cleverer than insects. They have to be.'
Charles Quest-Ritson looks at the fascinating interplay of plants and their pollinators, explaining how what really goes on in your garden is far more fascinating than the stories you might have been led to believe.
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Rage against the buttercups: How to wage war on the weeds in your garden
Charles Quest-Ritson loves plants — but in his garden, he only wants the ones he chooses.
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The curious reason why we just don't give daffodils enough credit for being the amazing flower that they are
Charles Quest-Ritson's on the joys of this stupendously hardy little flower, how one particular variety came to bear his name — and why we'd think an awful lot more of them if they didn't grow so easily.
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Le Clos du Peyronnet, France: The legendary English Riviera garden of William Waterfield
Charles Quest-Ritson visits the best English garden on the French riviera. Photographs by Claire Takacs.
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How to choose and appreciate your apples with the same care you'd use for a decent bottle of wine
Charles Quest-Ritson loves apples — but laments the fact that we simply don't have the same vocabulary to describe the fruit as we do for wine.
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The biggest snobbery in gardening 'isn't just regrettable — it amounts to a horticultural sin of omission'
If you thought conifers were naff, think again says Charles Quest-Ritson, who joins the new wave of designers rediscovering the opportunities offered by spreading cedars, noble pines and mysterious swamp cypresses.
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Volvo V90 Cross Country review: 'You have to be in something far more costly and exotic to find a rival experience'
The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a refreshingly different 4x4 estate–more comfortable and longer legged than its teutonic rivals, it’s just as foxy to look at, even if you can’t lower the suspension.
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The two herbs to grow in your garden that'll convince you never to eat parsley again
Charles Quest-Ritson doesn't grow a lot of herbs, but those he does would grace any kitchen — and will have your friends clamouring for seedlings.
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A moorland splashed with heather makes our hearts leap — so why don't we grow it any more?
Charles Quest-Ritson looks at how heather has gone out of fashion — and wonders what we can do about it.
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Curious Questions: Why is there no such thing as a truly blue rose? And will we ever have one?
Breeding a blue rose has long been the Holy Grail for plant breeders everywhere. Charles Quest-Ritson, author of the RHS Encyclopedia of Roses, explains why it's proven so elusive.
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I hadn't been to RHS Chelsea for years, but it's better than ever — just don't ask strangers to share your taxi
After staying away for a few years Charles Quest-Ritson is delighted to report that the Chelsea Flower Show is as great a treat as ever — but that's not to say there aren't a few things that have changed...
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Brace yourself for the new invasive pests, from to oak-munching caterpillars to Asiatic hornets
Charles Quest-Ritson takes aim at the foreign invaders who seem set to ravage our gardens.
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Rhododendrons: A beautiful excuse to lose the battle against invading flowers
Charles Quest-Ritson explains why these gorgeous purple flowers are not such a bad thing, really.
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The best daffodils and narcissi to grow your garden, whether in pots, grass or borders
With more than 26,000 to choose from, it can be agonising deciding which narcissus to grow. Charles Quest-Ritson asks daffodil doyenne Christine Skelmersdale for ideas.
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Ninfa: The extraordinary tale of an English country garden which thrives in the heart of Italy
Charles Quest-Ritson fell in love with the spectacularly romantic gardens of Ninfa decades ago, and is just as entranced now as he was then. But make your visit while you can, he warns, since its future is not secure.
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David Austin, Britain's late, great king of roses: The man who brought about 'a revolution in taste, expectations and how we garden'
Charles Quest-Ritson pays tribute to David Austin, the rose breeder and entrepreneur who passed away at the end of last year aged 92.
