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'A garden should be the cosiest of places, but with some element of awe, menace, and glimpses of the wider landscape'Isabel Bannerman shares her thoughts on making a garden that makes people feel at home.
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The case of the disappearing dahliasJohn Hoyland of the gardens at Glyndebourne on how to plug the gaps of those flowers that didn't make it through the winter.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The best flower shows in Britain show exactly where RHS Chelsea gets it wrongThe Chelsea Flower Show might be the most famous in the world — but does it offer the best experience for visitors? Alan Titchmarsh suggests a few others where you might have an even better time.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: 'Gardens of supreme botanical importance are being degraded by new owners and changing priorities'What's in a label? More than you might think, says Charles Quest-Ritson.
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The beautiful perfumed fruit that's easy to grow, needs almost no attention, and makes a magnificent Christmas liqueurEasy to manage and extremely versatile to use, quinces should be a staple in any garden says our grow-your-own expert Mark Diacono.
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If you sow seeds in June, you might just be putting down bird seed... but it's worth the risk if you love fresh summer saladsOur grow-your-own expert Mark Diacono suggests a string of ideas for what you can plant as summer kicks in.
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Why I try to get rid of the pinks in my garden — and the reason I always change my mind and end up keeping themTo pink or not to pink? John Hoyland on the flowers whose brief cameo is worth the bother.
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Autumn olives: The summer fruit that enriches the soil, your lunch table and your lifeA hedge? A crop? A beautiful foliage plant? All this and more come to those who grow Autumn olive, says Mark Diacono.
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'Within a month, one was eaten by a tiger, one was burned alive, five disappeared and the sole survivor emerged with 7,000 specimens': The unique passion engendered by orchidsCharles Quest-Ritson admits that he never fell for orchids the way he has for roses — but the devotion they inspire is legendary.
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How to grow lovage — and the reasons why you'd want to botherOur grow-your-own expert Mark Diacono takes a look at the lovely uses for lovage.
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The expert guide to growing violets, by the fifth-generation nursery owner who's devoted a lifetime to themGroves Nursery in Bridport, Dorset, has been breeding violets since 1866 and, today, holds a National Collection, as well as offering more than 200 varieties for sale. Tilly Ware paid a visit and picked up expert advice from the latest member of the family to run the nursery, Clive Groves.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The boy who left school early with one O-level 60 years ago... and found the perfect careerOur columnist Alan Titchmarsh reflects on 60 years of gardening.
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The house plant I've kept alive for 50 yearsCharles Quest-Ritson on the amazing longevity of his Purpurea.
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Alan Titchmarsh: Wordsworth was dead wrong about lonely clouds — but he was on to something with daffodilsAlan Titchmarsh loves daffodils — don't we all? — and shares some of his favourite varieties.
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Betting your hedges: How taking a risk with your garden hedge could be the most rewarding job you ever doAs old as husbandry hedges may be, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be beautiful, too. Charles Quest-Ritson considers the many options.
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The romance of the rose, and how it became the flower of loveGenerations have sought that unattainable mystical creature, the perfect rose: shapely, dark red and sweetly scented. What is it about this flower that holds us so in thrall, and why are roses associated with love? Charles Quest-Ritson finds out.
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Mark Diacono: What seeds to plant, plus where and when to plant themGrowing your own from see to harvest is highly rewarding, and here are some tips to get the best possible plants.
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11 glorious dahlias to plant in your garden, as chosen by the experts at the National Dahlia CollectionThe experts at the National Dahlia Collections told Kirsty Fergusson the best varieties they’d suggest for the typical country garden in Britain.
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Mark Diacono: Chips, mash, roasted or dauphinoise — all better with your own potatoesThe versatile varieties of the potato make it a great crop to experiment with and, no matter what, nothing beats the taste of home grown
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Where art meets biology: How Anne Wright has bred some of the world's most covetable snowdropsAt Dryad Nursery near York, botanical artist Anne Wright has been breeding some highly collectable snowdrops, writes Mary Keen. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
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'Giving a gardener a tree for Christmas is akin to offering a kitten or a puppy'Wondering what to give a green-fingered friend or family member for Christmas? John Hoyland, gardens adviser at Glyndebourne, has some advice.
