The Garden Companion

03/07/2026

Whilst many garden plants might be struggling in this hot dry weather, Lavender is loving it!! And that means happy little critters too!
Our Lavender is buzzing with life - honey bees, bumble bees, hoverflies AND the delectable Hummingbird Hawk Moth. They look so exotic and graceful as they flit from flower to flower. Love them! Have you seen one yet this year?

01/07/2026

Nothing goes to waste in this garden. If we don’t eat it, then spent vegetable plants go to the chickens. Other garden waste goes on the compost pile which the chickens love to turnover and scrabble around in. Plus they add their own ‘special’ organic matter to the mix!! Which means super charged compost to put back onto the beds! And we get a few eggs as an added bonus! Win-win!!!

Hens are a great addition to a garden helping to manage garden waste and supply the household with delicious, organic eggs.

30/06/2026

30/06/2026

Growing your own cut flowers is a real joy. Not only can you fill your home with beautiful blooms but you can gift home-made bouquets to family and friends. I love how the choice of flowers changes week by week so no bunch ever looks the same. Plus your creations will include flowers you can’t buy from the shops.
Zero air miles, 100% satisfaction!
You don’t need a ton of space to do this so start planning for next year, you won’t regret it.

28/06/2026

To keep your roses flowering all summer you must remember to dead head them. Cut back to a leaf node to keep them healthy and use the opportunity to tidy up the shape of the plant.
Roses are hungry plants, so remember to feed them with a slow release granular feed and mulch well to lock in moisture.
Mostly importantly, don’t forget to pause and admire these stunning plants and give them a sniff! Afterall, that’s why you decided to grow them in the first place!

26/06/2026

It’s too hot for any garden tasks today so I thought I’d share what’s currently looking lovely in the garden. Sometimes it’s good to have the excuse to just potter and observe and appreciate the fruits of your hard work!!

Apologies for the little black furry photo bomber!!!! 🐶🐾

24/06/2026

Hot weather means it’s time to start ‘damping down’ your greenhouse. 🥵
Whilst splashing water onto the floor may lower the temperature a little, we’re really aiming to increase humidity. Hot, dry air causes plants to lose water rapidly through their leaves, leading to severe stress. Plus it creates the ideal environment for red spider mites to take over, which no one wants!
By wetting the hard surfaces, you raise the humidity, keeping those glass house crops hydrated and happy.

Nb. Only damp down in the morning or midday. If you do it late in the evening you’ll trap cold, stagnant moisture overnight, which invites fungal diseases like mildew.

Want to ensure your garden thrives through the summer heat? Send me a DM to book a 1-to-1 garden coaching session.

23/06/2026

Whilst you may think seed sowing is all done for the year, you need to think ahead and prepare for autumn/winter! This is a great time to sow cold weather crops like chard, kale and winter cabbage.
Here I’m sowing Cavolo Nero - Tuscan Kale - with stunning dark green leaves that catch the rain/dew in little pools along its length!
I’ve added 2 seeds per module of seed compost and will thin down to one plant as they get growing. When they’re bu**er and space has become available in the garden, I will plant them out to provide us with greens over the winter months. 😊🌱

22/06/2026

Some snapshots from our Open Garden event yesterday for the NGS.
A great deal of tea and cake was consumed and many plants found themselves new homes 🌱🌱
Over £2000 raised for this fantastic charity. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help.

21/06/2026

Hugely successful Garden Open Day for the NGS. Final figures yet to be confirmed but looks to be in excess of £2k!!! 🤩🥳
The sun shone, the village gang were awesome donating cakes and their time and the visitors came in droves! We didn’t stop for 5 solid hours!!!!
All in all an extremely successful event and I thank all those who baked and helped serve teas. We couldn’t have done it without you.

The video is just our garden but 2 others also opened: and another neighbour with a Piet Oudolf themed garden. Gorgeous!!

More photos coming in another post. Follow to see more 🌺🌻🌸🌼