Rebecca Paddock Gardener

Rebecca Paddock Gardener Horticultural Garden Maintenance and Plant Care, Garden renovation and Restoration, Garden and Planting Design and Consultation

23/08/2026

There’s something about starting the day in the garden.
The sound of the stream, the birds, the morning air and a warm cuppa in your hands. Just five minutes to slow down before the day gets busy.
We often think about gardens in terms of what they look like — the planting, the paving, the borders, the views.
But I think just as much thought should go into how a garden makes you feel and how you want to use it.
A place to sit with your morning coffee.
Somewhere to catch the evening sun.
A quiet corner to read.
Or simply somewhere to step outside and reconnect with nature.
These little rituals are what turn a garden into part of everyday life.
If your garden doesn’t have somewhere that makes you want to pause and stay awhile, perhaps it’s time to create one.

18/08/2026

Roses haven’t had quite the same PR this summer as the Mediterranean-style plants that are being championed for dry conditions.
But having watched these perform through a wet winter and then an exceptionally dry summer, I think they deserve a shout-out.
The flowering has been phenomenal.
For me, this is one of the most interesting parts of planting design — seeing how plants actually perform rather than simply relying on what we think should work.
And as a designer, that matters. The best planting schemes aren’t simply a collection of plants that tolerate the conditions on paper; they’re plants that thrive, flower generously and make the garden a pleasure to be in.
So, roses.
Consider yourselves championed.

I’ve fallen for roses all over again this summer.I know. Hardly a revelation.I’ve always loved them.But watching these a...
17/08/2026

I’ve fallen for roses all over again this summer.
I know. Hardly a revelation.
I’ve always loved them.
But watching these amazing plants cope with the weather we’ve had has made me look at them a little differently.


We’ve had weeks of heat and barely any rain.
The garden has looked increasingly crispy around the edges.
And the roses?
They’ve just carried on.
Flowering their socks off, actually.
It’s made me wonder why we’re so quick to label roses as difficult, when they can be such incredibly generous garden plants.


I love what a rose brings to a garden.
The flowers, obviously.
But also the scent, the height, the movement, and the long flowering season.
And, having watched these this summer…
I think I will be adding more roses to my own garden.


This rambling rose only flowers once, but is one of the first roses to flower and rambles along hedges in and out of plants.

This rose is yet to make it into my garden, however I did incorporate it in to the planting design for Capel Manor College Motingham scheme and it was the cherry on top of the planting.

16/08/2026

This year’s drought has made that question even more relevant.
With long periods of dry weather and very little rain, getting plants established — and keeping them happy — has been a real challenge. And it’s a good reminder that choosing plants isn’t simply about what we like the look of.
I walked past this planting bed on the seafront in Hastings, part of Dig in Hastings’ plant experiment with Great Dixter, and it got me thinking about exactly this.
The planting is being used to explore what can actually thrive in Hastings’ coastal conditions — with wind, salt, poor soils and now increasingly dry summers to contend with.
Rather than assuming we know what will work, they’re trying things, watching what happens and learning from the results.
I think there’s something really valuable in that approach.
Because good planting design isn’t about choosing the prettiest plants and hoping for the best.
It’s about understanding your particular garden, its conditions and what will genuinely thrive there.
And as our summers become hotter and drier, knowing what works is going to matter more and more. 🌿
Sometimes the best planting choices come from paying attention to what the garden is telling us.

15/08/2026

We’ve had so many hummingbird hawk-moths visiting the garden this year, and I finally managed to catch two of them enjoying the Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ together.
They’re such wonderful garden visitors — hovering over the flowers and disappearing almost as quickly as they arrived.
It’s moments like this that remind me why I love planting with wildlife in mind.
A garden isn’t just about how it looks. It’s about movement, sound, scent and all the life it brings with it.
And when the planting you’ve chosen brings these little visitors in, it feels like a rather lovely bonus.
Good planting gives you more than a beautiful garden.

14/08/2026

There’s something really special about finding that spot in the garden.

The one where you can sit at the end of the day, catch the last bit of sunshine and think, I could stay here for hours.
And this is exactly why I spend so much time thinking about where a terrace should go in a garden.
It’s very easy to put it straight outside the back door because, well, that’s where the doors are.
But what if the best evening light is somewhere else?
What if there’s a better view from the other side of the garden? Or a little corner that feels more private? Or, like here, a patch of sunshine that makes you want to lie down and stay there?
A terrace should be about how you want to use your garden, not just where it’s easiest to put one.
Although, judging by the dog, I may have chosen the wrong time to relax. Apparently my attempt at enjoying the evening sun was an invitation to play — cue toys being dropped on me until I got the message.

If your garden doesn’t have a spot like this yet, perhaps it’s time to find one.
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10/07/2026

A visit to Great Dixter Garden nursery never fails to lifts my spirits…happy weekend

27/06/2026

Garden Notes June 26 Plants that have shone in June 2026 in the garden

I hope you’re all surviving the heat… Having a little shady spot to escape to has been an absolute lifesaver this week.P...
26/06/2026

I hope you’re all surviving the heat…
Having a little shady spot to escape to has been an absolute lifesaver this week.
Perched beneath our Bramley apple tree are two swing seats surrounded by ferns, hellebores and a Fatsia japonica. It’s become one of my favourite places to pause, cool down and enjoy the garden from a different perspective.
It’s amazing how a little shade can change everything on a hot day. Cooler, calmer and just the right place to sit and listen to the leaves above.
Do you have a favourite shady spot in your garden? I’d love to hear about it below. 💚
REBECCA PADDOCK GARDENS

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Ticehurst

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