Field & Fern

Field & Fern Ecological Horticulture | Consultancy | Design | Mentoring

Pure joy!
01/08/2026

Pure joy!

Delighted to spot this Mullein moth caterpillar (Cucullia verbasci) whilst on garden patrol today! Merrily enjoying the ...
26/06/2026

Delighted to spot this Mullein moth caterpillar (Cucullia verbasci) whilst on garden patrol today! Merrily enjoying the Verbascum (Mullein) 'Clementine'.

The Verbascum needed cutting back as it had finished flowering and flopped over, but I left the stem with this guy in situ. There are other verbascum in the bed that are just starting to flower, so it won't starve. The rest of the cuttings I couldn't see any caterpillars on but I've laid them on the ground around other verbascum to give anything a chance to hatch & move on. Plus, it helps reduce evaporation - chop and drop for the win!

Crazy fact - this moth caterpillar will pupate underground, sometimes for years, until the conditions are right to emerge. Nature is AMAZING!

Joyous.
26/06/2026

Joyous.

26/06/2026

The cut flower patch is back in business!

I absolutely adore growing flowers for the vase and arranging them. I only have a small garden, but I dedicated an area for perennial trials and cut flowers. It's a small space with 6 raised beds made from pallet collars. Each one has 20cm of soil and the bottom 20cm is sand. I've drilled holes into the sides of the bottom pallet collar in varying sizes to allow mining bees and other insects to nest. It was well used last year and has no negative effect on the plants at all!

13/06/2026

Nature brings the complexity. Your setup can be simple.

Bringing water into a garden doesn't have to be a massive excavation effort. Here I've repurposed two old bath tubs which are fed using rainwater directly off the shed roof. Surrounded with planting the tubs are hidden and wildlife has plenty of cover to come and go.

It isn't a breeding ground for mosquitos or a stanky pit. By providing plenty of surface cover with plants, crevices for insects to hide, ways for wildlife to climb in and out and perches for hunting, nature keeps the balance. The water is clear, the ecosystem is thriving. This pond isn't managed. It's left to nature and enjoyed. Not a chore, but a delight.

Yes the water levels fluctuate, but they're deep enough to never dry out completely. This is what happens in nature and supports the ecosystem.

Sometimes nature does need a helping hand, but the hardest part is sitting on your hands and trusting the process.

However tempting it might be, never top up a wildlife pond with tap water! Rain is the only gain!

It's the simple things. Two bath tubs fed with rain from the shed roof, left to nature. Nothing better than a sunny morn...
13/06/2026

It's the simple things. Two bath tubs fed with rain from the shed roof, left to nature. Nothing better than a sunny morning to see who's emerging from the pond.

Having watched damsel and dragonflies hunt over this pond and lay their eggs last year, it's so rewarding to find the nymphs climbing the vegetation and emerging this year.

Proof that a small urban garden can be wild.

PSA for your thirsty gardens!💦 newly planted gardens need more water than established gardens.🌖water in the evening, as ...
26/05/2026

PSA for your thirsty gardens!

💦 newly planted gardens need more water than established gardens.

🌖water in the evening, as late as you can manage. SOAK the base of the plant. A less frequent soak is far better than a frequent sprinkle. WHY? we want the water to go deep beneath the roots to encourage the roots to grow to an area that dries out less easily. Sprinkling water can encourage roots to grow upwards creating less drought tolerant plants.

🥀 If your plants are wilting don't be tempted to water during the day, hold your breath and wait for the evening.

💧Consider hosepipe ban compliant soaker hose systems.

Top tip ✅ Grab a refreshing glass of wine and enjoy checking in on your plants and the quiet time and sprinkle your toes as you go!

18/05/2026

Come with me BTS at RHS Chelsea Flower Show build week!

Delighted to have been involved in the build of Sparsholt College Chelsea Flower Show garden again this year!Having had ...
18/05/2026

Delighted to have been involved in the build of Sparsholt College Chelsea Flower Show garden again this year!

Having had my head in amongst this beautiful new rose from Thompson & Morgan UK during the build - Rosa 'Caroline Quentin', I can confirm it's utterly beautiful and the fragrance is sensational!

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