Wonderful Worms
Charles Darwin called worms ‘the most important animal in the history of the world’. They are well known to gardeners as an indicator of healthy… Read More »Wonderful Worms
Organic Gardening
Euphoric Euphorbia
Euphorbia is such a diverse Genus with over 2000 species. It is one of those plants that I’m often asked to identify and yet it’s… Read More »Euphoric Euphorbia
Christmas Spice (Cinnamon)
Every year I try to write about something festive but also relating to horticulture. Have you ever wondered where your Christmas spices come from? I… Read More »Christmas Spice (Cinnamon)
Are you peat free yet?
Cathie’s Gardening School went on an outing to garden centres this week (at the time of writing) to try and unravel the confusion over potting… Read More »Are you peat free yet?
‘No Mow May’
You may have heard and tried to follow the advice with mixed results I’m sure. Each year we are all encouraged to leave our grass… Read More »‘No Mow May’
Get Composting!
I can’t stress enough that a working compost heap or bin is the heart and soul of your garden. I don’t mean a pile of… Read More »Get Composting!
WHO ATE ALL THE BERRIES?
At the time of writing this (when the country has just gone into lockdown again) I am watching a flock of birds strip the berries on my holly. It’s as though they have left them for me over Christmas and then started feasting in the new year. The same thing happens every January and they are having such a wonderful time!!
PLANT A TREE IN 2021
It’s not as catchy as ‘Plant a tree in ‘73’ and I remember that very well as a child and how important it was to my family. The trees are huge now and it is more important today than ever to think about the future of our planet. I’m focusing mainly on native trees and how we can incorporate them into our gardens.
Gardener or Horticulturist?
Learning to mow a lawn and use a hedge cutter takes about five minutes whereas learning the subject of horticulture takes a lifetime…….Cathie’s Gardening School… Read More »Gardener or Horticulturist?
GARDENING FOR HEALTH !
The Merritt Medical Centre in Chessington received a garden makeover last week by a group of horticultural students. The students were attending a Garden Design… Read More »GARDENING FOR HEALTH !
Honey Bees at Secretts
An introduction to the honey bees at Cathie’s Gardening School, Secretts Garden Centre, Milford. This month I thought I would introduce you to my bees.… Read More »Honey Bees at Secretts
Garden Composting
Most people have a compost heap or bin in their gardens more often an eyesore than a functional thing of beauty. I love my compost… Read More »Garden Composting
Garden Gifts For Christmas
Some ideas for last minute Christmas Gifts with a gardening theme from Cathie’s Gardening School, Secretts Garden Centre, Milford. It’s that time of year again… Read More »Garden Gifts For Christmas
Bee and insect accommodation!
Congratulations to Sarah Blake in Cranleigh for winning the free Cathie’s Mobile Gardening School consultancy and to everyone else who won the reduced fee visits.… Read More »Bee and insect accommodation!
An Introduction to Keeping Bees
Advice for new beekeepers from Cathie at Cathie’s Gardening School, Secretts Garden Centre, Milford. We now have three colonies of bees in the teaching garden… Read More »An Introduction to Keeping Bees
Bees, Bees, Bees….
Advice on all kinds of bees from Cathie at Cathie’s Gardening School, Squire’s Garden Centre at Secretts, Milford. Regular readers will be aware that there… Read More »Bees, Bees, Bees….
Botanical Drinks
As a horticulturist with a deep passion for growing all things edible it occurred to me that readers may like to share how easy it… Read More »Botanical Drinks
COMPOST CONFUSION!
When I was starting out in horticulture many moons ago we had to mix our own potting composts and it was quite revolutionary when we… Read More »COMPOST CONFUSION!
Crops in Pots
Advice on growing vegetables in pots from Cathie at Cathie’s Gardening School, Squires at Secretts Garden Centre, Milford. Last year we looked at growing your… Read More »Crops in Pots
Drought Resistant Planting
Advice on choosing the right plants for the hot Summer ahead from Cathie at Cathie’s Gardening School, Secretts Garden Centre, Milford. In April we were… Read More »Drought Resistant Planting