I had to go back and visit her, as if caught in her web. Here she is. Pure malevolence (Solanum atropurpureum)

Doing its thing in the early autumn sunshine, meet Succisa pratensis. Perhaps the most unlikely member of the honeysuckle family.

There could be trouble ahead... My first attempt at fermented hot chilli sauce... What could possible go wrong?

Education changes lives Education creates opportunities Education builds confidence Education nurtures potential Education sparks curiosity Education encourages creativity Most of all Education is the key that unlocks possibilities Congratulations to all who graduated yesterday.

One of the things I love about my career (adventures) in horticulture is meeting new plants, like this rather amazing Pyrus communis 'Pysanka'... Every day is a school day...

Today has been about: allotments community joy celebration gardening and sustainable food Judging at Newland Avenue Allotments in Hull

10 years of developing a climate resilient soil. is paying off, no irrigation for over 10 years, and lush bountiful growth abounds...

I think I need to find a new series of summer activities… Impossible to find places in London… Today I located

Meet Hydrangea serrata ‘Kiyosumi’ which takes its name from Mount Kiyosumi in Chiba Prefecture of Japan, a serene, wooded region known for misty mornings, Buddhist temples, and ancient trails. Perfect for woodland gardens. Spotted in Oakwood at RHS Garden Wisley.

Have you met Calliandra Sur. 'Dixie Pink' Fantastic for pots and sunny spots... Calliandra has been linked with fairies, woodland spirits, and magical transformation due to its delicate, ethereal flowers. Children in some communities believed the flowers were combed by fairies at dawn...

Pure joy

Today the SongBird Survival Garden was declared open. The garden won a silver gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and is now allowing people to connect with nature in its new home in Hull.

Well, they say it is the best policy...

I thoroughly enjoy my wanders through London, and popped in to the Brunswick Centre for a coffee this week... Plant make a space, even in a concrete development more human, more intimate, more welcoming. However I did avoid the bench!

Today's the day Still+dry+warmer than yesterday Perfect for a nuptual flight The alates (flying ants) are often sexually mature queen ants They are larger than the males They are often seen joined together in the nuptual flight The male dies The female chews off her wings + live for over 28 years

Today, I would like to introduce you to Malevolence... (Otherwise known as Solanum atropurpureum) Only the fruit, stems and leaves are poisonous! But look at those prickles! Do the flowers look familiar though?

The only thing that could make Beach Hut life better is finding orchids by the hut, in this case Anacamptis pyramidalis, the pyramidal orchid...

Today I am surrounded by Language six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) moths, fighting over nectar… #nature #iphonephotography

Something interesting is happening at Regent's Park... New climate resilient plantings are starting to appear...

Today, I am excited to share an exclusive behind the scenes image of the wonderful @fionamills.bsky.social and our new studio plant!

Today I am working in London, in a leafy glade, brought to you by talented horticultural designers and skilled landscapers… The ultimate challenge is that all the peoples of London deserve green spaces that make cities liveable…

Just look at this! Shredded, orchid-like flowers that are delicate pale pink/white while the upper flowers are creamy yellow. It has several flower spikes so has a long period of interest. It was plant of the year at the HTA Plant Show in 2024. Digitalis 'Apple Blossom' What do you think?

A few more shots from Chelsea 2025... Feeling inspired!

As the People's Award is announced at Chelsea, there was a real stand out garden by the incredible Kazuyuki Ishihara... What do you think?

The SongBird Survival garden at Chelsea is one of my favourite gardens in the show. Its soft and romantic planting has been carefully designed to provide food, roosting places and a great habitat for songbirds. Looking forward to seeing this garden come to Hull after Chelsea Flower Show.

I have often wondered if I could make it as a professional model. I am sure it is not necessary to explain, but one image is of a professional model, from Chelsea today, and one is not.

Anticipation...

I have realised that I have not shared pictures of my garden recently, so here is the pond on the lower terrace... In totally unrelated news, I may have been garden visiting today...

There is something so wonderful about spring…

Today has been all about revelling in spring, and delighted to spot my first speckled wood of the season... I might mention some of this on Sunday Gardening with @fionamills.bsky.social on BBC Radio Humberside + Lincolnshire, where we are inviting you to get planty with us.

If there is a better tree in all the land, an explosion of flowers, nectar for pollinators and a lovely almond scent... Prunus padus

Office based PPE, and Starlink making working a pleasure in the warm spring sunshine

Today, I am working on a new talk for gardening clubs about biodiversity... So I thought a quick selfie was in order...

The sun is strong in the office today... Beach Hut living might be the best decision yet....

On Sunday Gardening I have been celebrating the eve of National Gardening Week by chatting to Garden Designer Nicola Oakey about what people most want from their gardens. (BBC Radio Humberside + Lincolnshire from 8a.m. with @fionamills.bsky.social and after 9 with Paul answering your questions.

There is something rather awesome about Tulips... Just look at those petals... Pure planty joy

On Sunday Gardening this week, I am out + about meeting Sue Morgon of @songbirdsurvival.bsky.social + finding out about their Chelsea flower show garden which is coming to Hull After 9 its Gardening Hour! @fionamills.bsky.social + will be chatting about blizzards of blossom + answering questions.

Today is an office based research day, working on a client project, - potatoes... Fascinating headlines in the British Potato Review....

There is something rather special about seasonal flowers. We have to enjoy them in the moment... We have to adopt to their timescale, or we miss them... And that is grounding...

And so the tulip season begins… Joy in a pot…

On Sunday Gardening tomorrow (BBC Radio Humberside + Lincolnshire) I am chatting to Head Teacher, + Easter Bonnet Judge, John Carling @ Roos Spring Show After 9, I'm in the studio with @fionamills.bsky.social talking Tulips, light evenings and, of course, answering all your gardening questions....

As the dark clouds gather in the wider world, today's pure joy is found in blue skies and the warmth of spring...

Seriously, where are all the columnists, commentators, pundits, authors, broadcasters & politicians who kept telling us they cared passionately about ‘ freedom of speech in universities, even as they struggled to cite many examples of it being suppressed? timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/hun...

There is something rather magical about Dicentras... I love the understated elegance of the white, but miss the flamboyance of the pink...

What a day. What an excellent day. Celebrating the graduation of so many Master of Horticulture students in London. Congratulations one and all. What a journey. We hope you all enjoyed YOUR day...

I swear they shake their petals to welcome me home!

I swear they shake their petals to welcome me home!

Here she is: Illicium simmonsii Isn't she beautiful...