Features

Features

All the latest features from Gardens Illustrated magazine

I wish I could redo my dad’s funeral flowers. I just pointed to No. 7 in the brochure. But it doesn’t have to be like this

When it comes to choosing the flowers for a loved one’s funeral, we play it safe, but Gill Hodgson says you can now be more personal, creative and eco-friendly
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Nigel Dunnett’s top tips on using flower form, not colour, when creating dynamic planting designs

In planting design, we often consider colour, says Nigel Dunnett, but the form of flowers can be just as important
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The 10 best books on growing and arranging flowers, chosen by our expert flower farmer

Cut-flower farmer, florist and potter Rachel Siegfried chooses ten of her all-time, must-read, favourite books on growing and arranging flowers.
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Turning pressed flowers into fine art is now the day job for one creative Colorado couple

From an early venture saving wedding bouquets, Keith Kralik and Rachel Parri of Flower Press Studio have turned pressed flowers into fine art
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From delivering bouquets by bike across London to a regenerative flower farm in Cornwall: living the Petalon dream

Having traded London life for regenerative farming in Cornwall, Florence and James Kennedy are taking their flower company Petalon to new heights
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Nigel Slater didn’t think he liked flowers – but now has a garden full of them

Now that his once largely green garden is bursting with colour, Nigel Slater wonders why it took him so long to fill it with flowers
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The founder of Common Farm Flowers, Georgie Newbery, on swapping haute couture for cut flowers

The founder of Common Farm Flowers on swapping fashion for cut flowers, finding her feet on social media and why she’s staying firmly organic
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He commissioned Piet Oudolf’s first UK garden, and now John Coke has a new plot that channels the essence of the Dutch master

Known for commissioning Piet Oudolf’s first UK garden, plantsman John Coke has moved on and created a brand-new, personal garden on the South Downs
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Ditch the petunias: why it's time to say bye bye to trad bedding

Traditional bedding plants like begonias and busy lizzies aren't as good for the environment as you might think...
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Is there a hosepipe ban in the UK? Here's everything you need to know

Water companies sometimes impose hosepipe bans when temperatures soar. Here we tell you everything you need to know about hosepipe bans and whether there are any in the UK right now
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Is the UK facing drought, and what does that mean for how we garden?

With England seeing drier and drier summers, we investigate the impact of a potential national drought being declared and what this would mean for our gardens
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This Insta florist’s secrets to beautiful, simple arrangements (it’s all down to choosing the right vase)

Florist Sarah Statham reveals the secret to creating striking natural floral displays: adapting to the shape of your vessel.
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Five great tips from Yeo Valley on how to go organic in the garden

Sarah Mead, owner and creator of Yeo Valley Organic Garden, gives her top tips on putting nature first when gardening
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‘I am finding heroes in a community that values individuality and experimental approaches. It’s an exciting time.’

Accountant-cum-freelance-gardener Chatu loves experimenting with plant sculptures and exploring the UK’s wild watersides
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The plant obsessives who have packed their Welsh garden with a host of unusual flowers

From rare hydrangeas to prairie-inspired borders, the Welsh garden of plant obsessives Roger and Jenny Lloyd is packed with floral treasures
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After so much hot, dry weather, we're asking gardeners how they're faring this year

A meadow-inspired pot display from Jo Thompson for late-summer

From cool pastels and foliage to hot colours, designer Jo Thompson creates a stylish container combination
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11 cool, alternative garden festivals and events to enjoy this summer

From a compost festival to an exhibition displaying a 1500s gardening manual, there are plenty of fascinating events to attend this summer.
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Sworn enemies no more: we should ban the word ‘pest’ and give garden critters a rebrand

We should stop labelling creatures as sworn enemies, argues Cleve West, if we want to ensure our gardens are truly welcoming to wildlife.
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Enter the charming world of the Bloomsbury Group in the romantic, cottage-style garden at Charleston

The gardens of Charleston, once home to painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and the artistic residence of the Bloomsbury Group, are maintained in the spirit of that age
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From dancer to dairy farm: the yoghurt queen of Yeo Valley on launching a new festival in Somerset

The co-owner and head gardener of Yeo Valley Organic Garden on learning that life is not just a cabaret and why she’s launching a new garden festival
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The best plants for August

As summer reaches its peak Tom Brown, the head gardener at West Dean Gardens, picks his favourite August flowers. Photographs Jason Ingram
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Gardens to visit in August: the green spaces that will look perfect at this exact time of year

Want to see August flowers in full bloom? Head to these gardens and nurseries
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Discover how to make these painterly plant pots designed by the head gardener at Benton End

Inspired by the gardens at Benton End, garden maker James Horner suggests a fresh container arrangement to capture the essence of summer
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