Gaudy blooms in jarring colours… a clear case of gilding the lilyThere are a few cultural conundrums out there in gardening which I wonder if I will ever get to the bottom of. As someone who has recently gotten into dabbling in a little home-breeding w…
The apple falls not far from the tree
My daughter and I bond over her nearby gardenEvery year, Kala’s nasturtiums invade her neighbours’ gardens. Every year, we sow more. It’s not as if we don’t know they will self-seed for eternity. It’s an addiction I fear I have passed on to my daughter…
Houseplant of the week: Ficus lyrata | Gynelle Leon
In our new column, the founder of the plant shop Prick looks at this highly popular tree, loved for its big, glossy, fiddle-shaped leavesWhy will I love it?Ficus lyrata is the most popular indoor tree right now, loved for its unusual glossy leaves: wit…
Britain’s 10 most glorious autumn gardens, as chosen by readers
Ancient oaks, faerie trails, abbey parks and deer feature in our readers’ favourite places to watch the vivid autumn coloursFor a feast of autumn colour visit Calderstones Park, in south Liverpool. This large park boasts a collection of native and exot…
Gardening can save the planet. How? Start with your soil | Alys Fowler
Sustainable gardening isn’t hard: nurture your soil, save your seeds … and compostThe dictionary has it wrong. Gardening isn’t about plants, it’s about everything else: the soil, the insects, the birds, mammals and reptiles, and how you sit in this wor…
Tell us: have you started a community garden?
As community gardens become increasingly popular, we would like to hear from those involved in these projectsCommunity gardens, where volunteers gather to garden a private or public piece of land together, are becoming increasingly common in the UK. Wi…
Late flowering: the Chelsea flower show is finally back – but what will it look like in autumn?
After cancellation and postponement, the show returns next week. Late-season plants and flowers will take centre stageSay what you like about the Chelsea flower show – expensive, crowded, a little superficial? – the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual…
My towering agave plant is in full bloom – but it’s a bittersweet bonanza | Adrian Chiles
The century plant outside my flat grew a monstrous stalk this summer. I have since learned this means its days are numbered – which has painted it in a whole new lightThere is a great big plant outside the flats where I live that looks bewildered to fi…
How to grow next year’s tulips | Alys Fowler
Lay plans now to defeat your most dastardly enemy: the squirrelAs anyone who has planted tulips knows, the first year is big and bold, the second year less so. There’s the myth that most bedding types of tulips won’t reflower in their second year. I’ve…
TV tonight: David Morrissey returns in Jez Butterworth’s Britannia
Morrissey and Mackenzie Crook continue to fight it out three years after the Roman invasion. Plus: Paralympics Opening Ceremony Live. Here’s what to watch this eveningA third series for Jez Butterworth’s daft but engaging semi-historical drama. Three y…