Do Butterflies Bite? Find Out!

‘Marvels of Monmouthshire’ takes in the lovely scenery of this part of the world and a selection of special gardens, chosen by Sisley Garden Tours to be in their full summer glory. Many of the gardens have been featured in The English Garden magazine.

If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace mantel in your home, you won't want to miss out on the opportunity to decorate it this holiday season and create a beautiful display that the whole family will enjoy.

Some houseplants are easy to grow and tolerate neglect, while others are pickier. It can be frustrating to try to grow plants indoors only to find they wilt, yellow or even die. While several factors go into growing a healthy plant, watering properly is often the most critical. We all know it is possible to kill with kindness where our watering cans are concerned. Knowing how often to water indoor plants and how much, is essential for success. 

These majestic creatures play a vital role as pollinators, and seeing them in your garden could signify many things! Let’s look at What Does it Mean When You See a Monarch Butterfly?

On holiday in Portugal one spring, I was intrigued to see a very familiar plant in very unfamiliar (to me, anyway) surroundings. Among the orange groves and ornately-tiled pavements was a municipal planter, out of it leaning a rather old and leggy poinsettia, with straggly woody stems, with small bracts at the end. The gentle warmth of the Algarve in March was a world away from the winter supermarket dashes that I tend to associate these plants with.

There are so many beautiful DIY winter wreath ideas that you can make using natural materials. Collect foliage, flowers, berries, fruits, and other interesting items from your garden – or forage for them on seasonal walks.

With 2023 drawing to a close, interior designers and design enthusiasts alike are already looking ahead to the New Year and the trends that are expected to be big. From trending colors to lighting trends, living room trends, bathroom trends, and more, design experts are excitedly preparing for what 2024 will bring.

Christmas lights are the crown jewel of outdoor Christmas décor. Adorning your roof, stair rails, shrubs and trees with colorful bulbs transforms a dreary winter block into a festive spectacle. While the basics of wired lights has remained the same, advancements in smart technology and programmable lights, options of LED and solar-powered displays, and even Christmas projectors that require less setup have changed the holiday decoration game in recent years, making putting on a festive light show easier than ever.

An elegant wool coat for chilly winter walks, a show-stopping candelabra for the New Year tablescape, a brand new trowel or a cosy pair of cotton pyjamas: Christmas is the perfect opportunity to treat the gardener in your life to the tools, accessories and treats they’ll cherish for years to come. 

Torc sculpt everything by hand from their studio in the British Isles creating beautiful pots and planters. Their one-off designs are beautifully crafted and made by hand to last a lifetime. They make unique distinctive statements for both home and commercial settings. New Torc offerings are their waterbowls and firetables which can be made to any design required.

Birdhouses are a great way to support birds, but did you know you can make a birdhouse from an autumn gourd? It’s simple and easy.

These majestic birds of prey are known for their keen vision and power. Whether perched on a tree branch or soaring above your garden, a hawk’s presence can be interpreted as a significant sign from nature. Let’s explore – What Does it Mean When a Hawk Visits You?