The Colourful Charms of Kinsale

It seems strange, I know, to talk of growing winter crops for the polytunnel or glasshouse, smack-bang in the middle of a very sultry Irish summer. But the simple truth is that the secret to making the best, and most productive use, of these valuable covered growing spaces throughout the year has always been to plan and propagate very far ahead.

Bloom is the biggest annual event in the Irish gardening calendar featuring show gardens of all sizes, themed floral displays, nursery displays, plant sales and a range of interactive platforms where visitors can get professional advice from a host of gardening experts. Before you go here’s what you need to know, along with some of the highlights of this year’s show.

It’s hardly a meal in the South without green beans on the table! Fortunately, the common garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, even if it’s your first garden. Sometimes called snap beans, garden beans are inexpensive seeds and fast growers, with some types ready in as little as 50 days. They’ll produce bumper crops so you’ll have plenty of green beans to cook fresh, freeze or pickle. With top picks fromAll-American Selections (AAS), which trials seed performance for home gardeners,  Johnny’s Selected Seeds, extension services at Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Georgia, and University of Kentucky, here are the best types of beans to grow in the South:

There’s absolutely nothing as amazing as a fresh-picked tomato still warm from the sun. In fact,tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, alongsidebeans, summer squash, andherbs such as basil. But with hundreds and hundreds of tomato cultivars, or cultivated varieties, it’s tough to choose which ones you should plant to stand up to the heat and humidity of the South. Whether you’re a traditionalist and plant only heirloom types your Granddaddy grew or you’re all about experimenting with new types bred for improved disease resistance, you’ll get the highest yield when you grow a few different types. Just make sure to set plants out after all danger of frost has passed in your area, and give them at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Tomatoes do not do well in shade.

There’s a reason it’s called the Mighty Oak: Oak trees are stately trees that can live for hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of years. “If you want to plant a tree your great-grandkids can enjoy, go with an oak,” says Greg Huber, a Georgia Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), and program coordinator of the certified landscape and plant professional programs at theGeorgia Center for Urban Agriculture, University of Georgia. “There’s tremendous variety, and oaks have a classic beauty that feels solid and unchanging.”

The growing season is long in USDA Zone 9, as in, it lasts almost all year thanks to mild winters. This hardiness region extends from parts of Florida, across the lower portion of Louisiana and into coastal Georgia and Southern Texas. In these locales, salty air, sandy soil, heat, and lots of sun are prevalent. You’ll want to look for choices that can stand up to drought and are resilient when it comes to both soil and weather conditions. Tropical florals like hibiscus and showy trees like the Southern magnolia will do well in Zone 9 as well as a variety of ground covers, textural shrubs, and herbs. 

It’s hard not to be swept up in the romance of elegant historic decor when we watch period pieces. Netflix’s Bridgerton series is a prime example: With its lush sets and jaw-dropping costumes, Bridgerton ushered in an obsession for all things Regencycore, drawing attention to every part of the style of the age, from clothing to decor.

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As the late summer sniffles simmer down and crisp fall winds begin blowing through the air, it is time to think about preparing for the impending cold and flu season – which, for me, includes harvesting and preparing my favorite winter remedies.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy

We may have been in the wrong places at the wrong times, and we didn’t have a local botanist guiding our walks, but we didn’t see carpets of wildflowers anywhere on our travels. I found I really needed to keep my eyes pe

The Artless Charm of a true Cottage Garden While I’m as beguiled as the next person by pretty cottage garden style planting that you see at the flower shows, the real deal is so much more joyous. I’ve recently visited my 88 year old friend Deryck whose exuberant garden is about as far as you can get from designer chic.