Lovely gardens of Lawrence Johnston
What few people know about Lawrence Johnston, the great British garden maker, is that he was almost left for dead on the battlefield during the First World War.
A friend just happened to spot his body lying on the top of a pile of corpses and noticed that he was breathing. The friend called for help and Johnston was rescued...
Serenity of green-on-green landscaping
Green-on-green is a style of planting that aims to create an elegant landscape by putting together a variety of plants with different shades and textures of green leaves.
An example would be a low boxwood hedge in front of rhododendrons or a row of blue-green hostas in front of a hedge of Japanese holly, skimmia or sarcococca with a neatly...
The transforming power of arches, pergolas and tunnels
Arches, pergolas and tunnels create exciting transitions in a garden, inviting you to step into an opening that promises to transport you to a new space and new experience.
These attractive, structural features also serve other functions. They get you to lift your head and look up, always a good thing to get visitors to do.
Lifting the head and...
Only a few weeks to the start of our Grand Ireland Circle Tour
It is only a few weeks now until the start of our fabulous 15-day Ireland Grand Circle Tour which will start in Dublin on Oct. 1. (THIS TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT)The tour will sweep around the picturesque south and beautiful west coast of the island, up to the north, with visits to Derry, Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway and...
Italy 2025 was an exploration of new places and favourite destinations
Our 12-day tour to Italy was a trip of discovery into new and exciting new destinations as well as a chance to get re-acquainted with some all-time favourite place.
The group in Sermione on Lake Garda
Twenty-three of us gathered in Milan for the start of the adventure. This was a chance to discover new parts of the city such as...
How to make a grand entrance because first impressions matter
What kind of first impression does your garden make?
The entrance is an important first feature. Being the first thing visitors see, it sets the tone for what is to come.
Like all first impressions, an entrance can say a lot about who you are. In a glance, it give ups clues to the kind of style and detail likely...
Villa d’Este: The world’s greatest water garden
My first visit to Villa d'Este was a long journey. Loraine and I took the train from Rome and then a bus for the final few miles up to Trivoli, the hill town where the garden is located. It took about two hours to get there, as I remember it, because of waits for the train and buses.
The next time,...
