Potpourri Magazine

Q&A with Neil Lucas, Knoll Gardens
Tell us about your route into horticulture? I worked for the civil service before deciding I wanted to be a gardener.  I helped tend the grounds of my parents’ hotels...
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Body, soul and gardening - gardening for fitness
We all know regular exercise is important for physical and mental health, but if running around the park or going to an exercise class isn't for you, remember that gardening...
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Garden trends - recycling your plants is all the rage
When designing gardens, it’s tempting to rip everything out and start again with a blank canvas, but as our interest in sustainability continues to grow, there’s been a move towards...
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Shrub of the month - Daphne
Daphnes are exquisite shrubs with clusters of beautifully-scented white or pink flowers, which, depending on the variety, flower in late winter, early spring through to summer. They have a bit...
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How to... prune dogwood
Dogwoods (Cornus) with their wonderful red, orange or green stems are stunning in winter gardens, especially in the clear winter light or planted en masse or in groups of several...
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Podcast - Ins and Outs
Garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson and interior designer Jojo Barr share their wealth of experience in this podcast, which is a great insight into the ‘ins and outs’ of design –...
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Technology in the garden - Shoot Garden Design
If you’ve been looking to improve the design of your own or a client’s garden, or simply redesign the planting in a border, gardening website, Shoot, could help save time...
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Body, soul and gardening - cold therapy
As the temperatures drop, we tend to want to stay warm and cosy indoors.  But feeling a bit chilly can have potential well-being benefits, from easing anxiety to improving circulation...
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Garden trends - low impact paths
Paths are one of the most important aspects of garden design, allowing you to access different parts of the garden throughout the year.  They can take you directly to where...
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Top of the pots - berries and stems
Small shrubs with berries look great in window boxes at this time of year.  Add some tall colourful stems for extra impact.  Here are our suggestions: Skimmias are hardy and...
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Q&A with Sally Petitt, Head Gardener, Cambridge Botanic Gardens
What was your route into horticulture? I was planning to study architecture, but halfway through A-levels, I realised that what I really wanted was to be a gardener - I...
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Veg and recipe - warm roasted root veg salad
Salads aren’t just for the summer.  Winter root vegetable salad is comforting and tasty but is also packed with the fibre, vitamins, and nutrients your body needs in the colder...
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Podcast - Plantastic Podcast
Presented by American professor of horticulture Dr. Jared Barnes, this informative and interesting podcast gives listeners an insight into the US horticultural world. As a horticulture professor, there’s a serious...
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Technology in the garden - grow lights for indoor plants
As the light level drops, artificial lighting can be a good way of supplementing the amount of light plants get and can also be used to grow plants in darker...
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Body, soul and gardening - organising your shed
As things slow down in the garden, why not take advantage of the lull and organise your shed ready for spring.  Decluttering can make us feel liberated and more in...
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Garden trends - climate resilient planting
With more unpredictable weather patterns, from downpours and cold snaps to extreme heat and drought, we’re seeing a trend towards tougher, more resilient planting that will cope with extreme weather. The...
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Top of the pots - planting bulbs in a pot
Bulb planting season is upon us and a great way of getting a dense and successional display of colour in containers is by using the Dutch concept of a ‘bulb...
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Veg and recipe - parsnip gratin
This dish turns earthy parsnips into something luxuriously creamy. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C.  Prepare six or so parsnips by top-and-tailing them and then slicing them lengthways or...
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Q&A with Luke Bartle, Head Gardener, Trentham Gardens
Tell us about your journey into horticulture?  My grandad was a big gardener and got me interested in gardening from an early age.   After leaving school at 16, I started...
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Podast - The Veg Grower
In this weekly podcast Richard Suggett shares his experience of growing food on his allotment and home vegetable plot, with much more besides. In recent allotment updates, Richard’s been planting...
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Technology in the garden - plant protection jackets
As the temperatures drop, tender plants such as citrus trees and bananas ideally need to be brought inside.  But hardy outdoor plants may also need some protection from frosts, and...
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