Author: thomashort

I am a professional gardener who has a love of plants and gardens. I grew up and worked at Mottisfont Abbey Gardens, with a spell at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and managering two gardens in Hampshire and West Sussex as Head Gardener. I am now freelance and spend my time gardening, pruning, planting design, consultanting, speaking and blogging about plants and gardens. I love all forms of gardening but have a soft spot for roses, Geraniums, alpines and Topiary. That said, I love it all!

Rose of the week- Climbing Lady Hillingdon

a look at the beautiful rose and her history, who was lady Hillington?

Plant of the week- Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’

The plant of the week this week is a beautiful small tree that’s in full flower at the moment and really looking at its best at this time of the year. It is a form of the Midlands Hawthorn and was discovered in 1858 in the garden of mr Boyd, Waltham Cross, growing on…

Tool review- DeWit border handfork and handspade

My review of the rather excellent DeWit border fork and spade, ideal for working on your hands and knees

Plant of the week Osmunda regalia

Plant of the week looks at the beautiful fern Osmunda, its history and how to care for it

Plant of the week- Geranium phaeum

My plant of the week this time is one of a personal favourite. I have loved the mourning widow geranium for nearly 30 years, not sure what it is about the plant I like so much, whether it’s the foliage or small but perfectly formed flowers, but whatever it is, I think it’s a special…

Why a being a gardener, is so frustrating!!

Well to be honest, it is one of the best jobs in the world, working outside in all weathers, seem the natural world in all its best and worse moments, seeing big trees admired for 100’s of years, reduced to a pile of splinters in seconds, the plant you have grown from a cutting, nursed…

Plant of the week- Wisteria sinensis

wisteria sinensis, the chinensis wisteria, its history, how to grow it and the beauty of the plant

Cliveden, a garden visit, part 1

Cliveden is a National Trust property nestled on the Buckinghamshire/ Berkshire border, near the town of Taplow, its set in 375 estate of formal and woodland gardens, that gently slope down to the River Thames. The house itself is leased to a hotel company and is now a 4 star hotel, looks very nice inside…

Treating rose leaf diseases

I do a lot of garden visits to clients houses and also a lot talks to all types of groups and the biggest rose question is of course how do I stop black spot and mildew on my roses. Trouble is it’s a not a short answer! First of all what exactly are we…

#rosewatch2017

And there she is, fully opened and smelling better than any perfume!!!!! Hope you enjoyed my little rose watch in the mean time, would love you to update me with yours #rosewatch2017