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The coming together of music and gardening
'Let's hope it is the first of many' says Mark Griffith of The Garden Museum's latest coup.
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What to deadhead and what to leave alone
We delve into the Country Life archive to revisit Mark Griffiths's tips on deadheading — and in particular being careful about what you take and what you leave.
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The prehistoric plants that shine indoors and out, with spectacular grandeur, grace and a feel softer than cashmere
Mark Griffiths takes a look at the remarkable Cycas panzhihuaensis, a Chinese cycad with an astonishing story to tell.
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The Bogs of Britain, from 'godforsaken wasteland full of dangers' to one of our key tools in tackling climate change
This unique habitat, millennia in the making, provides a home for numerous rare flora and fauna and is, at last, being recognised for its many benefits, says Mark Griffiths.
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Why Britain's incomparable sand dunes are 'simultaneously the sands of time past, present and future'
Mark Griffiths takes a look at Britain's sand dunes, our most dynamic landscape, and one to be treasured and protected.
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Mark Griffiths: The irises that are fit to be the apple of any gardener's eye
Mark Griffiths takes a look at the famed irises of Japan, and how their influence has been felt to Britain — and back.
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The tale of Britain's 52 native orchids, and the 'maverick miscellany of amateur and professional naturalists, painters and writers' who champion them
Mark Griffiths celebrates the 52 species of native British orchids whose extraordinary history and unconventional beauty have beguiled and intrigued both scientists and amateurs.
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Mark Griffiths: The joy and consolation of 'Slow Gardening' in this savage yet beautiful spring
The gardener and writer Mark Griffiths has had to unlearn the habit of a lifetime, put his diligence to one side, and embrace a slower approach to tending his garden.
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'Unleashed, mad and dangerous': How Britain's wild, romantic moorland is our 'signature habitat', inspiring everything from Beowulf to The Hound of the Baskervilles
Mark Griffiths examines our ancient fear and fascination with ecologically invaluable moorland, of which we have more than any other country in the world, and makes the case for its protection.
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Peat takes millennia to generate, and bogs store 10 times more carbon than forests — using it in gardening is madness
Mark Griffiths explains exactly why the continued practice of cutting peat from bogs for use in horticulture must be stopped.
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The 'secret flowers' that live for half a millennium, and bloom like nothing else on earth
Mark Griffiths is staggered by the ancient azaleas of Noto which date back to the era of the Shoguns.
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Mark Griffiths: How to grow a money plant in your own back garden
Mark Griffiths tells the tale of the day his wife, Yoko, brought home a money plant — and ended up educating him about one of Japan's most important flowers.
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The Ash: Is this the last stand for one of Britain's great native trees?
Mark Griffiths celebrates the historic, handsome and irrepressible native ash.
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Gardening's oddest minefield: How naming and re-naming plants can send botanists, gardeners and writers into a spin
Mark Griffiths delves in to the world of plant names, unearthing quirky stories, scientific discovery — and an unfortunate case of imbecilic inaccuracy.
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Curious Questions: How the Monkey Puzzle tree get its name?
One of the most curious trees you'll see in Britain is also one of the most curiously-named: the Monkey Puzzle tree. But how did it get its name?
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The plucky amateur gardener who created 'blue holly', and spawned a trend which stretches the world
'I had not idea what could and couldn't be done, so I just did it,' said the American who bred holly to survive harsh winters on Long Island. Mark Griffiths explains.
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Curious Questions: Why do we have poinsettias at Christmas — and why did it get the name 'excrement flower'?
Their bright red leaves brighten up our houses at this time of year, but how did the tradition of having poinsettias at Christmas start? Mark Griffiths explains.
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Horticultural marmite: The natural phenomenon which divides gardeners all over Britain
Variegated foliage may be the bread and butter of some gardens, but for some horticulturalists it seems sickly and spoiled.
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The saucily-named plant whose very mention sparks blushing and tied tongues
Titter ye not: the splendid Gingo Tit is a compact cultivar with bright autumn foliage and prolific woody growths.
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Hydrangeas: Varied, colourful and lovingly tended to by the wizard of White House Farm
Mark Griffiths extols the beauties of this shrub, from its 18th-century beginnings to its revival in the hands of hydrangea champion Maurice Foster.
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Deadheading? Don't worry about it too much, or you'll miss out on some fine surprises
Mark Griffiths passes on sage advice about deadheading old plants from one of the greats of gardening — but cautions us all not to be over-dedicated, or you might miss out on some unexpected pleasures.
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The life of the oak tree collector: 'You soon see there’s only one sensible course of action: collect the lot'
For tree-loving landowners who want to leave their mark, nothing beats planting your own quercetum. Mark Griffiths celebrates the mighty oak and its determined collectors.
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The most impressive perennial grown in Britain: The swamp pot
Mark Griffiths extols the wonders of the swamp pot ‘Thalia dealbata’ and teaches us how to best do the beautiful flowers justice.
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Bringing Mediterranean planting to Britain with the most wonderful gardening book of the year
Mark Griffiths explains why we value Mediterranean planting styles so highly, why he urges all to purchase Mr Filippi's 'Bringing the Mediterranean into your Garden: how to capture the natural beauty of the garrigue' and why he would never adopt the methods described within himself.
