Parasites of pleasure: the plants that live on plants and what to do with them
You might see it as an opportunity to grab a quick kiss at Christmas, but mistletoe is a parasite like any other, points out Charles Quest-Ritson.
Gardens
We can’t get enough of our gardens at Country Life magazine. We love to visit gorgeous English country gardens at any time of year – and more and more are opening for longer, as you can see from our piece on beautiful gardens to visit all year around.
At the same time, different gardens are best at certain times of year. For instance we know the best places to see snowdrops, where to see bluebells, and the best gardens for afternoon tea in the summertime.
We have guides to our flowering trees, and our ultimate guide to British wildflowers, as well as tips on overcoming box blight and other garden pests.
Read on, and find out whether we are running any of our exclusive garden tours, which take readers to see some of the most impressive private gardens in Provence and Tuscany twice a year.
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'fat, dark and juicy': Every type of blackberry you could ever need and how to plant them
The forager's delight, blackberries are delicious to eat and easy to grow. Here are some varieties that are worth savouring.
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Honouring the past, protecting the future: the gardens at Badminton House
Kathryn Bradley-Hole traces the story of the gardens in the past 40 years with its ingenious designs by Russell Page and François Goffinet.
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The year of the umbellifer: the glorious plant jesters thriving in the summer rain
Perhaps a bit prickly, these plants are loved by bumblebees and make a great splash of colour.
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At a home designed by the architect of the Royal Botanical Society, a new garden takes shape
Almost two centuries separate this Decimus Burton villa from its new contemporary garden and yet they suit each other perfectly.
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The case of the disappearing dahlias
John Hoyland of the gardens at Glyndebourne on how to plug the gaps of those flowers that didn't make it through the winter.
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The garden at the Old Rectory, Preston Capes: Happily ever after
Reinstating the view was central to the remaking of the garden at the Old Rectory at Preston Capes, Northamptonshire. Tiffany Daneff reports from an unusual site that surrounds the local church.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The best flower shows in Britain show exactly where RHS Chelsea gets it wrong
The Chelsea Flower Show might be the most famous in the world — but does it offer the best experience for visitors? Alan Titchmarsh suggests a few others where you might have an even better time.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: 'Gardens of supreme botanical importance are being degraded by new owners and changing priorities'
What's in a label? More than you might think, says Charles Quest-Ritson.
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'An inspirational renaissance': The house and gardens of Sandridge Park
A historic house has been saved from ruin by sympathetic owners, who have mixed modern planting with tradition to create a garden of note in the West Country.
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The beautiful perfumed fruit that's easy to grow, needs almost no attention, and makes a magnificent Christmas liqueur
Easy to manage and extremely versatile to use, quinces should be a staple in any garden says our grow-your-own expert Mark Diacono.
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The Hampshire house and garden where D-Day was planned is now a haven with sun-drenched views across calm azure sea to the Isle of Wight
Once the haunt of smugglers and sailors, the Hampshire seashore now shelters a garden where pre- and interwar plantings sit happily with impressive new areas. George Plumptre visits the garden of Lepe House.
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Arthur Parkinson: Why I spent hours among the headstones at the local churchyard with my bucket and spade
'Quite potty perhaps,' admits the brilliant Arthur Parkinson, 'but well worth it.'
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The former smugglers' inn that became one of the finest gardens on the south coast
Once the haunt of smugglers and sailors, Lepe House now shelters a garden where pre- and interwar plantings sit happily with impressive new areas.
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Leave the cellophane-wrapped lettuce at the supermarket. It's time to grow your own
Alan Titchmarsh takes us for a tour around his vegetable garden.
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Inside the garden of Eton: A rare glimpse into the grounds of the world's most famous school
The gardens of Eton College in Windsor, Berkshire, date back to a request from its founder, King Henry VI. Over 550 years later, a recent re-design by a former pupil has brought new life to these historic gardens, as George Plumptre explains.
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From Derbyshire to Dunrobin to the Dordogne, Andrea Jones's spectacular winning photographs in the RHS Botanical Photography Awards 2024
Garden photographer Andrea Jones is among the winners at the RHS Botanical Photography Awards, on show at the Saatchi Gallery.
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The garden at Emmetts Mill, Chobham: Bourne to run
A flat waterside site has been transformed into a garden full of drama with plenty of delightful places to stop and enjoy the view, writes Kathryn Bradley-Hole. Photographs by Eva Nemeth.
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The gardens at Dunvegan Castle: Hard landscaping on the Isle of Skye
Despite their exposed position, the gardens of Dunvegan Castle, home of Clan MacLeod for 800 years, have nurtured an important historic collection of species from around the world and are now going from strength to strength, writes Caroline Donald.
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If you sow seeds in June, you might just be putting down bird seed... but it's worth the risk if you love fresh summer salads
Our grow-your-own expert Mark Diacono suggests a string of ideas for what you can plant as summer kicks in.
