Songs from the garden of Eden: Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato talks to Henrietta Bredin about gardening, keeping busy and singing to save the planet
The bloodhound gang: Lolloping, intelligent, with the best nose in the business, a bloodhound is worth the slobber, believes Katy Birchall
Think big: It’s increasingly easy to emulate Capability Brown and transform your garden in mere moments by planting mature trees, reports Charles Quest-Ritson
Martin Brudnizki’s favourite painting: The interior designer chooses a richly coloured abstract
It’s a game of snakes and ladders: Jamie Blackett embraces inflation with a rare holiday
Masterpiece: Jack Watkins admires Thomas Hardy’s first major success, Far From the Madding Crowd
English homes old and new: In part two of our anniversary series, John Goodall studies the 15th-century household
A brush with history: Family-run company Hillbrush is celebrating its 100th birthday in fine style, finds Julie Harding
Twinkle, twinkle ancient stars: A 3,600-year-old bronze ‘sky disc’ is the centrepiece of a new exhibition, finds Vicky Liddell
A lack of common knowledge: The ancient commoning system is good for farmer and land alike, yet is under threat, discovers Octavia Pollock
Travel: Luxuriating in St Tropez, France
The good stuff: Hetty Lintell on specs appeal
Interiors: Amelia Thorpe finds extra space
Kitchen garden cook: Melanie Johnson on carrots
Pure acting: The performance is all that’s needed for Michael Billington
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You're all invited to Cecil Beaton's Garden Party'The space given over to 'Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party' at the Garden Museum is smaller than Beaton’s own drawing room, but its intimacy is its trump card.'
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Chelsea Flower Show 2025: Ten things not to miss in what promises to be a superb year at the world's greatest horticultural showIt promises to be a stellar year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Kathryn Bradley-Hole previews some of the highlights you can expect, while we take a look ahead to what Country Life will be up to during the week.
