We can highly recommend working with Konia, who has helped us transform our garden from a largely empty and soulless gravel and paved area with a couple of crushed and overcrowded beds, into an infinitely more attractive space.  Throughout the project, she has listened carefully to what we liked, needed or wanted for the garden, and responded accordingly.   We initially contacted her because although we had a large garden in our previous home, the location/climate/soil were completely different in our new home, and we were at a loss on how to work with the sandy soil and relatively dry and hot climate of Nairn.  We also needed major infrastructural work done in the garden (fencing, removal of overgrown large shrubs, building raised beds & compost bins, slabbing and pathwork) and Konia recommended a fantastic colleague for this part of the job.  During the whole project, Konia has been clear in her communication and very reliable.  She is also very open to working with people to different degrees, supporting you as little or much as you need (e.g. we’d said we were happy to do the physical labour of planting ourselves, but needed guidance about what species were suitable, who to buy them from, and where to place them).  In our initial brief, we’d said we would like to extend the colour and life in the garden for a longer part of the year; attract wildlife such as bees, butterflies and birds; work with the soil and climate rather than struggle to nurture plants not suited to it; have space to grow some edibles and for compost bins; add a fruit tree or two; retain a grass area for our dog; and keep the garden sufficiently low maintenance that we were not overwhelmed by its upkeep.  Konia has delivered this in spades (haha).  Even though we only planted it up at the end of June, the garden has flourished.  We still have some colour and interest now at the end of November.  We’re very much looking forward to see how it develops over the next couple of years, and we know we can ask Konia back as needed to guide us through any future stages where we could use professional help. C & S McC, Nairn

^{Thanks to everyone who contributed to the plant sale in aid of the Ukraine Red Cross Appeal. We raised £140.50. Thanks also to the frog that kept the plants free of slugs.} 

Sculptures and plants can have a lovely relationship with each other. These sculptures are by Alf Becker with planting by Susanne Tack. http://www.alfbecker.de

Colour!

Such a personal thing – colour. Some like muted colours, some vibrant. Most people agree that colours you’d never wear together work in the garden.

Maybe the calmness of whites and pinks work for you or the vibrancy of red, orange and yellow. I did a border a few years ago near Inverness that I called mellow yellow: despite red, orange and yellow being in the border it worked, thanks to Achillea terracotta. Unfortunately not a long lived plant in our climate.

I have a dislike for pale pink and yellow together, but if you throw in purple, that might rescue it.

And of course our perception of colour is entirely different to the one’s of pollinators!

Whatever it is that works for you – enjoy it as colour is good for the soul.

pictures: Picture 1: Inula and Crocosmia Lucifer with peacock butterflies, everything goes on picture 2 – the cerise pink brings it together, picture 3 a white border (not easy with our Highland light – white shines more in places like Sissinghurst. But our autumn colours are better – I think!), picture 4 all about foliage no flowers – but still colour!

Spring – jump joy! = GardenJoy!!!

Isn’t it lovely, the first warming rays of the spring sunshine. Some flowers are already providing nectar for the bees (some have all winter of course – but I wasn’t outside as much then!). And there is that ANTICIPATION… Yippeee – winter is nearly over (we hope). ENJOY!!!!

I hope you’re enjoying the autumn colours – here some asters and helianthus to cheer you up.

Too much to do in the garden? 

Here’s how to de-stress yourself: 

make a (long) list of things to do

have a cuppa in the garden

spill it

list and jobs gone! Sorted! 

here is a lawn – a lawn for humans and for wildlife. Just because it’s not just green – is it less of a lawn? It’s more of a lawn because it feeds bees and other insects. Encourage those insects and you have less issues with pests in your garden, as the garden is in balance with nature. How to achieve it? Set the lawn mower to the right height when cutting the grass. Easy and in my eye – beautiful.