Among the luscious foliage spilling out of the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Houseplant Studios, there's one small succulent that instantly charms. With beautiful pink and green-striped variegation, the 'Pink Witch' aeonium is the conversation-starting plant I've been missing.

It's the jewel in the crown in An Ode to Endurance (which won Best Houseplant Studio), where it sits in a quiet corner, impressing with bubblegum-pink rosettes. As part of the tree houseleek genus, it's a surprisingly easy indoor succulent to care for. Bright light is essential to maintain its vivid hues, but it doesn't require lots of watering or attention, ideal for novices.

The good news is, although highly sought-after as a collectible houseplant, this succulent is widely available (like this 'Pink Witch' aeonium on Etsy), so you can get the RHS Chelsea Flower Show look in your indoor garden.

A Vibrant, Low-Effort Succulent

'Pink Witch' aeonium may be one of the smaller species found in Conservatory Archives' An Ode to Endurance, which also houses impressive towering cacti, but it demands attention.

It's a modern tree houseleek hybrid that originated in Asia and hit the market in 2020.

'With dense rosettes of fleshy leaves, atop slender woody stems, members of the aeonium genus are easy to spot. The genus is small, with around 35 different succulent species, but cultivars and varieties exist in great numbers,' says Natalia Drezek, one of the designers on the studio.

'Aeonium ‘Pink Witch’ produces bold bubblegum-pink leaves, with a hint of green and white across the centre. The colour of the leaves can change depending on sun exposure,' she adds.

As they mature, these aeoniums develop trunk-like stems, making them statement succulents through each stage of growth. Though, they typically only reach 12-18" in height, remaining the perfect size for tabletop displays.

Take a look at this mature 'Pink Witch' aeonium on Etsy with multiple trunks, for example – there's no doubt it would bring some architectural interest to any houseplant collection.

As a young plant, it's compact and slow-growing, ideal for adding to succulent arrangements or you can style them on their own, filling gaps on shelves and coffee tables. You can find a single 'Pink Witch' aeonium on Amazon.

They readily branch out and make offshoots, which you can either cut off (using these Fiskars gardening snips from Amazon) and pot up to propagate your succulent, or leave them attached for an impactful cluster of aeoniums to display (like this 'Pink Witch' cluster plant from Etsy).

How to Grow 'Pink Witch' Aeonium

The bottom line of caring for 'Pink Witch' aeonium is following succulent care and keeping in mind how to maintain variegated foliage.

Something to note is that this unusual houseplant's dormancy period is actually in summer, where it actively grows through milder fall, winter, and spring months. This is to conserve energy during hot conditions, as tree houseleeks are primarily endemic to the subtropical Canary Islands.

With all of this in mind, you can successfully grow 'Pink Witch' aeonium as a houseplant by following these tips:

• Soil: When it comes to the best soil for succulents, you need to consider their native habitat. 'Pink Witch' aeonium is not a desert succulent, so it needs a growing medium that retains slightly more moisture. You also want it to be well-draining to ensure its shallow roots don't sit in excessive moisture and experience houseplant root rot. Something like a 50/50 mix of this Miracle-Gro succulent potting mix from Lowe's with a regular houseplant potting mix is a good blend.
• Position: While actively growing, you should provide your 'Pink Witch' aeonium with bright light. 'A spot with plenty of access to direct sun is crucial, ideally a south-facing window, and they enjoy being placed outside for the warm summer months,' says Natalia. This will bring out the most vibrant pinks and greens that make this plant so sought-after. Don't fret if 'Pink Witch' drops some leaves during summer, however, as this is typical during dormancy.
• Water: Just like watering other succulents, these beauties store moisture in their fleshy leaves. This means you can allow its soil to dry out entirely between watering. In fact, it's often a preferred method to bottom water and even soak succulents to provide adequate – but not excessive – moisture. The leaves will provide a hint if the plant is dehydrated by going wrinkly. If needed, you can use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to monitor water levels more easily.
• Temperature: Aeoniums are found in coastal regions, coping with temperatures as low as 41°F. But, for healthy and strong growth, 'Pink Witch' thrives in 65-75°F. It's not frost-tolerant, so if you are growing it outdoors in USDA zones 9-11, make sure move it indoors for winter.
• Feeding: While dormant, you should avoid fertilizing your 'Pink Witch' aeonium. But, during its active growth season it can benefit from a succulent fertilizer (like this available from Walmart) once a month. This can boost growth by replenishing essential plant nutrients.

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This is one of the coolest pink houseplants I've ever seen. It has such versatile use, for example you could add it into a succulent terrarium. Our guide to succulent styling ideas has more tips and tricks to turn these charming plants into a botanic spectacle in your home.

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The balcony gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 were packed with inspiration for making a beautiful, relaxing garden in a smaller space. A key feature that impressed me in several of the gardens was maximizing vertical space, which is easily achieved with a simple frame, arch, or trellis.

Vertical balcony gardening offers an ideal way to make the most of a compact space. You can get stunning flowers, foliage, and fragrance by growing perennial or annual climbing plants up an arch or trellis.

The Chelsea designers used novel designs and materials to create their balcony gardens, but you can take inspiration from their work and implement it in your own space. A perfect solution is a modular balcony arch, as it is a lightweight, impermanent structure that won’t add excess weight, plus you can pack it down and take it with you if you move.

Vertical Inspiration from the Chelsea Flower Show 2026 Balcony Gardens

Balcony gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show measure 16 feet by 6 feet, which is around a standard size for an apartment or condo. It gives a comfortable amount of space for some seating and planting, and there is room to be creative to maximize the space and create a beautiful, idyllic balcony – perfect for relaxing with a glass of your favorite tipple.

One way to make the most of the footprint you have is to think vertically. This thinking was perfectly showcased by many designers behind the balcony gardens at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show.

One balcony that caught my eye was ‘The Transient Garden’ designed by Rebecca Lloyd Jones. It featured modular, lightweight vertical structures that added extra height and interest to the garden, with climbing plants growing up and through the black structures.

Elsewhere, different materials were on show to add height across the balconies. Designer May Starey used bold copper pipe structures on the ‘Fettercairn: The Angels’ Share’ balcony garden to provide vertical garden interest. Copper piping was a key feature in the garden, bringing warmth and a modern, sleek contrast against the black containers that housed the planting.

Those two gardens had vertical elements running front to back, but ‘A Little Garden of Shared Knowledge sponsored by Viking’ by Katerina Kantalis did things a bit differently, and super-sized. It featured a long wooden pergola that stretched across the entire length of the balcony. Over this feature grew a grapevine to provide shade and structure.

How to Get the Look on Your Own Balcony

When you have limited space for planting, like on a balcony, a wise design choice is to fill spaces that often remain bare. Vertical balcony gardening includes planting on walls – either by adding a trellis for climbing plants or a living wall to showcase lots of greenery – or using arches or pergolas to grow upwards.

Vertical elements can be added to raised beds or large containers to support plants and let them scramble up. It raises the foliage and flowers and can offer some added privacy, too.

There is such a range of climbing plants you can grow up a trellis. The likes of clematis, jasmine, passion flower, honeysuckle, climbing roses, or sweet peas can all add beauty and fragrance to any balcony.

A fantastic opportunity comes from using a lightweight modular balcony arch or trellis, like this outdoor garden arch at Amazon. In the same way that ‘The Transient Garden’ at Chelsea uses modular pieces due to the mobile nature of modern living, this type of arch offers temporary designs and layouts for a range of climbing plants suited to arches.

This particular product comes with pieces of different lengths (ranging from 8 to 28 inches) that you configure together into a flat arch to fit your space. The structure can reach a maximum of 78 inches in height, 61 inches across, and 96 inches deep – but there is a whole range of creative solutions available to make flat arches of different sizes.

The modular balcony arch only needs to be inserted a mere seven inches into the ground to ensure it is stable. This makes the product suitable for placing in raised beds or large containers on a balcony.

As each tube is less than an inch wide and made from a lightweight material, it is strong enough for climbers, flowers, or even cucumbers or squash plants, without adding lots of weight to the balcony.

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There was so much inspiration to find across the Chelsea showground this year. You can see our guide to the best gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 to get a taste of the treats on offer, along with tips and advice for recreating the look at home.

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The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is held in London every May, and this world-famous flower show showcases the best of horticulture. While some of the sights are quintessentially British (like garden gnomes, which hit the headlines this year), there are designers and growers from around the globe and trends on show that can inspire gardeners across the Atlantic.

I scoured the showground, taking in the sights and sounds of the show gardens on Main Avenue, the container and balcony gardens, and the delights from growers in the Great Pavilion to spot five trends that were everywhere at the show, and are easily implementable in the US.

If you are after some new backyard ideas, there is a bounty of inspiration across the Chelsea showground. Some of the key Chelsea trends for US gardens this year include creating a calming oasis, planting for wildlife, keeping things low-maintenance, and embracing sustainability. Take a walk with me as I pick out some trends that inspired me.

Charming Low-Maintenance Grasses

Across the show gardens, there were lots of ornamental grasses swaying in the spring breeze. They were part of many displays, but of all of them, it was Baz Grainger’s The Killik & Co ‘A Seed in Time’ Garden that showcased these jewels more than any other, with 21 different species of grasses in the design.

Grasses were popular across the showgrounds for their innate ability to bring height, texture, and movement to the gardens, plus they come in a smorgasbord of sizes, shapes, and foliage types. Indeed, there will be a grass for any size or style of garden.

They may not demand as much attention as showier herbaceous perennials, but grasses provide a glorious backdrop. Not only are they stunning, but they are also simple to grow, low-maintenance, and beneficial in a wildlife garden, as birds use them for food and shelter.

This trend can easily be introduced into US gardens. Grasses thrive in sunny yards with well-draining soil; they won’t be happy in dry or waterlogged soil. The good news is you can grow many grasses in containers if your soil type isn’t suitable.

Prairie dropseed grass (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a hardy native grass that is perfect for small gardens or containers. It grows to 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide, with vibrant green foliage that turns golden yellow in fall and is topped with pink-tinted seedheads. You can get a live prairie dropseed plant at Nature Hills.

Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle

Those with keen eyes will have spotted a fair share of repurposed elements across the various show gardens. While the Chelsea Flower Show is renowned for the glitz and the glamor of gardening, the designers do embrace sustainability and try to reuse materials where possible.

From Patrick Clarke embracing ‘wabi-sabi’ – the Japanese philosophy of reusing and transforming discarded materials – and recycling steel rafters in ‘The Children’s Society Garden’, to filing cabinets repurposed as plant containers on Lynn James ‘The Seasalt Painted Garden’ in the container garden displays, gardeners were finding novel ways to give materials a new lease of life.

Copy this idea at home and think outside the box when planning your container gardens. For a more eco-friendly garden, there is a long list of household items to repurpose as unusual planters.

You may fancy upcycling a filing cabinet too, which I thought looked glorious painted a bright blue and planted with vivid flowers. Or why not try planting up old bathtubs, metal buckets, food tins, or even old boots? Repurposing these old items adds real personality to a space and offers a unique alternative to traditional pots.

Just remember to add a drainage hole to any planter to prevent plants from rotting.

Planting for Pollinators and Wildlife

In recent years, interest in wildlife and pollinator-friendly gardening has rocketed. This was again evident across the Chelsea Flower Show 2026, with gardens featuring a broad range of plants to attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds.

There was a plethora of plants for bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and bats across the showground. The likes of verbena, cow parsley, foxgloves, viburnum, and baptisia, for example, were all included in beds and borders.

Some took it even further, such as including specific plants for nocturnal pollinators on Arit Anderson’s 'Parkinson’s UK – A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey Garden', like Digitalis pupurea ‘Alba’ to attract moths, and plants to attract moths and bats on ‘The Bat Conservation Trust’s Nocturnal Garden’.

You can create a pollinator pit stop in a garden of any size – you don’t need a large space to entice lots of wildlife and beneficial insects. The best options are native plants that have evolved over the years to co-exist with your local wildlife.

It is not difficult to start growing for wildlife in your yard. It can be as simple as sprinkling these ‘precious pollinators mixed flower seeds’ from Botanical Interests into your yard. Featuring seeds for 14 different species, most of which are native to the US, you’ll grow an array of plants that are magnets for pollinators.

Create an Oasis With Flowing Water

Flowing and moving water was all over the showground, ranging from thin rills to large pools, and was evident in all scales, from the large show gardens on Main Avenue to the container garden displays.

Creating a calm sanctuary was a common trend throughout the gardens, and the relaxing sounds of flowing water play an important role in creating that oasis. The presence of moving water in a garden is relaxing and reduces stress, and it can provide a vital distraction to loud noises in urban spaces.

It is a trend easily replicable in gardens of all sizes, as there are water feature ideas for yards large and small. For example, a small tabletop garden fountain (such as this cascading bowl fountain at Wayfair) can bring the soothing sound of moving water to a balcony, courtyard, or small garden.

Rainwater harvesting was another trend on display throughout Chelsea. I saw intricate rain chains on show, as designers encouraged people to think about saving rainwater and reducing water waste in the yard.

You can get a matte black lotus flower rain chain at Amazon, which both brings the sound of flowing water to a space and helps with water management, as it can divert water to moisture-loving plants in a rain garden or into a rain barrel for storage.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Mention the Chelsea Flower Show and most people will conjure up images of pristine spaces, manicured to sheer perfection. While that is the case, there was a lot more ‘wilder’ planting and even (say it quietly to not shock the neighbors) weeds in the gardens.

Sarah Eberle’s The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden: ‘On the Edge' garden, for example, had buttercups, milk thistle, and even stinging nettles on display. While these plants are often seen as unwanted intruders, they are great for nature, and native weeds can support many pollinators and beneficial local wildlife.

Elsewhere, cow parsley, wildflowers, ferns, grasses, and groundcover plants were packed into lush borders, alongside self-seeding plants included to bring a degree of longevity to designs.

As well as looser, wilder planting, there were also lots of drought-tolerant plant choices across the gardens to reflect our changing climate. Going forward, gardens need to evolve to suit our changing planet, and climate-friendly choices and natural planting may be the future norm.

If you want more Chelsea inspiration, our guide to the best gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 reveals five of the top highlights – as picked by our Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull – and how you can recreate the styles and elements in your own space.

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The RHS Chelsea Flower Show returned this week to celebrate the very best in horticulture. While the world-famous show takes place in London, I spotted some interesting takes on resilient planting that would work effectively (and look beautiful) in US backyards.

When it comes to boosting garden resilience in extreme weather, it's all about choosing plants that thrive in the most challenging environments and support biodiversity. US hardiness zones vary widely, so creating a bespoke planting scheme that works for your local climate is key to creating a sustainable garden that lasts.

At this year's show, I found so many innovative ways to create a garden that isn't fazed by the harshest US growing conditions. If you're keen to strengthen your garden while giving it a show-worthy finish, here are my top takes.

Drought-Tolerant Arid Planting

If you experience scorching summers, then drought-tolerant planting is probably on your radar to make sure your garden doesn't just dry out wilt away.

While there are plenty of native plants that can cope with hot summers (like these bee balms at Nature Hills), Max Parker-Smith's Journey Beyond the Tracks garden shows it's important to also look further afield.

This garden represents the natural landscape found along the coastal train journey from Adelaide to Perth in Australia.

Speaking to Homes & Gardens, Max says, 'I really wanted to capture the diversity of the landscapes and the environment.'

The planting is largely muted, with sand-loving plants, lots of silver foliage, and pops of blues and yellows, all of which are suited to prolonged drought and poor soil.

'Of course, it's important to prioritize native planting because that's how our ecology has evolved. But, bees and butterflies don't avoid non-natives, they'll take what they can get,' Max says.

Max notes that climate change is making it harder to predict weather and seasonality, so 'the best thing to do is plant a really rich range of different varieties.'

Max points out on of the top drought-tolerant plants he has used is Leptospermum scoparium 'Red Damask' (or New Zealand tee tree).

In the US, this evergreen shrub (also known as Mānuka tree) does well across zones 8-10. From spring to mid-summer, it puts out masses of double pink-red blooms. It loves sandy and loamy soil types, and enjoys direct sun exposure. You can find a Mānuka tree on Amazon.

Another way to help your garden stay resilient in dry and hot conditions is by putting an irrigation system in place to better manage watering.

The Garden in Minutes watering grids allows you to keep entire flower beds and vegetable patches sufficiently hydrated while reducing water waste in the yard, for example.

Architectural Cacti

Landscaping with succulents and cacti is another way to incorporate resilient planting to withstand extreme heat and drought in warmer climes across the US.

At RHS Chelsea, Conservatory Archives' An Ode to Endurance Houseplant Studio demonstrates how these amazing specimens have evolved to endure adverse conditions with strength.

It's covered – indoors and out – in sculptural cacti and succulents of all different silhouettes, placing them in the context of their native arid landscape and styled in the home as modern houseplants.

When looking more closely at each of the plants, you can spot the characteristics that allow them to survive for, in some cases, hundreds of years in their native habitats; fleshy stems store water, sharp prickles protect them from wildlife, and shallow roots allow for faster moisture absorption.

When it comes to incorporating this in the backyard, there's one plant that stood out to me: the felt bush kalanchoe.

It has a unique soft texture, branches into a shrubby form, and it has large triangular leaves. At first glance, you wouldn't necessarily identify it as a succulent at all.

Suited to frost-free environments in USDA zones 9-12, it survives long periods of drought with its moisture-trapping fuzzy foliage. Its silver foliage plays a role in retaining hydration by deflecting sunlight and creating a protective layer.

Reaching an ultimate 3-6ft in height, it can act as a unique drought-tolerant shrub alternative. Just make sure to provide a well-draining, sandy soil.

Container Rain Garden

Rain garden design has become a crucial way for our gardens to cope with excess rainfall and flooding. John Howlett's Gold medal Food Re: Contain the Rain Garden shows how this works in a smaller garden setting.

Inspired by Persian and Moroccan design, this garden is a lush retreat with maximalist patina hexagonal containers and integrated water management features.

By filling containers with moisture-loving shade plants, including ferns, hosta 'Devon Green,' and astilbe 'Deutschland' (which is available as a bareroot plant on Amazon), the garden can cope with lots of water and will remain vibrant rather than discoloring from oversaturation and rot.

This 'Blue Angel' hosta at Fast-Growing Trees is an alternative hosta for a moisture-loving container plant that provides statement foliage.

The fact it's a container garden also ensures soil is less likely to become waterlogged, thanks to enhanced drainage.

I was also drawn to the stunning canopy of Persian ironwood above, which aids water surface run-off and creates privacy in a city garden.

Some hardscaping features are also incorporated in the garden for water management, such as a gorgeous patina rain chain sitting centrally at the back of the garden to slowly direct rainwater downwards, and water storage taking up some of the container space.

This patina lotus rain chain from Amazon provides a similar look. Just take care to avoid rain chain mistakes when installing yours.

Coastal Meadow Planting

Coastal gardens require careful consideration. Chilly, windy conditions and soil with a high salt content isn't ideal for all plants.

But The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine garden by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis put the best coastal plants on display.

The garden is full of salt-tolerant planting to reflect its setting of Morecambe Bay in North West England, with beds of brightly colored coastal meadow plants that don't mind high sun exposure, wind, and poor soil quality.

This is a great way for US gardeners located on coastal regions to achieve a wildflower meadow with flowers that won't fall apart as soon as the breeze hits.

By opting for lots of native coastal wildflowers in particular (like these blanket flower seeds on Amazon), you can support biodiversity and native wildlife.

One the best pollinator plants included in the garden's planting is the vibrant yellow baptisia (you can purchase yellow baptisia seeds from Amazon). Meanwhile, the evergreen Mediterranean saltbush provides subtle silver-gray ovate foliage, robust in drier air and salty soil.

I also love that ornamental grasses, like feather-top reed and quaking-grass (which has unique papery flowerheads) were added to the planting scheme to offer texture and gentle movement, softening an otherwise tough landscape.

You can find quaking-grass seeds on Amazon, thriving in USDA zone 4-10, to add depth to your planting.

Naturalistic Gravel Garden

Something that immediately captured my attention at Patrick Clarke's The Children's Society Garden is the use of gravel in the landscaping.

Emerging from it, wildflowers and plants that don't demand a particularly fertile environment to bloom. It creates a naturalistic look, as if nature has reclaimed the land.

It links directly to the garden's message about resilience and regeneration, with it being set in an urban environment to provide a safe place for teenagers to connect with nature.

Using gravel in gardens like this brings so many benefits in regards to resilient planting. It suppresses weeds, helps retain moisture and regulate temperature, protects against erosion, and more.

The use of yellow, orange, and purple blooms in this RHS Chelsea garden also attracts plenty of beneficial insects to create a thriving ecosystem in otherwise poor conditions.

Some of the plants used include the rusty 'Kent Pride' iris and copper shield fern. It complements the wabi-sabi reclaimed steel water rills that run through the garden, once again aligning with the idea of regeneration.

You can pair this idea with drought-tolerant planting and xeriscaping to create a really low-maintenance flower bed in your yard, saving on both management and watering.

You can even scatter these Burpee wildflower seeds to add lots of low-effort color, as these blooms enjoy well-draining, gravelly soils. Or, create a gravel garden using rock garden plants that thrive in this growing environment.

This is just a handful of the hundreds of inspiring ideas to recreate from the show. Our guide to the best gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 has even more highlights to explore.

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At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week, there was one plant that instantly captured my curiosity: the blue kangaroo paw (or Anigozanthos 'Masquerade'). Perhaps the rarest plant to spot at the show this year, it intrigues with teal-blue tubular blooms.

Located on the Journey Beyond the Tracks: From Adelaide to Perth Garden, this exotic beauty sits low to the ground. It's a close cousin of the standard red kangaroo paw (which is available as starter plants on Amazon), so it's incredibly resilient, thrives in the hottest climes, and even bounces back from wildfires.

For those living in USDA zones 9-11, it's a striking perennial to consider, or you can opt to grow it as a colorful annual in cooler climes. Plus, it's nectar-rich and a great hummingbird magnet in summer.

What is Blue Kangaroo Paw?

The blue kangaroo paw originates from Western Australia, though it doesn't occur naturally. Rather, 'Masquerade' is a hybrid of the standard kangaroo paw and is considered the first true blue flower kangaroo paw to ever exist.

It blooms from late spring through summer, complemented by its blue-green sword-shaped foliage.

On Max Parker-Smith's RHS Chelsea garden, your eyes are drawn to its bright color amidst the arid and earth-toned growing environment. It makes for a vibrant focal point in border planting.

It's clump-forming and compact in height, typically reaching around 20" tall, just like other varieties such as the burgundy kangaroo paw (which is available on Amazon).

Blue kangaroo paw is a remarkably drought-tolerant plant and is a great pick for fire-resistant plants, thanks to its fleshy, moisture-retentive stems and the fact its rhizomes are protected underground. After wildfire damage, it can regenerate with fresh new growth quickly.

Over time, it spreads through rhizomes, though this is slow, controlled, and non-aggressive.

How to Grow Blue Kangaroo Paw

The blue kangaroo paw can be grown across USDA zones 9-11 as a hardy perennial. In cooler regions (zones 2-8), some gardeners grow it as an annual, or you can bring it inside to overwinter.

Due its bright nectar-rich tubular blooms, it's proven to be effective at attracting hummingbirds when grown in the US.

Here are some top care tips if you're thinking about adding the blue kangaroo paw (or indeed other varieties, like this pink kangaroo paw plant on Amazon) to your garden:

• Soil: This plant thrives in sandy, low-nutrient soil types, though it does require good drainage to prevent root and rhizome rot. If your garden soil is heavy and doesn't drain well, it's best to grow blue kangaroo paw in raised beds and containers. You can also mix in horticultural perlite (available at Lowe's) to improve drainage further.
• Light: To maintain that unique blue hue, full sun is essential for blue kangaroo paw. It needs 6-8 hours of direct sun daily to produce stronger stems and to flower more prolifically. In lower light, the blooms and foliage may become paler.
• Water: During its first growing season, you should water this plant regularly to help it establish. It then becomes quite drought-tolerant, so you can allow it to dry out between watering. This is especially important to stop root and crown rot, though you should water deeply weekly during hot spells in summer.
• Fertilizing: Blue kangaroo paw is a light feeder, so an all-purpose feed can be damaging. Instead, you should look for a fertilizer low in phosphorus which is suited to Australian plants, supporting healthy growth without being overpowering. This sulfate of potash feed from Amazon is a good option. You should apply it in early spring, just as the growing season begins.
• Deadheading: You can deadhead blue kangaroo paw as blooms fade to encourage another flush of flowers. When doing this, use sharp pruning tools (like these gardening snips from Lowe's) to cut at the base of the flower stems.
• Overwintering: If you live in cooler zones, it is possible to grow blue kangaroo paw as an annual or you can bring it indoors to protect it from frost during winter. Maintain bright light wherever you move it too. A conservatory and a greenhouse are excellent locations for this.

Growing the likes of blue kangaroo paw is one of the best ways to boost garden resilience in extreme weather. You can also incorporate methods to reduce water run-off in the yard, including using a French drain.

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As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show opened it's gilded gates for the 2026 show yesterday, the tone was one of understated, quiet elegance. And I am fully on board.

Overall, a more muted palette ran through the gardens, with gentle, serene swathes of planting in colors that didn't shout, rather, stood resiliently in stiu, reinforcing the ever-poignant messages within the garden designs.

Despite a more soothing pace, there will always be an overwhelming level of inspiration, detail and design to distil at RHS Chelsea, so I've done the work for you. I have narrowed down everything I saw to five of the very best gardens, and the ideas and design elements you can take from each of them to recreate beautifully in your own outside space.

Retro Balcony Styling at its Very Best

The two most important things about a garden design (that tell me instantly whether or not I love it) is how it makes me feel (I want to feel inspired, safe, calm, cocooned in nature), and how easy it is to recreate at home. I need it to be attainable in some way.

A Little Garden of Shared Knowledge, designed by Katerina Kantalis, gave me a sense of nostalgia that I wanted to wrap up in a cozy blanket and carry all the way home with me.

There are so many elements to inspire and emulate from this balcony garden design, from the vintage wicker chairs (I found an elegant dupe at Ikea) to the beautiful, comforting collection of terracotta pots, just like this set of three I found at Amazon.

The shelf styling, however, has to be my favorite thing about it. I immediately wanted to create a potting bench with hooks and retro ceramics, covered in potted pelargoniums.

I found a rather quaint retro clock, from Amazon, to start my collection. And this is a lovely pot rack with hooks also from Amazon; I adore this idea for displaying gardening tools in a more aesthetic way.

Despite being designed with a retired couple in mind, this London balcony garden could work for all ages. Anyone with a passion for retro, nostalgic styling, and who wants to create a botanical sanctuary in an urban setting would feel right at home here.

A Little Garden of Shared Knowledge won Gold, and Best Balcony Garden at this year's show.

Unexpected Water Features

Within the Parkinson's UK show garden, A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey, designed by Arit Anderson, winds a gentle, curving water feature that I could not take my eyes off.

Water features were a prominent theme across many of the Chelsea gardens this year, but in this one it was elevated above the planting, flowing gently from one section of the to another.

The tactile 'hand rill' was designed to give sensory cues to people with Parkinson's to help aid movement. There's no denying the sound of flowing water can help to relax and sooth us in a garden, and this particular feature got me thinking about how we can add water features into our yards at different heights.

I love the idea of this hanging solar bird bath fountain, available from Amazon, which you could hang from a large potted tree on a patio.

The Parkinson's UK garden won a Silver medal at this year's show.

English Courtyard Charm

The Whittard of Chelsea Garden, designed by Ollie Pike and awarded Gold, is a courtyard garden design with an utterly joyful, romantic feel, packed with comforting scent and sound.

One element I absolutely love in this design are the enormous planters, which are a bold addition in such a small space. It's encouraging me to make more confident choices and go bigger with my patio design.

I found these incredible galvanized metal planters from Wayfair, which would make a statement when planted with bushy roses or dominant evergreen shrubs, such as fatsia japonica, which you can find at Amazon.

In this garden, these eclectic planters are not only used for shrubs and flowers, but also as statement water features, adding to the retreat-style feel.

Earth Tones with Soft, Gentle Planting

Muted tones and soft planting were a feature throughout this year's show, but nowhere better than within The Lady Garden Foundation, 'Silent No More' garden, designed by Darren Hawkes, and awarded Gold.

Before I read anything about this garden, I could sense that the planting, which sways from pastels and neutrals to more powerful tones of rich apricot and burgundy, was reflective of the power and poignancy this space conveys.

Designed to embody the fearless women's gynaecological health charity, Lady Garden Foundation, the feeling I got when looking into this garden was one of quiet resilience.

The planting combination would be simple to recreate. To get this look and feel, mix bold bearded iris in apricot and burgundy tones, such as the exquisite Iris germanica 'Bernice's Legacy' from Nature Hills, with pastel pink astrantia major, and Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low', available from Fast Growing Trees.

Winding paths and intimate seating areas also featured strongly, as spaces to have honest conversations and foster connections.

If you have a larger backyard, consider adding seating within the space, not just at either end of it. Look for curved shapes to create flow and movement, such as this curved, whimsical metal bench from Wayfair, that would fit beautifully around the perimtere of a mature tree.

Moroccan-Inspired Courtyard Idea

Having recently been to Morocco, I was eager to find a way to incorporate the beautiful Moorish elements of courtyard design I'd seen there into my own yard.

I was instantly drawn to the Flood Re: Contain the Rain Garden, designed by John Howlett, for the amount of depth created in such a small space.

Inspired by Persian design, this garden transforms a small urban space into a serene retreat, an antidote to modern city life, and a sustainable oasis. The hexagonal planters help to maximise every inch of space here, and the tropical planting creates a lush canopy, which would also help to create shade and keep the space cool during the hottest months of the year.

For tropical monstera plants, look no further than Fast Growing Trees. And Burpee has a beautiful range of ferns for shade and sun.

The copper patina rain chain feature was my favourite style element. You can find a similar rain chain design at Target. I also love this hummingbird rain chain design from Amazon.

The Contain the Rain Garden won Gold at this year's show.

Look out for more Chelsea Flower Show content from our team this week, as we continue to distil our thoughts and verdicts on this year's inspiring designs and plant finds, such as the rare blue kangaroo paw – an amazing, resilient plant you will want to learn more about.

And if you love inspiring garden ideas, outdoor advice, and the latest news, why not sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox?

It's not every day that the King of England meets Queen rock royalty, but it was the case at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show press event yesterday.

For over a century, the festival has been the crown jewel of the British summer social calendar. Since first opening its gates at London's Royal Hospital grounds in 1913, it has evolved into one of the most revered celebrations of all things horticultural. With the celebration comes the collision of worlds – from the British royal family to footballers and Sex and the City stars.

The clientele at Chelsea's press day is truly as eclectic as the gardens it showcases – our unmissable spots are listed below.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla

As the Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, King Charles III's presence at Chelsea was historic but not surprising.

Far from being a passive spectator, he was hands-on throughout the showcase, with his charity, The King’s Foundation, co-curating the 'Curious Garden' to inspire a new generation of growers.

After inspecting rare varieties of his favorite flower (the delphinium), the King tested the scent of the newly debuted 'Sir David Beckham' rose alongside Beckham himself, using the global prestige of Chelsea to remind the world of the profound joy of living in nature.

David Beckham

David Beckham attended the festival as an ambassador for the aforementioned King’s Foundation.

The former footballer teamed up with King Charles, celebrated British gardener Alan Titchmarsh, and designer Frances Tophill to champion 'The Curious Garden', a space that features seven raised plant beds in homage to his iconic number 7 jersey.

As mentioned, the event also marked an emotional milestone for the star with the launch of the 'Sir David Beckham' rose by David Austin Roses. The rose variety in question is a white-bloomed one inspired by a touching 50th-birthday request from his daughter, Harper. Unfortunately, it's currently only available in the UK via David Austin, but you can still shop for more beautiful roses from the same brand in the US. My favorite is the Queen of Sweden, available at Walmart.

Kim Cattrall

Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall and her husband, Russell Thomas, married at Chelsea Old Town Hall last year, but they returned to the West London neighborhood to visit 'The Boodles Garden' designed by Catherine MacDonald.

Judi Dench

Dame Judi is a frequent attendee of Chelsea, and 2026 was no exception. A lover of trees and wild landscapes, she spent time exploring the Campaign to Protect Rural England garden and spent time with King Charles.

Judi stood alongside the Monarch to admire the space's centerpiece, an 11-meter figure of 'Mother Nature' carved from a fallen giant Sequoia tree. Both reportedly agreed the artwork was completely 'extraordinary'.

'My ultimate celebrity sighting at Chelsea this year was the incomparable Judi Dench,' comments our Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull, who was in attendance.

'I have admired her work for as long as I can remember, and standing a few feet away from her as we both admired the King's Foundation Curious Garden was an unforgettable moment.'

Monty Don

As one might expect, Monty Don was in attendance at Chelsea to lead the BBC's Gardeners' World evening coverage.

The broadcaster anchored the nightly slots on BBC Two alongside co-host Rachel de Thame, keeping viewers updated on medal announcements and emerging garden trends.

Brian May

You might not expect Chelsea to attract rock royalty, but Brian May suggests otherwise.

The Queen guitarist joined a lineup of celebrities participating in the temporary lifting of Chelsea's 'gnome ban' to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. He decorated a custom garden gnome, naturally complete with a guitar, that's currently on display inside the King's Foundation Curious Garden.

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Joining the main royal contingent, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh were spotted touring the exhibits, prompting speculation that she was hunting for new additions to her own garden.

Those who keep up with the family may know it has been a busy horticultural season for Sophie, who recently collaborated with Landform Consultants to design a display for the upcoming Royal Windsor Flower Show.

Mary Berry

Another frequent Chelsea attendee, Dame Mary Berry, was seen exploring the exhibits, as she has over the last decade.

Alongside reviewing the gardens for the upcoming 'People's Choice Award', the Great British Bake Off icon also lent her artistic skills to the event by painting a custom garden gnome to raise money for the RHS school gardening campaign.

Shop Homes & Gardens' Planting Edit

You can be an ocean away from Chelsea but still feel inspired by its beauty. I love these classic English garden picks to channel its quintessential style in even the smallest of yards.

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The Royal Horticultural Society has unveiled 13 gardens that will be on display at the Chelsea Flower Show 2026, and they're all set to wow with abundant blooms, innovative designs, and important messaging.

On May 19-23, the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London will once again be taken over by the world-renowned and much-anticipated showcase of horticulture. Just like the Chelsea Flower Show 2025, astounding garden ideas will be presented by some of the very best garden designers – including an unexpected return from RHS Chelsea veteran, Sarah Eberle.

This sneak peek of the show reveals garden themes that will touch on everything from sensory garden design, to igniting a gardening passion in youth, and the recovery nature can provide in a whole host of circumstances. Here's what we know about the gardens so far.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026: First Look at 13 Gardens

'This year our amazing RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens demonstrate the transformative benefits of gardens and gardening. They take a re-energised and uplifting approach to creating special places that highlight hope and resilience and where everyone can feel the restorative power of plants and wildlife,' says Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows.

'There is a focus on individual empowerment and personal choice to benefit nature and our world and a host of inspirational gardening ideas to ignite the excitement of all those who love gardening,' she adds.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 tickets are now on sale.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Gardeners

The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine Garden by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis will celebrate young adults building skills to work in horticultural industries, contributing to building a brighter future. Central to the design will be a solar-powered structure, alongside salt-tolerant plants, aligning with its setting of Morecambe Bay on the northwest coast of England.

The Children’s Society Garden by Patrick Clarke aims to inspire young people to get involved in horticulture, with many features to encourage gardening with children and teenagers. It will draw inspiration from the Japanese concept of 'wabi-sabi', the recrafting of discarded materials.

Celebrating Japanese Planting

The Tokonoma Garden – Samumaya no Niwa, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara and Paul Noritaka Tange will be set in a Japanese courtyard. With plenty of Japanese garden plants, visitors will be invited to come into the space to connect with and appreciate traditional Japanese garden beauty.

A Toast to British Landmarks

The Tate Britain Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith will demonstrate how art, nature, and community intertwine. It will later be relocated to the Tate Modern museum in London, providing a new green space for Londoners and tourists to enjoy.

The Boodles Garden by Catherine MacDonald is inspired by the long-adored features that sit within the four Historic Royal Palaces, including The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. It will be abundant in romantic planting, with a focus on jewel-toned colors.

Gardens for Rest and Recovery

Parkinson's UK – A Garden for Every Parkinson's Journey by Arit Anderson sets out to be a wellbeing garden for those living with and assisting those with Parkinson’s. It will feature jewel-toned perennials and annuals for an energizing feel.

Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden by Angus Thompson will be a woodland garden, intended to provide space for those with respiratory struggles to connect with nature. It will include pine trees, known for their natural antioxidant and immune-boosting qualities.

Lady Garden Foundation's 'Silent No More' Garden by Darren Hawkes will be a garden honoring individuals diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer. A meandering path will guide visitors through abundant borders, while the space encourages discussion around these cancers.

Resilient Gardens in all Settings

The Campaign to Protect Rural England: On the Edge designed by Sarah Eberle will focus on the overlooked countryside at the edge of towns and cities. It will center around a fallen tree that continues to support life, showcasing nature's resilience.

Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City garden by Joe and Laura Carey will highlight how small urban gardens stitch together cities. London's status as the first National Park City will serve as a base for the garden.

The Killik & Co. 'A Seed In Time' Garden' by Baz Grainger will present a modern, resilient garden that uses heritage crafts to promote wildlife, sustainability (including rainwater harvesting), and biodiversity for garden futureproofing.

An Outback Expedition

Journey Beyond the Tracks: From Adelaide to Perth by Max Parker-Smith will take visitors on a journey from Adelaide to Perth. Half of the garden will recreate the Western Australian outback, while the other half reflects the urban oasis of the National Park City of Adelaide.

Tackling Hunger Together

Trussell's Together Garden by Rob Hardy will reflect the importance of food banks and how people come together to support those in need. This theme of togetherness will be expressed through intersecting paths and bright, joyful planting.

If you're planning to attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, you can start preparing with our guide to the Chelsea Flower Show for first-time visitors.

Don't forget to also tick off your fall gardening checklist now with the below tools, so your own garden is in full bloom around the time the show takes to our TV screens:

If you are on the hunt for balcony garden ideas, then this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was the place to be - there was inspiration in abundance.

A plethora of gardening trends were on display this year. The cottage garden theme seemed to dominate the aesthetic narrative across the show gardens; however, head over to the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 balcony gardens, and something distinctly different was on display.

I spotted some of the familiar best balcony plants, and some unanticipated, seemingly unlikely plants, too. With such little space to work with, every minute detail was expertly considered and calculated to maximise the potential of the square footage available. The limited space available certainly has its drawbacks, and you might think it an almighty hindrance for the garden designers. After studying the balcony gardens at this year’s show, though, I was struck rather more by its possibilities than its limitations.

6 emerging balcony garden trends from this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Planting for wellness seems to be the overriding theme amongst all the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 balcony gardens, and I spotted some emerging new trends for balcony gardens that soothe, rejuvenate, restore, and in some cases, rewild us, even in an urban setting. Here, I’ll shine a light on the trends forecast to change the way we think about our balcony gardens.

1. Planting for a rapidly changing climate

Gone are the days when the seasonal variations in weather were fairly consistent. Now, the extreme weather gardeners face is becoming more apparent, and gardening is more challenging as a result.

As such, a recurring theme across several of this year’s balcony gardens at RHS Chelsea was the intentional implementation of resilient planting designs that can cope with the intensifying climatic extremes.

Drought-tolerant planting could be seen across almost all of the balcony gardens, and there was strategic use of plants that cool walls and microclimates, like Jasmine, English Ivy, and Virginia Creeper.

As well as planting with the climate in mind, the C6 Garden, designed by Joshua Fenton, took things even further, and the design was focused on carbon sequestration, being able to sequester over 1200kg of carbon, as well as water recycling, achieved by slowing down and storing 450L of rainwater.

The idea is that the garden can offset one’s carbon footprint, and despite this sounding like a strictly utilitarian garden, in which function has been prioritised over form, the design itself is resoundingly pretty and perhaps the most romantic of all of the balconies this year. Proof that in this time of climate variability, an outdoor space can thrill just as much as it functions.

2. Fill, thrill, spill

If you want to keep things beautiful, simple, and uncluttered, with large, well-structured pots, then the ME&EM City garden was the perfect source of inspiration. It was a pared-back, sophisticated city balcony garden without fuss or ostentation.

Some Chelsea staples, like Heuchera, Astrantia, and Salvia, make it very easy on the eye, particularly as they, and several other balcony gardens, follow the fill, thrill, and spill rule that many of us use when filling planters.

Essentially, you want to pick three plants: a thriller, a filler, and a spiller. The 'thriller' is the protagonist here, and should bring all the drama. It can be tall, colorful, and take center stage. The 'filler' offers a supporting role and fills up the mid-level space. The 'spiller' should trail over the sides of the container - a whimsical, romantic, cascading element.

This trend was apparent across many show gardens and is certainly one to take heed of if you are designing a balcony garden, or generally on the lookout for small garden ideas.

3. Incorporating water in the design

Including at least one water garden idea is one of my non-negotiables in a garden. This rule still applies in the tiniest of outdoor spaces. Since wellness is the overarching theme this year, it comes as no surprise that water was used in many of the balcony gardens, since water is so beneficial to our overall well-being.

The Navium Marine: Blue Life Garden explored our deep connection to water as humans and the positive impact it has on our wellbeing. A truly beautiful part of the garden, and certainly one to copy if you’re looking for small balcony ideas, is the ripple-effect cladding at the back, which mimics the flow of water. Its effect is instantly soothing, grounding, and nurturing.

If you think water features are reserved for large gardens and grand sweeping terraces, it looks as though the tide might be turning on using water above ground level. Of course, using a water feature with a pump built in is paramount, but with many now made with fiberglass or polyresin, and designed to look patinated and antiqued, making your little oasis in the sky is entirely possible.

4. Wildlife gardening

Planting a garden for pollinators is a joyous and wonderfully rewarding thing. Butterflies, moths, bees, and hoverflies all need sources of nectar and pollen to thrive, so choosing particular plants for pollinators is the key to laying out a feast for them.

This can all take place in a limited space, as proven by the Making Life Better with Bees garden, which featured several incredible bee habitats, including traditional English and African beehives, and even took the theme so far as to use planters repurposed from honey barrels and beehives.

The plants used in this garden, such as Agapanthus, Chives, and Kniphofia (known as red hot poker), all attract pollinators to the garden. The trend for focusing on wildlife and pollinators, as if designing it with them in mind first and foremost, was very apparent this year.

Successively plant pollinator-friendly flowers to ensure there's a constant supply of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators, and include plants and features that support bees and biodiversity, such as Achillia, Echinops, or Sedums. To draw inspiration from this bee-friendly garden, you might want to make a bug hotel, provide water sources, and, if you're inclined to tolerate it, leave areas of the garden unmown.

5. Strike the perfect balance with your planting

To my mind, one of the prettiest balcony gardens at this year’s show was the A Space to Read Balcony Garden sponsored by Viking. The plants chosen to feature in this garden were expertly selected, and anyone planning a balcony garden can take inspiration from this simple, yet effective method of plant selection.

The skill lies in choosing plants with long flowering periods for a long season of interest, and I spotted several of the longest-flowering perennials in the balcony gardens for this very reason.

The tricky thing about container gardening on a balcony is that you cannot easily swap out plants seasonally. With this in mind, perennial, long-flowering plants are the best bet.

A Space to Read Balcony Garden used Geranium sylvaticum 'Album' for example, which the designers Freddie Strickland and Ben Gifford said they chose for this precise reason, and its long flowering time makes for a perfect balcony plant.

Cornus Kausa ‘Milky Way’ was another plant I saw several times across several show gardens, including this one. It is an ideal plant for a balcony because it flowers in spring and summer, bears fruit later on in the year, and then provides good winter structure.

All this is not to say that annual flowers, with their short but sweet burst of color, should be exempt.

In the ME&EM City Garden, I was delighted to see sweet peas. Despite being annuals, they’re 'cut and come again', so they flower superbly throughout the summer months, as you keep cutting them to take indoors in jars or vases. The designers chose the older grandiflora varieties, which provide a heavenly scent unlike anything else.

It is this combination of selecting your mainstay plants that provide year-round interest or form, and shorter-lived but thrilling plants, that makes for a layered, interesting, and ever-changing balcony garden.

6. If there is limited space, go up

Komorebi is the Japanese word for that beautiful dappled sunlight that comes through the leaves of trees. Experiencing this light in the forests in Nagano in Japan, the designer wondered if the same beauty could be experienced from the most unlikely of garden spaces - a balcony.

The Komorebi garden is a great example of pushing the boundaries and presumptions about balcony and container gardens, and totally shifting the perception of size and scale of the space.

One of the recurring themes at RHS Chelsea this year was, if you can’t go out, go up. This is a useful maxim; if the diameter of the space you have is working against you, consider planting upwards, as opposed to outwards, should the sky, quite literally, be your limit.

The trend for planting trees on balconies is going nowhere and has reshaped our view of balcony gardens altogether. What perhaps once was a space reserved for a small window box of petunias can now be a whole garden, an oasis, and a sanctuary away from the prying eyes of the public.

Playing with scale in this way can have a powerful effect. There are some excellent trees for small gardens worth considering, and these silver birch trees (Betula pendula) are perfectly suited to this area, particularly as they don’t block out too much sunlight.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 balcony gardens remind us that great design needs neither grandeur nor ground, and limited space isn't a boundary, it's a brief. To discover more inspiration from the show, see our guide to the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 houseplant trends.

Last week at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, I was once again wowed by the hundreds of fabulous plants and garden ideas on display. One nursery that gave me some food for thought was Kent Wildflower Seeds, whose display celebrated the beauty of mixing wildflowers with cultivated perennials.

This isn't a common way to create a wildflower garden, but I have to say Kent Wildflower Seeds' Gold Medal-winning floral display at Chelsea was breathtaking – true cottage garden galore. It integrated wildflower favorites like poppies and meadow buttercups with perennial staples like briar roses and honeysuckle, and the result was an abundant display that brought the countryside landscape into the garden.

It's a beautiful idea that sparks some rethinking about wildflowers, much the same as gardeners have been increasingly rethinking weeds. Here, Charlotte Denne of family-owned nursery Kent Wildflower Seeds explains why the segregation of wildflowers and cultivated perennials should be stopped and how 'if you treat wildflowers in the way you treat the perennials in your garden, then they will respond in kind.'

Can I plant wildflowers with perennials?

There are a few reasons why many gardeners avoid planting wildflowers in borders and flower beds alongside their reliable perennials. The most obvious being, wildflowers are technically 'weeds' that can self-seed and take over a space if not managed, competing with perennials over nutrients and other resources.

However, Kent Wildflower Seeds' Charlotte Denne says it's just a case of approaching these plants differently in order to plant wildflowers and perennials together harmoniously.

Tend to wildflowers as you would perennials

When planting a wildflower meadow or patch in your yard, you can stop them from spreading to unwanted spaces by keeping on top of deadheading and pruning. This is exactly why Charlotte encourages gardeners to add them into borders with other plants:

'People tend to worry that wildflowers will engulf their gardens and take over. Like a lot of perennial plants, if you give them the freedom to spread, they will, but with a little management, they are easy to tend, even the more bullish ones like oxeye daisies,' she says.

Popular wildflowers, like foxgloves, cornflowers, and oxeye daisies, are known for self-seeding profusely and without using essential pruning tools (like these bypass shears from Amazon) to remove faded blooms, they typically crop up elsewhere in the yard in the following spring.

But, simply keeping on top of this and not allowing the plants to go to seed once blooms start to fade will help maintain a neater look, if that is what you wish to achieve.

Alternatively, you can embrace wildflowers growing across your yard and collect seeds to sow again next year. Use these seed packets from Amazon for your seed storage.

How to plant wildflowers and perennials together

Adding wildflowers among your planting is an excellent way to start rewilding your yard, but Charlotte urges you can also have a more controlled approach if desired:

'I’m not suggesting people take out their existing planting and replace it with 90% wildflowers, but I think we should look to the catalogue of native plants to complement our favourite cultivars.

'For example, add cowslips and primulas to borders. They are early flowering, bringing color to your garden at the start of the growing season, and support pollinators at their most challenging time of year,' she adds.

With this mindset, it can also be beneficial to embrace the wildflowers that appear without you planting them. You can identify wildflowers by their petals, stems, and foliage, and research how best to tend them.

Alternatively, scatter wildflower seeds – like this butterfly and hummingbird wildflower mix from Amazon, or this annual wildflower mix from Amazon – to achieve a meadow in your yard.

Allowing wildflowers to thrive in your yard will actually also boost soil health for those perennials you have chosen to be there. This is thanks to them 'improving the sequential cycle, which in turn encourages more plants to establish,' explains Charlotte.

This is a process called nutrient cycling, where the often deep taproots of wildflowers bring nutrients from deep in the soil higher up for surrounding perennials to soak up – one of the reasons to leave dandelions in the yard.

FAQs

Can I just scatter wildflower seeds in my border?

To add wildflowers to a border, you can just scatter seeds. Although, for best results it's wise to first prepare the soil. This includes lightly raking it to improve seed-soil contact. Something else to take into consideration is the soil type in your yard and which wildflower seeds will perform best in your border. Make sure to also keep the seeds well-watered after scattering to aid germination.

If you do decide to plant wildflowers and perennials together, consider making wildflower seed bombs. They're a fun way to quickly add a wide range of wildflowers to your yard.

Climate change poses a huge threat and may lead many gardeners globally to rethink what plants they grow and how they grow them. At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, one garden highlights climate-resilient crops and innovative solutions that may become more commonplace in the face of rising temperatures, extreme weather, and drought.

The Garden of the Future was designed by award-winning designers Mathew Butler and Josh Parker, supported by the Gates Foundation. The edible show garden includes many crops grown in challenging conditions by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia today. These climate-resilient crops offer a glimpse into what could become more commonly grown globally as the temperatures warm.

As a former professional gardener who specialized in growing edibles, I am intrigued by how vegetable gardens will change in the face of climate change, and what drought-tolerant vegetables we may see more frequently in the future. So I took a tour of the Garden of the Future with one of the designers and picked five climate-resilient crops on show that may be more common in our future plots.

A Garden of the Future

In the face of climate change, growers worldwide face a future with higher temperatures, periods of drought, and more extreme weather.

The designers of the Garden of the Future strive to showcase how existing solutions and innovations currently being used by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia may become more commonplace globally, through their show garden set in the near future.

As well as climate-resilient crops, ornamentals, and edimental plants, the show garden features edible plants with multiple uses, no-dig garden beds, an edible hedge for foraging, solar-powered pumps, and innovative rainwater harvesting and storage systems.

I explored the show garden with Josh Parker, principal designer and horticulturalist, to discover more about the inspiring, practical and functional space.

He highlighted lots of climate-resilient vegetables picked to showcase unique potential future crops to growers, along with companion planting techniques put in use, innovative technologies on show, and plant supports made of coppiced materials.

5 climate-resilient crops that impressed

There was so much to enjoy and unlock from the Garden of the Future, but I want to highlight some climate-resilient crops that stood out to me, as they offer huge potential to growers going forward.

As growers around the globe face dealing with climate change, and potentially rethinking the crops they grow year after year, maybe the time has come for more gardeners to add these plants to their kitchen garden ideas?

1. Millet

Millet (Sorghum bicolor) is a tall grass grown for grain, and it has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is a superfood packet with protein, fiber, iron, zinc, and calcium that thrives in hot climates. Millet is a heat-loving alternative to other grains like wheat, barley, or oats.

This drought-tolerant and climate-resilient crop is an annual plant, and different varieties can grow from two to five feet. Pearl millet and Browntop millet are popular types grown globally for the nutritious grain.

Millet is planted in late spring once the temperatures warm to 70°F, and the crop is harvested in late fall once the seeds head dry. It needs to be dried and properly stored in a cool and dry place to prevent fungi or spoilage.

2. Sweet Potato

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) has become increasingly popular, even fashionable, in recent years, and there are varieties in shades of white, yellow, purple, or orange.

If you want to grow sweet potatoes, and are after a more drought-resistant variety, then the garden’s designers recommend new varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, which they claim are eaten by over 6.8 million households in Africa and South Asia.

‘They are biofortified with vitamin A and able to withstand hotter, drier climates, so they have become a crucial resource for farmers and communities globally,’ they add.

You plant sweet potatoes once the soil temperature reaches above 65°F, and the crop needs a long growing season. They want 12-16 weeks to develop, and the time to harvest sweet potatoes tends to be from early September to October.

You can get 'Vardaman' sweet potato tubers at Burpee, which is a compact variety that produces potatoes with a golden skin and red-orange flesh.

3. Chickpeas

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) are a staple food for smallholder families, and this climate-resilient crop, also known as garbanzo beans, can be simple to grow.

Growing chickpeas is recommended as the plants are very water-efficient, not requiring much water during the season, and the peas themselves are packed with nutrients and vitamins.

Chickpeas love sunshine and well-draining soil. Plus, as they only grow to 18 inches tall, they can be grown without the need for a vegetable garden trellis or support, unlike many other peas.

They are sown directly into the growing position in spring and tend to be harvested around 100 days later.

4. Pigeon Pea

Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) is maybe not a well-recognised crop in many corners, but this plant, popular in the cuisines of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, deserves to be better well-known.

‘Due to its drought tolerance, pigeon pea is becoming a powerful grain legume crop for promoting food security across Africa, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas,’ says the designers.

‘This climate-resilient crop has been found to improve soil health by fixing nitrogen in the soil and produce quicker harvests for farmers.’

Pigeon pea plants have a high tolerance for heat and are ideal crops for US hardiness zones 9 and above. They are commonly grown as annual crops, but can grow as perennials, and, once established, may not need watering.

5. Cowpeas

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), also known as black-eyed peas, are confusingly beans rather than peas. The designers describe them as ‘one of the longest cultivated crops on the continent of Africa’ and the beans provide nourishment for feed and livestock, hence their common name.

Cowpeas are a fast-growing, climate-resilient crop ideally suited to hotter US hardiness zones. They can be planted in spring, once the soil temperature surpasses 65°F, and thrive in a sunny spot with fertile, free-draining soil.

The crop will tolerate warm and dry periods and can either be harvested as snap beans after around 60 days, or left to swell and harvested as dried beans at around 90 days once the pods dry on the vine.

Shop climate-resilient crops

Another climate-resilient crop that featured on the Garden of the Future was fava beans, but this is one crop already popular with growers around the world. One reason for its popularity is that growing fava beans is simple, whether you plant them in the ground or grow fava beans in containers.

Plant fava beans in the fall or spring, and the cool-season legume will give a reliable crop of beans in mid-spring to summer. Start harvesting fava beans at the base of the plant and simply twist each pod from the plant.

Wellbeing has been an increasingly prominent theme at the Chelsea Flower Show in recent years as more research emerges around the huge positive impact of gardening, plants, and nature more widely on our overall wellness. This year, designer Hamzah-Adam Desai showcases how to harness color therapy in the yard in his MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden.

When it comes to garden design to improve mental health, there's a lot to be said for incorporating colors that evoke calming, restorative, and happy feelings. In this Silver Medal-winning Container Garden, Hamzah Adam Desai has created a color wheel of planting, starting with green foliage, through to purple and pink blooms, and finally yellow and orange plants. 'The idea is you can sit in a specific area of the garden to look at the colors for the mood you wish to feel,' he tells me.

They key lesson to be taken from this garden is that some of the best plants for mental health are linked to specific colors psychologists say are known to have certain effects on the mind. Speaking with Hamzah at the MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden on Monday, I found out more about the workings of color therapy and how you can use color in the garden for wellbeing.

What does color therapy look like in the garden?

Whether you're looking for mood-boosting ideas for gardeners in winter or want to create a safe, calming environment in a memory garden, it's worth considering how color therapy can be used in the yard.

'In the Western psychology of color, certain colors have certain meanings and they can be beneficial to wellbeing and mental health. I wanted to do something that would incorporate all those colors in a garden context, but without mixing up the colors, to showcase their different impacts' Hamzah explains.

Garden colors to make you feel calm

If you have lots of purple plants or perhaps a pink summer border in your yard and instantly feel tranquil when stepping into your garden, it's likely explained by your mind's perception of these hues.

'Color therapy works by tapping into how our brains respond to different colors. Different colors evoke different emotions. For example, blues calm us, green gives us a sense of renewal, and yellow lifts our mood. Using these colors in a natural, garden setting can be helpful from an emotional standpoint,' says Krista Walker, mental health professional from The Ohana Luxury Addiction Treatment Center in Hawaii.

'Purple is supposed to be a quiet, restful colour, as well as encouraging creativity,' Hamzah describes while pointing out plants like Salvia nemorosa 'Cardonna' and Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' in his garden.

In his show Container Garden, Hamzah has positioned the purple hues quite centrally. 'I’ve done it in a way that so you can sit in a particular area of the garden to see certain colors.

'For example, you can position yourself to see the purple plants with orange in the distance, or choose another spot to only see the purple if you wish,' he explains.

Not only has color therapy been used in this garden, but also color theory. 'Purple and orange are complementary colors after all,' Hamzah adds.

In the yellow and orange section of the garden, I spot Erysimum 'Apricot Twist,' Heuchera 'Marmalade,' and even ornamental grasses like Carex oshimensis 'Evergold.'

'It's not just about the flowers, I have looked at leaf color as well. I've used purple leaves, green leaves, grasses for texture,' Hamzah explains. 'I have chosen shrubs with interesting colors, too. Nandina domestica 'Obsessed,' for example, will have coppery-red color in spring and then in winter it will have beautiful red tips,' he adds.

The backdrop of Hamzah's design is very green, as evergreens like star jasmine can be seen climbing. In the green section itself, there are ferns like Crytomium fotunei and Polystichum aculeatum.

'Green is a color of nature, but also a restorative color,' Hamzah notes. 'I’ve added pops of plants with silver foliage so on a gray day those silvers can really be joyous,' he adds.

With a relocation of the garden planned for Haven House Children's Hospice in Essex, UK, Hamzah has created a space full of color to promote positive mental wellbeing for patients.

You don't need a large garden for colorful planting

Something else Hamzah is keen to emphasize is you don't need the biggest garden space to reap the rewards of having color in the yard. Whether you just have a container garden, balcony garden, or even an indoor garden, there are lots of opportunities to incorporate color in the garden for wellbeing.

'The idea of 'soft fascination' is about gently viewing nature and colors of nature for just 40 seconds. It allows our brains to rest and recover, and small spaces allow you to do that with ease,' Hamzah says.

It could be as simple as having a planter box or hanging basket in view from your home office; something to gaze over to relieve stresses of the day.

'Sometimes we look at plants and colours and we don’t know what they’re doing to us, but they are having a huge impact,' Hamzah adds.

It's isn't all about plants, though, as Krista Walker notes: 'Colorful planters, a bold mosaic bench, or painted fences can also help set the right mood.'

Add color to your yard with these beautiful planters

3 colorful plants to promote positive wellbeing

Just like harnessing fragrance in the yard for wellbeing, there are some plants that make for better choices than others when it comes to incorporating color in the garden for wellbeing. Here, Hamzah shares his top three plants from the MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden:

1. Lamium 'White Nancy'

• Hardiness: US hardiness zone 3 to zone 9
• Best for: Shady planting

'My absolute number one is Lamium 'White Nancy',' Hamzah says. 'On a gray day it can really cheer me up because its silver foliage is so beautiful, almost shining like Christmas decorations,' he explains.

This fast-growing ground cover plant is a great choice for woodland garden ideas. 'It grows well in shade among ferns,' Hamzah notes.

For an option with the same silver foliage but rather purple flowers, try planting Lamium 'Purple Dragon' (from Nature Hills).

2. Erigeron karvinskianus

• Hardiness: US hardiness zone 4 to zone 9
• Best for: Filler plants

'The Erigeron has to make the list because it's such a nostalgia garden plant with daisy-like flowers and colors. It reminds me of my childhood,' Hamzah says.

This is an underrated plant that is perfect as a filler in borders and containers alike. It's also a fantastic plant for pollinators, ideal for a wildlife garden.

You can grow this plant using these Erigeron karvinskianus seeds from Amazon.

3. Erysimum 'Apricot Twist'

''Apricot twist' has really beautiful flowers that last for a long period of time. These could still be flowering into November, ideal for pop of color in winter,' Hamzah says.

You can grow wallflowers to provide colorful interest from spring to fall, as Hamzah points out, and this variety is bright orange in hue to bring joy to the yard for many months. They're ideal as spring flowers for pots and borders, plus they're perennial so will return each year.

Use these orange wallflower seeds from Amazon to get a similar look in your yard.

FAQs

Which houseplants can you use for color therapy?

There are many houseplants you can use for color therapy. For example, the best red houseplants, like anthuriums and moon cacti, are thought to be energizing. Meanwhile, the best blue houseplants, like echeveria succulents and blue star fern, are known to have a calming effect. Of course, the green leafy foliage of the best tropical indoor plants, like monstera and pothos, can leave you feeling rejuvenated also.

The MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden showcases just how impactful color choices in the yard can be. Next time you're thinking about updating your garden color schemes, consider which hues will turn your outdoor space into a sanctuary that leaves you feeling brighter.

Color is a very powerful thing, and no more so within the breathtaking garden designs at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. There was one garden that really stood out for me this year owing specifically to its rich and bold, yet somehow sensitive color palette, and that was The Glasshouse Garden, designed by Jo Thompson.

Whenever I step into a garden, I am always searching for how it makes me feel – I want to connect with the planting. Walking into The Glasshouse Garden, the combination of deep reds, burgundy, and rich magenta, alongside softer apricot and peach tones provokes an immediate sense of power and strength. A place of possibility and vigor.

This is no coincidence. The theme of the garden is second chances through horticulture, and it was designed to offer a space of sanctuary and opportunity for female prisoners reaching the end of their sentences. Whilst maintaining a comforting, secure place of solace, the garden and the color scheme within it exudes strength, symbolising the incredible power of nature when it comes to changing lives.

Harnessing power with plant color

This garden was created for The Glasshouse, a social enterprise that supports women who are coming to the end of their prison sentences. Its mission is to reduce reoffending through horticultural training and employment.

Speaking exclusively to Homes & Gardens, Jo Thompson explains how the planting choices were inspired by the prisoners she met whilst designing the garden, and draw on the idea of strong beauty.

‘I didn’t want to make a pastiche of a feminine garden,' she says. 'I didn’t want it to be overtly pastel, so I opted for these strong colored flowers and roses with real depth to them. We’ve got Rosa ‘Alfred Colomb’, 'wild rover' – an open flower which wildlife adores – 'Tuscany superb', 'Emma Bridgewater', and then many deeper fuller roses as well.’ Rosa 'nuits de young' being one of them, with its dark, dusky maroon blooms that are almost velvet in appearance.

The roses are interspersed with softer perennials to give a relaxed, cottage garden feel such as geum, astrantia and foxgloves, as well as flowering shrubs such as Deutzia x hybrida 'Strawberry Fields'.

For structure, Jo says instead of choosing ‘sharply manicured taxus, we went for loosely cut copper beech domes instead’, which also weave those deep burgundy shades throughout the space.

Sanctuary in nature

The central structure in The Glasshouse Garden is an elliptical glass pavilion with a bronze frame, created by Hollaway Studio. It emerges from cascading foliage, achieved with beautiful Zelkova serrata, river birch, and hawthorn. The structure is designed to offer women a private and calm space to connect or reflect in the garden.

‘When I met the women on the programme they really challenged my preconceptions of what being in prison might be like, and they talked very much about the deprivation of nature; having no link to nature and not being able to see anything through windows apart from brick walls,’ says Jo.

‘When I was talking to the women, this notion of strong beauty struck me; I wanted to create a place for them that was immersed in nature, hence this elliptical pavilion opening up into a garden, but that can also close off and offer a safe space.

‘When closed the doors are made of semi opaque recycled acrylic, so you can see through but you can't see people’s faces.’

With no front or back, the lightweight building invites visitors to enjoy the garden, explains the Holloway Studio team, encouraging exploration from every angle. Its curved form allows the garden to slowly unfold as people move around the space, creating an ever-changing experience.

How to get the look in your own garden

When recreating a bold, rich color scheme such as the one in The Glasshouse Garden, it’s useful to know a little bit about color theory. If you choose a deep red rose, for instance, think about all the different shades of flowers within the red spectrum that could grow alongside it – this might be anything from burgundy to salmon, to the palest of pink. Then you can combine the jewel tones from within this spectrum and soften it using a few subtle touches of the paler, warm shades such as peach and apricot.

Jo explains how this relates to The Glasshouse Garden: ‘The river birch trees were chosen because of the pinks and browns in the bark. Same with the zelkova, chosen for their dark stems which create a highlight against the planting, but also work really well with the bronze of the pavilion.’

Jo advises to think about structure within the garden, too: 'whether it is the copper beech or another structural planting within a border, then think about a choice of shapes.

'Here we have the umbels of the Pimpinella major 'Rosea', starry dots from the Astrantia major and aquilegia, and within that we dotted lots of round, soft poppies,' she adds.

The Glasshouse Garden proves you can still achieve a romantic and soft, cottage garden look even when incorporating a color scheme that commands attention. By combining large, round textures with ethereal umbels, and opting for copper foliage to blend the moodier elements of your color scheme with structural planting, you'll be well on your way to an elegantly designed garden with a subtle yet certain commanding presence.

Shop stylish gardening essentials

No garden seemed to court more divisive discussion ahead of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 than the Avanade Intelligent Garden, or the AI Garden, as many people shortened it to.

Showcasing how technology and gardening can come together at times of climate change, the ‘intelligent’ show garden contained a lot of technology and innovation without being intrusive. However, when you delve deeper and start communicating with the trees using the web-based app, you truly see the game-changing potential.

So, what can we learn from this technological showcase, and is this how AI in gardening will help us care for trees and plants in the future? To decide for myself, I toured the garden with the technology lead and spent some time interacting with the trees to see what they had to say.

What is the Avanade Intelligent Garden?

The Avanade Intelligent Garden was brought to life by designers Tom Massey and Je Ahn. The show garden is based on the concept of an urban forest garden, featuring a mix of climate-resilient plants and trees. It is on the prestigious Main Avenue at the show and received a highly coveted Gold medal from the judging panel.

The garden has an atmospheric woodland garden feel. It features the likes of trilliums, hostas, geums, primulas, and many more, under a canopy of productive trees and shrubs, including Chinese pepper, jujube, and medlar.

The garden was designed to support urban trees. They offer benefits to humans by filtering air pollution, providing shade, and supporting wildlife, but they are not always well-supported themselves, with 50 per cent not surviving 10 years and 30 per cent perishing within their first year.

To show how things can be done differently in the future, and help the trees cope with threats, including climate change, the intelligent garden is equipped with sensors so an AI assistant can consistently monitor data and help the trees survive.

Ahead of the show, Tom described it as ‘a unique opportunity’ to address plant health, sustainable water use, and gardening in a changing climate. He added: ‘I am excited to see how AI can assist gardeners to help make a meaningful impact that will help us all garden and grow more sustainably.’

What technology is integrated into the garden?

The AI elements garnered a lot of attention in the build-up to the show, so I strived to find out more. I was fortunate to spend time with Devon Young, the experience delivery manager at Avanade, who led the design and development team that delivered the AI on the show garden.

Devon talked me through the technology the team integrated into the garden and how it helps to support the trees, plus the potential future uses. There are smart sensors on 12 trees within the garden, along with other soil, air, humidity, and temperature sensors, as well as sensors to track pollinators visiting the garden.

However, you aren’t aware of all the technology at first sight. Devon highlighted how the tree sensors are ‘mostly concealed’ – though some are purposefully placed more prominently so visitors can see them – so the technology isn’t front-and-centre to distract from the overall garden experience and atmosphere.

The sensors are small and could be easily hidden away on trees or shrubs in an everyday garden. The low-maintenance ePlant tree sensors being used can go into any plants with stems at least an inch thick to monitor their development, and have a multi-year lifespan. Plus, the ones on the show garden are powered by solar panels with a lifespan of at least 15 years.

‘The sensors track everything from tree growth and moisture to soil conditions, air quality, and weather,’ says Devon. ‘The technology behind the garden uses Microsoft Azure to manage sensors, process data and run AI models efficiently.’

An AI assistant monitors all the information from the trees, including growth, irrigation, humidity, stress, and temperature, and relays information back through an app, showing how the tree is faring. It essentially allows you to talk to the trees and find out how they are doing and what, if anything, they need.

All the information from the various sensors, plus air quality data and weather patterns, is analyzed and interpreted to provide simple maintenance advice for the gardener to follow.

The developers worked closely with Tom Massey, to ‘pick his brains’ as Devon explained it, so the AI is trained with specific information on each tree's requirements and can relay care advice in an easy-to-understand and jargon-free way.

The app can tell you if the plant is struggling, needs moisture, or is leaning following a storm. And it can warn of over- and underwatering, as well as provide further maintenance tips. For example, as the sensors are also linked to weather data, it can tell you whether it is better to water the garden now or wait for any incoming rain to do it for you.

The show garden focuses on supporting urban trees, but Devon claims the technology is designed to be ‘scalable and sustainable’. It could be used from backyards to estate management, as gardeners globally have to future-proof their gardens against a changing climate.

What have the trees been saying?

After speaking with Devon, it was time to talk to the trees. They revealed issues with low growth, watering, and high humidity, but did provide helpful maintenance tips to rectify their problems.

The Chinese pepper (Zanthoxylum simulans) said it needed more watering as it was still establishing roots.

The tree recommended: ‘Aim for deep watering to the root zone, particularly in the early morning or late evening. It's also important to keep the soil moist, so if it starts to dry out, please water me appropriately. Additionally, adding mulch around my base can help retain moisture and regulate temperature.’

The Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) said it was experiencing ‘high humidity and high soil moisture’ that needed addressing. ‘You should check the soil moisture; it’s currently high, so it's best to pause watering until the top few centimetres dry out,’ it advised.

The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) said it faced ‘a few challenges’ and needed help to improve its growing conditions. ‘My growth status is low, which isn't ideal,’ said the tree.

‘The temperature is normal, but the humidity is quite high at 93%. This high humidity is not in my preferred range and could affect my health. I'm also experiencing high soil moisture at 43.5%, which could lead to potential drainage issues if it does not improve.’

Another tree struggling with moisture issues was the purple-leaved walnut (Juglans regia 'Purpurea'). Not only did the tree reveal its growth rate was ‘negative’, but it indicated signs of ‘stress or difficulties establishing roots’.

‘Right now, the soil moisture is high, which can also contribute to reduced growth if it leads to poor drainage,’ said the tree. ‘Cease watering and check drainage.’

Is this the future of gardening?

Understandably, utilizing AI and technology in this way in a garden may not be for everyone. However, I think there are tangible benefits of using technology, whether it is automated irrigation, gardening apps, or, in this case, sensors and AI.

You don’t need to fill a garden with sensors; a few choice pieces of technology can help you make well-judged maintenance decisions and nip potential problems in the bud.

When chatting to Devon and other key technology partners in the garden, it definitely comes across how they feel gardening needs to move with the times and embrace such innovation.

They mentioned, in particular, the new generation of younger gardeners and future generations. AI and apps are the norm for these people, so they will embrace these technological innovations. But what about the rest?

I believe there is a wider appreciation for how technology can help gardeners. And the key point here is that it is not about replacing gardeners with robots, or even adding more automated systems, but about interpreting data and giving practical advice to help people keep their plants alive.

It can be discouraging when you lose plants, and this can help prevent that from occurring. The sensors can identify and reveal problems in their early stages, when they are easily preventable and before things get worse. This has the potential to help newer gardeners build confidence and understanding with their plants.

To some, there may be a worry about a garden full of obtrusive technology that takes away from the look and peaceful feel of a space. However, this garden trend can be barely noticeable. Sensors and moisture meters can be seamlessly hidden out of view, and no wires or cables are needed.

All of the technology on the Avanade Intelligent Garden is currently purchasable and likely to become wider-reaching in the future. It is the next step from using moisture meters, which measure temperature and pH as well as moisture, to help you make sensible decisions about when to water plants.

Welcoming technology and AI with open arms can help us preserve our trees and plants, and this is worth embracing. At a time when climate change continues to put extra pressure on gardeners and plants, we have to garden more sustainably and flexibly to protect our trees.

If you are after more inspiration from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, we have also taken a closer look at both The Pathway Garden and the Karoo Succulent Garden from this year’s event.

Chelsea Flower Show is a place of spectacle. Big budgets, big names, and even bigger gardens. And, while all of that is present this year, one garden quietly stands apart, telling a story that hits harder than anything else on display.

The Pathway Garden, designed and created with people who have experienced homelessness, is visually striking, yes, but it is the meaning behind each element that makes this corner of the showground my favorite. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need to. Every detail tells a story of exclusion, struggle, support, and, crucially, hope. It reminds us that gardens aren't just beautiful. They can be a lifeline. A radical act of care.

There’s always a lot of talk about calming and sanctuary garden ideas at Chelsea, but for me, The Pathway Garden feels different. More honest. From the reused and reclaimed materials to the thoughtful, resilient planting, everything here has a purpose. There’s no frill for the sake of it. No gimmick. Just a powerful celebration of second chances and the natural world’s capacity to heal.

A garden of transition

The first thing you notice in The Pathway Garden is what you can’t see. The view is obscured. The path bends awkwardly, lined with stone boulders found on one side. It’s not the neat symmetry or visual punch we’ve come to expect from Chelsea Flower Show design trends, but that’s the point.

Designed by Allon Hoskin and Robert Beaudin from the award-winning design studio, Modular, every element is intentional. The asymmetric layout and limited views echo what it's like to be homeless: confusing, uncertain, isolating and full of barriers.

But walk further, and things begin to change. A bench appears. Then, an inviting pergola. The path widens. There’s water, dappled light, a sense of movement and shelter. It’s a garden of transition, echoing what Pathway, the charity behind the space, helps people to do.

This garden isn’t linear, and neither are the lives it represents. It’s a design rooted in real stories. Layered, lived-in, shaped by struggle, survival and hope.

As Gareth, one of the Pathway team with personal experience of homelessness, puts it: 'Like a person, a garden with the right TLC can become a space of creativity and expression… beneath the foundations can be a way of supporting diversity, improving the quality of a day and bringing joy to others.'

Networks of care

In the heart of The Pathway Garden are found strange, almost otherworldly sculptural forms: towering structures made of mycelium, the underground fungal network that supports and sustains forest ecosystems and the world under our feet. Easily, this is one of the most unusual additions to Chelsea Flower Show 2025.

These columns represent support systems and networks that hold people up when they are at their most vulnerable. Doctors, nurses, advocates and support workers, all working together to help people move from crisis to care.

As Alex Bax, CEO of Pathway, puts it: 'We want to use The Pathway Garden to remind people of the profound health inequalities faced by people experiencing homelessness, as well as the opportunities that exist to create sustainable solutions to this problem.'

The fact that these eco-friendly garden structures were grown from reclaimed waste from last year’s RHS Hampton Court Show only deepens the symbolism. Nothing is lost. Everything can grow again. Everything can be renewed.

A sustainable garden built to last

Everything in The Pathway Garden has been considered. No virgin materials, no concrete, no waste. Materials have been reused, reclaimed, grown, or gathered, from the mycelium towers to the timber detailing of the pergola.

As designer Allon Hoskin says: 'This garden is about sustainability at every level.'

And it is. Sustainable in build, but also in spirit, built by many hands, designed to last, and ready to be passed on.

Indeed, the journey of The Pathway Garden doesn’t end at Chelsea. After the show, the entire garden will be relocated to the Shekinah Centre in Plymouth, a community hub supporting people experiencing homelessness.

There, it will live on as a real sanctuary. A space of recovery, rest, and reflection.

Resilient and native planting

The planting in The Pathway Garden includes a palette of tough, mostly native species that thrive in shade and can take care of themselves. This isn’t high-maintenance gardening. It’s impressive and thoughtful, yes, but also replicable at home, too.

At the show, I spoke with Manzoor, a Pathway volunteer who has himself experienced homelessness, who told me how involved the team was right from the beginning, visiting the nurseries where the plants were growing, right through the planting in the last few days.

In the space, one multi-stemmed common hazel, or Corylus avelana, as well as cut-leaf alder, or Alnus glutinosa 'Laciniata', provide dappled shade and structure in the space.

Below these trees, several species of fern can be found, including the airy goldie's fern and the glossy-leaved hart's tongue fern, both of which are resilient woodland plants for darker gardens.

Hosta 'Purple Heart' as well as the delicate yellow flowers of barrenwort, or Epimedium × versicolor 'Sulphureum', gently line and tumble onto the asymmetric paths, while Iris siberica offers upright pops of purple. Sprawling geraniums meander through it all, softening the edges of the design.

Even the resilient Virginia creeper, or Parthenocissus quinquefolia, a famously tenacious vine, is here. Softening the vertical surfaces of this lush, green space.

The Pathway Garden reminds us that gardens are not simply places to grow beautiful plants. They are also places that can grow and heal people, and perhaps that is the most important and hopeful lesson of Chelsea 2025.

You can find out more about Pathway here.

The Pathway Garden was sponsored by the grant-giving charity Project Giving Back. You can find out more about Project Giving Back here.

Recreate the look with woodland plants

The Chelsea Flower Show 2025 is in full swing and I was fortunate enough to visit on Monday. While it's no surprise that the Show Gardens amazed yet again this year, my attention was equally captured by the sheer talent found at the Houseplant Studios. Here, designers show the possibilities for creating an abundant indoor garden, bursting with shapely, colorful foliage. From innovative ways to display houseplants to unique varieties taking center stage, there were a few standout houseplant trends that caught my eye this week.

Of course, houseplant trends come and go, but some stick around for years and even make a comeback. The Chelsea Flower Show 2025 houseplant trends portray just that, with some returning reliable indoor plants that are unlikely to ever go out of fashion, as well as some new ideas I'm convinced will wow in any home.

So, if you're a houseplant enthusiast like me, you'll want to check out these trends that are already exciting the houseplant community. They're all easy to recreate, too, so you can give your houseplant display a touch of Chelsea.

5 houseplant trends from the Chelsea Flower Show 2025

One of my Chelsea Flower Show tips for first-time visitors is to make time for the Houseplant Studios. Tucked away behind the Show Gardens, there really is so much to discover. This year didn't disappoint, with Chelsea Flower Show 2025 houseplant trends oozing creativity and new ideas for indoor gardens of all sizes, shapes, and growing conditions.

1. Ferns, ferns, ferns

If there's one type of plant that sticks out in my mind from the Houseplant Studios this year, it's the best indoor ferns. More specifically, the beautiful blue star fern, pictured above at Hugo & Green's The TerrariROOM (Silver Medal).

Blue star fern is one of the best blue houseplants, with leafy fronds that might initially trick you into thinking it isn't a fern at all. The best bit? These ferns are some of the best indoor low light plants, ideal for indoor gardeners with limited natural light.

As the name of The TerrariROOM suggests, it very much feels like stepping into an actual terrarium full of these gorgeous ferns. Hugo & Green style them around the perimeter of their display, as well as on their living wall.

Having so many houseplants positioned close together like this is also a great way to increase humidity for indoor plants – something ferns benefit from in particular.

Get the look by shopping for a blue star fern at Walmart.

2. Giant kokedama

Kokedama is one of my favorite Japanese garden ideas. It's a solution to display hanging plants using a moss ball and works well in indoor environments for a wide range of tropical indoor plants.

I can honestly say I have never seen something so magnificent as the giant Monstera deliciosa kokedama pictured above. Suspended from a tree next to Hugo & Green's display, this was a truly a statement piece.

Monstera is a good choice for kokedama because the moss retains moisture and releases it gradually to the plant's aerial roots. Speaking of which, the roots dangling down past the moss ball here has shapely beauty in itself.

But it wasn't just monstera on display in this fashion. Babylon Beats by James Whiting (Gold Medal) displayed some large peace lilies in a moss container reminiscent of the kokedama style.

Try making your own kokedama with your houseplants using this sheet moss from Amazon.

3. Cascading air plants

More and more indoor gardeners have become intrigued by the unique habit of air plants, and Chelsea Flower Show 2025 houseplant trends confirm their popularity continues to rise.

Pictured here, Babylon Beats uses Tillandsia Usneoides (or Spanish moss) all along the roof of its studio, cascading down elegantly. This type of air plant is a popular bathroom plant, as it likes to soak up excess moisture. It can also grow well in US hardiness zone 8 to zone 11, often positioned to hang down from tree branches.

Spanish moss and other air plants can be spotted throughout the Houseplant Studios this year. They're very low-maintenance, ideal for the busy indoor gardener who doesn't have lots of time to tend to plants.

When growing Spanish moss (from Walmart) or other air plants, take care to avoid air plant mistakes.

4. Houseplants for outdoor bedding

This is a Chelsea Flower Show 2025 houseplant trend that will only really work for gardeners in warmer climates, but the impact of styling houseplants in this way is undeniable.

A lot of houseplants are just tropical plants that have become popular to grow indoors where outdoor climates don't allow for them to grow. But, if you have the right local climate for houseplants, why not try recreating the above look from Laura B’s Paper Plant Studio?

Small houseplants like fittonias, kalanchoes, tradescantia, and coleus can be perfect fillers in raised garden beds and borders. You could even try using them in a thriller, spiller, filler container for your yard.

Of course, you need to make sure your local climate provides the right growing environment for these plants before planting them in your yard. Alternatively, move houseplants outdoors for summer and bring them back inside in time to protect from frost.

This fittonia pack from Walmart can get you started.

5. Sculptural succulents

Indoor succulents will never go out of style. They're ideal for filling empty spots on windowsills and larger varieties can be even grown as indoor trees to make a statement in your home.

Succulents with weird and wonderful shapes are found throughout the Houseplant Studios this year. Pictured here, The Victorian Arid House by The Plant Rescuer X RHS has a wide selection of some of the most architectural succulents on offer.

From flowering echeveria (from The Sill) to jade plants, and more structural succulents like tree houseleek, the possibility for growing succulents in the home is endless. Of course, you do have to take care to avoid succulent mistakes, like overwatering, to be successful with them.

Sculptural succulents are found beyond the Houseplant Studios, too, as the Karoo Succulent Garden celebrates some of the most unique succulents that make up the landscape in the Karoo region of South Africa.

FAQs

What are the best houseplants for beginners?

Some of the best houseplants for beginners include spider plant, snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos, and peace lily. All of them are easy indoor plants that require little maintenance, can cope with some neglect, and bounce back quickly from common issues. There are also some worst houseplants for beginners to avoid, including orchids and calatheas which are notorious for being fussy and tricky to care for.

The Chelsea Flower Show Houseplant Studios are a great place to visit if you're a houseplant lover and in need of some fresh inspiration for your indoor garden ideas. If you are attending the show this week, don't forget to check out our guide on what to see at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025.

Deep in the heart of South Africa lies the vast, arid, semi-desert region of the Karoo. This unique mountainous, rocky, and sandy landscape is home to impressive vegetation made up of rare and recognizable succulents alike. This week, this special environment can be found right in the middle of London at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 – and I had the pleasure of stepping into it yesterday.

Created by the show sponsors The Newt in Somerset, the Karoo Succulent Garden is a truly breath-taking snapshot of the Karoo's biodiverse, harsh growing environment. With my own heritage lying in the Western Cape of South Africa, it was particularly warming to see some of the best type of succulents from 15 plant families celebrated at the biggest gardening event of the year. They stand out as some of the best architectural plants, with quirky shapes and growing habits that make them living sculptures.

From towering quiver trees to tiny gem-sized lithops, the way in which these plants have adapted to survive in such adverse conditions is captivating. I was fortunate enough to sit down with estate architect at The Newt and designer behind the creation, Katie Lewis, and The Newt's head gardener, Harry Baldwin, to find out more about the fascinating plants of the Karoo Succulent Garden. Here, they share all on the native habitat of these succulents and which of these plants can surprisingly be added to backyards in milder regions of the US and UK.

What are succulents of the Karoo?

When we think of landscaping with succulents and cacti, we tend to see images of hot, dry regions with little rainfall, and that's exactly what the Karoo region of South Africa is like.

Working on the garden alongside Katie Lewis was Ernst van Jaarsveld, master botanist at The Newt's South African sister estate, Babylonstoren.

'Ernst and his team took me out to the Karoo so I could see and experience the landscape and the plants. We went to the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden and a few nurseries out there, and it was this visit that really shaped the show garden,' Katie says.

At Chelsea, visitors are invited to take a walk through a six section garden, representing different aspects of the Karoo. The whole installation is eye-catching, rich in the red hues of sand and rock used for landscaping.

'One thing I took away from the trip is the sculptural nature of the rock formations with the plants. It’s not just the plants and its not just the landscape that make up this region, it’s the combination of the two that give it its signature look,' Katie explains.

I was intrigued to set off on my Karoo journey at the show, starting with an astounding display of the 'quiver tree forest escarpment', housing unmissable quiver trees and aloe trees.

'We secured some mature trees for the installation, some of them are 47 years old and are more than three meters tall,' Katie says.

On the opposite side, a 'quartz field plateau' displays more than a thousand tiny succulent varieties among pieces of white quartz which glisten in sunlight. Here, I found lithops (or living stones) of different colors and string of pearls, as well as lesser known succulents like baby's toes and horse's teeth.

'This is to represent the quartz fields in the Karoo with its gem-like succulents. One thing I took away from there is the crunching sound of the ground. When you looked down, these tiny succulents were everywhere, so you had to be very careful where you walk,' Katie says.

Continuing through this African landscape at Chelsea, I came across the 'butter bush' and 'fan aloe hill'.

'This is where rocks go into an angular formation. To further enhance this architectural shape, we use both butter bush and fan aloe here. The fan aloe has leaves that form a fan shape and butter bush has really juicy, fat stems and apple green leaves,' Katie describes.

It isn't all about sun-loving plants, however, as there are also plenty of shade plants displayed at the Karoo Succulent Garden.

'The 'shady shale cliff face' is covered in lots of trailers and huggers which are more shade-tolerant,' Katie says. Here you will find the likes of string of hearts, elephant bush, pig's ear, and more of all unusual shapes and names.

This cliff display also showcases a collection of 12 types of rocks from South Africa. Each one plays a part in building the landscape in the Karoo, affecting the soil type and therefore what can be grown there.

The Karoo Garden finishes with an incredible interactive rock formation. Set up as a natural piano, the rock is high in metal contents, resonating when it is hit. Surrounding it, the 'euphorbia mound' houses succulents like jade plant, vibrant flowering ice plant, and African milk barrel.

The garden also has a bulb display area, full of haworthia and gasteria succulents on manmade quiver trees.

Thriving in a harsh environment

The way in which these succulents have adapted to this habitat is fascinating:

'The living stones live in cracks of rock and are flush on the ground to minimize exposure to sunlight and prevent leaf scorch. They have a protective waxy coating to also reflect sunlight, stopping them transpiring so quickly,' Harry Baldwin explains. 'There's also mist on the quartz fields which lithops retain moisture from.

'But it isn't just the environment they have adapted to. Euphorbias have milky sap to deter predators, for example,' he adds.

Which Karoo succulents can be grown at home?

For many people living in much milder, wetter climates than Africa, it seems impossible to create such drought-tolerant planting. But, Katie and Harry note that it is actually very possible to incorporate many Karoo succulents to your yard and indoor plant displays.

'Succulents can be so easily grown at home., it's actually a lot more basic than people tend to think,' Harry says. 'Of course, these plants want some requirements, dry and sunny generally speaking, but you just need to take into account you don’t need to water succulents all the time. Some people assume that when they’re dry, they need water immediately,' he adds.

For Harry, the Karoo Succulent Garden is a chance to show the possibility of indoor succulents, and indeed those for outdoors, go beyond those you find in supermarkets and retailers.

'They can be as big as small oak trees, like the aloidendrons on our 'quiver tree forest',' he says.

The larger succulents of the aloe trees can actually grow in the warmest US hardiness zones of 9-11, but there are also Karoo succulent options for those living in a climate as cool as zone 4 or zone 5.

'We have some ice plants (pictured above) which are hardy, surviving down to around 14°F,' Katie notes as an example. 'They're fine in a sheltered spot, so long as they're in a well-draining soil for succulents, but they are certainly suitable for outdoors and some are great as bedding plants,' she adds.

Of course, a wide range of Karoo succulents can be grown in an indoor garden, too, protected from excessive rainfall and too-cold temperatures in line with succulent care.

'Visitors will also see succulents they will recognise as houseplants, which will be interesting to see in their natural habitat, like mother-in-law's tongue, lithops, and haworthias,' she adds.

Get the look

FAQs

Can you grow Karoo succulents from seed?

Many succulents found in the Karoo region of South Africa can be grown from seed fairly easily. This includes aloe, jade plant, and living stones. Of course, you have to be patient as succulents are slow growers. But, by providing plenty of sunlight and managing moisture levels and warmth, you can grow these plants from seed successfully.

The Karoo succulents I witnessed at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 are some of the most beautiful in shape, texture, and color I have ever seen. They have adapted to harsh growing environments in fascinating ways and it's exciting to learn many can grow in milder climates too.

If you are planning to add some of these enticing plants to your yard or home, make sure to avoid these succulent mistakes that may hinder your success with them. The most important thing is to create an environment that works for the specific type of succulent you wish to grow.

To cut back asters in the fall or wait for spring - that is the question. Gardeners often prefer one method to the other when it comes to when to cut back asters. If you are yet to commit fully to one stance or are new to growing asters and looking for guidance, we are here to help you decide.

Asters are one of the best perennials for providing blooms in late summer and early fall. Their daisy-like flowers are adored by gardeners and pollinators alike and there is a wide selection of native North American plants or European aster varieties to choose from for any backyard ideas.

After a stunning display, asters naturally die back for winter. There are potential benefits to both timings for cutting back asters. When you wonder if you should cut back asters in the fall, our guide gives a clear picture of the options available and why you may favor either method.

When to cut back asters - fall vs spring: how to decide

The choice of when to cut back asters often comes down to the gardener’s personal preferences or style, while the US hardiness zone and other local conditions can also be contributing factors. As long as the task is done in either fall or spring, it is completely down to you when you cut back your asters.

The reasons to cut back asters in the fall

Asters bloom profusely throughout late summer and early fall, bringing abundant color to any flower bed ideas. Asters benefit from regular deadheading throughout the summer to prolong their flowering display, but the plants will start to fade as the temperatures drop at the end of the season. The foliage dies back and those once-colorful blooms transform into brown seed heads, that become tufty as they mature.

Gardeners who strive for a neat and manicured backyard will add cutting back asters to their fall gardening checklist, as trimming perennial plants before winter tidies up the flower bed and removes straggly foliage or plant debris.

Unless you have meticulously deadheaded all the spent blooms throughout the season, you may have quite a few old flowerheads remaining on the plant. Asters are self-seeding flowers that can spread around the yard. Therefore, cutting back in the fall can prevent the plant from dispersing seeds around the garden.

Disease prevention is another reason to cut back asters in the fall. Kiersten Rankel, a plant expert from the Greg app, explains removing existing diseased foliage ‘prevents issues from persisting through winter’ and cutting back in fall may be beneficial in certain areas.

‘If you live in an area with high humidity or where fungal diseases are common, it's often better to cut asters back in the fall,’ says Kiersten. ‘Trimming them down to about 6-8 inches above the ground after the first frost can help prevent disease issues and keep your garden looking tidy. This also makes spring clean-up a bit easier.’

Removing old plant debris around the garden can prevent pathogens or pests from sheltering and overwintering in old foliage or stems and causing problems when they reappear in spring. The likes of leafhoppers and caterpillars are aster pests that can overwinter in old stems and foliage around previously infested plants.

Cutting back asters in spring can benefit wildlife

Asters are fantastic plants for pollinators, as their flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects throughout the blooming season. Their benefits as part of wildlife garden ideas can extend past their flowering - and that is the prime reason many people choose not to cut back asters till spring.

As Michael Clarke, a horticulturist and the founder of Yardwork, claims: ‘Asters are a major food source for pollinators as they fuel up for winter migration and hibernation and therefore they should be left in their natural form in the fall and through the winter and cut back in the spring.’

Not only are the seedheads a great food source, but the stems and seedheads can also provide shelter for other wildlife. Leaving asters standing will also add visual interest to a winter garden, as the tall stems and seedheads provide structure and look dazzling when tinged with frost.

Furthermore, Kiersten Rankel adds how adding the task to a spring gardening checklist means ‘the standing foliage can also help insulate the plant's crown from harsh temperatures’ and protect the aster from damage during winter.

If you live in very cold regions, in addition to leaving the foliage to protect the plants from frost, mulching around plants with straw can protect the aster’s roots from the harsh winter freezes.

Tools for cutting back asters

FAQs

Can asters be Chelsea chopped?

‘The Chelsea Chop’ is a phrase commonly used to describe cutting back perennials to coincide with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Cutting back perennials in late May or early June can promote bushier and more upright plants that flower profusely. Asters are a perennial to cut back in June, especially taller varieties that can get leggy and start to flop later in the season. Chopping them back by up to a half promotes lots of side shoots to carry flowers and removes the need to stake plants.

If and when you cut back asters in spring, it can also be an ideal time to divide plants. Clumps of asters will expand over the years, they may get too big for their space and their vigor may decline after 3-5 years. Knowing how to divide plants allows you to easily split the clumps to get more asters and rejuvenate older clumps to keep them performing for years to come.

Book shelving units have long offered the opportunity to showcase our personalities in ways beyond our favorite titles – but how many pieces are too many pieces for our shelves? Take Chelsea Handler, who suggests there is no limit to the pieces in which we should exhibit.

The comedian has filled her anti-minimalist bookshelf with countless titles and other personal artifacts, including a framed map and a large gemstone that appears to double as a decorative book stop. Though the modular shelving unit is one of the busiest we've ever seen, it doesn't feel cluttered. Instead, Handler has styled her shelves in a way that feels both intelligent and curated (while simultaneously nailing the bookshelf wealth trend). How can we ensure the same? Designers emphasize that the key is not in the number of pieces we have but in the variety.

'A well-styled bookshelf is all about variety. Mix books with decorative objects like vases, picture frames, and small sculptures. This keeps things interesting and adds depth. Don’t be afraid to throw in some greenery, too – plants bring life to your shelves,' comments Jodi Peterman, the CEO and owner of Elizabeth Erin Designs.

Alongside incorporating a variety of objects, Handler has unintetionally taught us another key styling rule: go for a combination of horizontal and vertical book placements.

'When it comes to books, go for a mix of horizontal and vertical arrangements. Stack a few books horizontally to create little platforms for decorative items. Then, line up some books vertically to give a structured look,' Peterman comments.' Also, show the spines of some books to add color and character, but don’t be afraid to turn a few around to display the pages for a softer, textured look. Stick to book covers in white or neutral tones to maintain a cohesive and elegant aesthetic.'

Similarly, there's a lot to be said for how we group our titles together. While the number of books on our shelves as a whole doesn't matter – the number of books in our clusters can make an impact. Peterman recommends grouping items in odd numbers like 3, 5, 7, or 9 for the most beautiful impact.

'Odd numbers are more visually appealing and create a natural, organic look. This tip works wonders in making your shelf look thoughtfully styled without being too symmetrical or rigid.'

With numbers in mind, it's similarly important to remember how balancing colors and textures in our clusters is also key. 'Distribute colors, textures, and sizes evenly across your shelves. If one side is feeling heavy with books, balance it out with some lighter decor on the other side. Aim for symmetry, but don’t be too rigid – a little asymmetry adds charm,' Peterman comments.

'Varying the heights of your objects adds dimension. Use book stacks to elevate smaller items and place taller pieces like vases or framed photos to create vertical interest. This layering effect makes your bookshelf look thoughtfully curated.'

Shop H&G's bookshelf edit

Whether we go for large, modular living room shelving like Handler's, or more compact options (for whatever our space allows), these picks will look great in every type of home.

Handler's bookshelves are a reminder that busy shelves don't necessarily translate to a cluttered aesthetic. One last thing to remember from her space? Bookshelves are used for more than books. Handler recommends adding 'personal touches like mementos from our travels', and other pieces that tell our story. 'This not only makes your bookshelf unique but also adds a warm, personal vibe to your space,' she says.

'Finally, take a step back and look at your shelves from a distance. Is there something that stands out too much or feels out of place? Don’t be afraid to edit. Sometimes, removing one or two items can make a big difference!'

It may sound counterintuitive, but there are real benefits to cutting back herbaceous perennials early in the season. Commonly known as ‘The Chelsea Chop’ in the UK, where it annually coincides with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, cutting back at the end of May and early June is a great pruning tactic.

Perennials quickly grow in spring as the temperatures rise and the hours of sunlight increase. The risk of simply letting them grow untouched is that they can get leggy and so tall that their weak stems flop when blooming.

That is where chopping back summer-flowing perennials in your flower beds is advantageous as it produces more upright, neat, and compact plants. They will be bushier and have lots of side shoots to flower on. It can even reduce the need to stake plants for the summer.

How much to chop, and why

You can take a pair of clean and sharp pruning shears and cut down the herbaceous perennials by a third or up to a half. When chopping back the perennials, why not consider cutting some stems but not others?

Either chop some stems of one plant, but not all, or cut one plant and not the other if you have multiple plants. Using this technique can help give you a staggered and longer flowering period.

We reveal 7 plants ideally suited to being cut back this month.

1. Yarrow

Yarrow, also known as achillea, is a low-maintenance drought-tolerant perennial wildflower that is a popular choice for flower borders or colorful containers. It produces clusters of small flowers with flat tops that come in a variety of bright colors, including pink, red, yellow, and white.

Yarrow is also a great pick for wildlife garden ideas as it is popular with pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Once the plant is blooming, deadheading yarrow can give you a long season of blooms. Whenever you cut yarrow, wear gloves and long sleeves as the plant can irritate people with sensitive skin.

2. Aster

Asters are also known as Michaelmas daisies, due to their daisy-like appearance, and they provide splashes of color in late summer and fall.

There are hundreds of varieties in the aster family, coming in shades of blue, pink, red, purple, and white. Asters are hardy in US hardiness zones 4-8 and the plants are loved by fall pollinators, as well as asters being great plants for birds.

Some types of asters can reach six feet in height, so chopping them back stops them from getting too leggy and flopping later in the year.

3. Coneflower

Coneflowers, which are also commonly known as echinacea, are a native American perennial that grows in clumps and can reach heights of four feet each year.

They are great plants for butterflies and coneflowers can also be great options for a cut flower garden. Many coneflower varieties will flower for many months, from early summer through till the first frosts arrive.

Chopping some of the stems back by a third in spring will help extend the season, and the task of regularly deadheading coneflowers is also recommended to reward you with the most blooms.

4. Penstemon

Penstemon, or beardtongue, are very reliable and prolific summer-flowering perennials that always impress with their large spikes of tubular flowers.

There are hundreds of species to pick from in a plethora of colors and a range of sizes - so there should be a penstemon for any bed or border.

Penstemon are great plants for pollinators, the flowers attract hummingbirds and are plants that attract bees to a backyard space. Chopping back such tall perennials will mean lots of flowers for both you and the bees to enjoy.

5. Phlox

Phlox is a classic cottage garden plant that produces masses of star-shaped flowers each summer. There are many types of phlox to grow, but it is the larger perennial border phloxes which benefit from being chopped, as opposed to the annual, alpine, and creeping phloxes.

The border phloxes are low-maintenance plants for garden borders hardy in US hardiness zones 3-9, depending on the particular variety. If you cut back phlox by a third in late spring you will get compact plants that can bloom from summer into fall.

Continue to deadhead phlox during the season, and the number of flowers will increase.

6. Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susans are also known as rudbeckias and they get the name from the dark center of their daisy-like blooms. They are another plant that comes in annual and perennial varieties, with the latter suitable for being chopped.

Black-eyed Susans are most well-known for having yellow blooms, but there is a range of colors and you can get varieties with orange, red, or green flowers.

Black-eyed Susans bloom from summer through to the first frosts, but one key benefit of cutting back black-eyed Susans is that the plants stay more compact. As they can grow very tall, the plants will be at less risk of flopping so you can enjoy the blooms, albeit on shorter and bushier plants.

7. Nepeta

Nepeta is a flowering perennial adored for its aromatic grey-green foliage and purple flowers. It is a great low-maintenance plant for borders as nepeta is drought and heat-tolerant.

The plant, also commonly called catmint, is known for being popular with bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects during the summer and fall months.

Chopping back nepeta, either the whole plant or sections, means you can provide bees with a food source during the later months of the growing season.

Tools for chopping back herbaceous perennials

FAQs

Can I Chelsea chop salvias?

If you grow salvia, these perennials can be trimmed in late May or early June and will quickly respond by putting on a new flush of growth. Established perennial types of salvia can be successfully pruned in this way to get compact and bushy plants that will flower later in the season, providing food for pollinators in the fall.

Can you Chelsea chop daisies?

You can cut back shasta daisies in May and June to encourage compact and bushy growth and more flowers. Deadheading shasta daisies throughout the summer should also be seen as essential to give yourself more blooms over a longer period.

Do you have many of the above perennials in your beds and borders? The to-do list for this month may already be sizable, as there are vegetables and perennial flowers to plant in June and also a range of plants to prune in June, but do not overlook the benefits of chopping these perennials back. It can be quick and easy and does come with tangible rewards.

It's like Christmas has come early in London in June for the interior design buffs - the time of year when interior designers and admirers flock to Chelsea Harbour to be dazzled by Wow!house - a pop-up network of display rooms showcasing the boldest and brightest ideas in homes and gardens.

For the third year running, the installation at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour is back, and this year it's more impressive than ever. A walk through the nineteen spaces gives a crucial insight into important design trends of 2024. Here, we take a look inside every room throughout the Wow!house and highlight our key takeaways.

1. Zoffany Enrance Hall by Benedict Foley

For the grand entrance of the 'house', Benedict Foley evokes a 19th-century ballroom in Sicily, with a hint of a Jacobean stately home inspired by Zoffany who sponsored the space. Layered pattern, fabric drapes, and rich jewel tones create a dramatic start to the showcase.

2. Watts 1874's Legend room by Alidad

Alidad’s starting point was a huge Renaissance illustration that was re-imagined in 1889 by the co-founder of the room's sponsor, Watts 1874. He used the design to cover the walls, and layers with antique furniture and textiles to create a space that feels rich with layers of history.

3. Dedar Studio by Fosbury Architecture

The Study by Fosbury Architects sponsored by Dedar is a playful exploration of the blurred boundary between 'home' and 'office' – a minimalist and stylized study-like space that emphasizes the textural quality of Dedar's fabrics.

4. The Rug Company Dining room by Fen Fulk

In the dining room designed by Ken Fulk and sponsored by the Rug Company, the focus here is on storytelling. 'Rugs are woven creations that have been telling stories of our humanity for thousands of years,' explains Ken.

5. Tissus D'Helene Drawing room by Guy Goodfellow

Next up is the Tissus D'Helene drawing room designed by Guy Goodfellow, where the designer showcases his exceptional ability to blend antiques with modern design, mastering transitional style, complimented by Tissus D'Helene's exceptional fabrics and wallcoverings.

6. Jamb London bedroom by Charlotte Freemantle and Will Fisher

The primary bedroom of the house is designed by Charlotte Freemantle and Will Fisher of Jamb London, who took inspiration from the palettes and drapery seen in Renaissance paintings. The four-poster bed is a new addition to Jamb's collection – modeled from a Chippendale.

7. House of Rohl bathroom by Michaelis Boyd

Michaelis Boyd wanted to create a dream-like bathroom where time stood still, to highlight the importance of giving in to relaxation from time to time. With the help of their sponsors House of Rohl they have created a a series of beautiful interconnecting bath, shower, and wash zones.

8. Colefax and Fowler Morning room by Lucy Hammond Giles

Described by designer Lucy Hammond Giles as 'a pretty room for being contentedly solitary,' the Morning Room sponsored by Colefax & Fowler celebrates the history of the longest-established decorating firm in the UK – Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler's celebrate their 90th anniversary this year.

9. McKinnon and Harris Courtyard by Katharine Pooley

This quintessentially British green space that breaks up the house in the middle for a welcome breath of fresh air was created by interior designer Katharine Pooley, sponsored by luxury outdoor furniture makers McKinnon and Harris. The rose-lined terrace is designed to evoke the Wimbledon tennis championships.

10. Schumacher bedroom by Veere Greeney Associates

The second bedroom displays a match made in heaven - design icon Veere Greeney for room sponsor Schumacher – masters of fabric design. Beautiful Schumacher Damask envelops the four-poster bed contrasting the pared-back large-scale brown check that forms the backdrop.

11. Zimmer and Rohde bedroom suite by Tolu Adeko

'Our room design is a homage to the art of travel and textiles in the early 20th century,' explains its creator Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́ of Adẹ̀kọ & Co. Adẹ̀kọ́’s starting point was Zimmer + Rohde’s fascinating, 125-year-old fabric archive. Layers of rich texture and fabric envelop the opulent space.

12. Sicis bathroom by Maurizio Leo Placuzzi

In the second bathroom of the Wow!house, awakening Spring is the central theme. Designed by Maurizio Leo Placuzzi, founder and president of SICIS – the Ravenna-based company that sponsored the space, the room is filled with layered textures and handcrafted materials, including a spectacular SICIS mosaic bathtub.

13. Chase Erwin Library by Andrea Benedettini

The library of the house is designed around the concept of ballet and theatre - designer Andrea Benedittini used to be a ballet dancer. Classic meets contemporary and an inviting, cocooning atmosphere is created by his generous layering of Chase Erwin’s fabrics – the room's sponsor.

14. Study by Anahita Rigby

'East meets West' is the overarching theme of the Wow!house Study. Anahita Rigby's greatest influences were Georgian England and Japan, but she keeps the space contemporary with polished metal accents, modern art, and an eye-catching fuschia pink pendant light.

15. Sitting room by Sophie Ashby for United in Design

Like all of Studio Ashby's projects, the sitting room is a warm and relaxing space full of color and creativity. Sponsored by United in Design, Sophie Ashby highlights the ongoing issue of lack of diversity in the industry by championing makers and designers from diverse backgrounds.

16. The Dining Space by Suzy Hoodless

'A haven immersed in natural textures and hues' is how Suzy Hoodless describes the dining room she designed. The palette is rich and earthy, and natural finishes and textures give the space a cossetting atmosphere. Furnishings are cool and contemporary.

17. Home Bar by OZA Design

The soulful sanctuary that is the Home Bar is a reflection of the dual heritage of the designers behind it - OZA Design is founded by Özge Öztürk and Alexandre Simeray, of Turkish and French origin respectively. The bar is full of creative details, such as saffron-infused clay walls. The lounge chair and side table are from the design studios' inaugural
furniture collection.

18. Martin Moore Kitchen with Studio Vero

'A kitchen for people who love gastronomy and art, and those who like to entertain' is how Studio Vero describes their kitchen, which launches the room sponsor's, Martin Moore's, 50th-anniversary collection. Crafted from natural timber in a pale-washed finish, the highlight is the island made from handmade tiles inspired by European cafés.

19. Summit Terrace by Fernando Wong

Landscape designer Fernando Wong describes his terrace as 'a lush oasis in the middle of a civilised jungle'. The final space evokes Palm Beach in the 1920s and is full of palms, oversized planters, and a showcase of handmade teak outdoor furniture by Summit, who collaborated with Wong on the space.

It's safe to say we at H&G are once again, truly wowed by the creativity, innovation, and exceptional design on show at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. Wow!house 2024 is full of layered interiors that tell stories of thoughtful and collaborative design journeys, and by partnering with United in Design, the event crucially flags the ongoing issue of lack of diversity in the design world.

With each space being unique, the event is by no means trend-focused, yet if we were to pull out any recurring themes, it would be a leaning towards creating characterful interiors rich with handmade and historical objects, and a celebration of the materiality of textures, and opulent jewel-like tones.

Wow!house is open now until 4th July 2024, Monday to Saturday from 10am – 6pm. Tickets cost £25.

Always at the forefront of garden trends, one of the highlights of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the celebration of new plants, which are officially launched at the show.

The latest brand new, inspiring plant varieties compete for the coveted title of 'Plant Of The Year' and, this year, one of the shortlisted varieties was a new daffodil called ‘King Charles’. Its trumpet is almost orange at the tip, shading paler at the base, and its petals are pale yellow with a white central zone – very pretty.

The plants competing for 'Plant Of The Year' have been developed by breeders all over the world, and several unique varieties were created by nurseries in the US. Here, we take a closer look at those plants, what makes them special, and how you can get hold of them to add to your own backyard ideas.

New plant varieties and where to find them

It's always exciting to discover brand new plant varieties, and learn where they were developed. These particular plants, bred in Michigan nurseries, would be well suited to hot climates and desert planting. Read on to find out more. 

1. Agave ‘Praying Hands’

One unique and new plant variety was created in Michigan. Placed third in the competition was Mangave (Agave) ‘Praying Hands’, a very striking, but quite small, variety derived from wild species of century plant, or American aloe, that grow naturally in Mexico.

Maturing at only 12in tall and wide, its incurved dark green leaves form a teardrop shape and each leaf is pointed in a red spine which is turned inwards so there’s no danger of a scratch.

‘Praying Hands’ is a fine plant for xeriscapes and warm dry climates. Hardy to zone 9, in colder zones it can be grown in pots of well-drained potting soil and moved into a protected place for winter.

2. Sempervivum 'Gold Mine'

Another fine, but much hardier, succulent plant, developed at a different Michigan nursery by Chris Hansen, also made the shortlist.

The latest in the Chick Charms Giants series, Sempervivum 'Gold Mine', is basically a huge houseleek with rich red coloring at the base of each leaf and a bright yellow coloring at the tips.

Exceptionally hardy to zone 3, ground-hugging stems develop 'chicks' around the edge of the plant so that it slowly spreads. Give it good drainage, and plenty of sun.

New plant varieties for small yards and balconies

The overall winner of the 'Plant Of The Year' award was a very pretty, white-flowered, early flowering cherry called ‘Starlight’ (US hardiness zone 6), with clusters of flowers like stars. Unfortunately, Starlight has not yet reached North America.

It was noticeable this year how many of the shortlisted new varieties were created to mature as smaller plants, and to stay small - ideal for decks and terraces, or for pots on the steps or for the smallest yards. 

The Starlight cherry reaches just 12ft in ten years, and a dwarf clematis reaching only 4ft was also shortlisted. The third-place Agave ‘Praying Hands’ always stays small.

The dazzling Petunia Nicola ('Kernicola') (US hardiness zone 9) which should be available from Proven Winners next season, is bred to stay compact in hanging baskets and not trail down so that the stems get in the way as new walk past.

The super-scented dwarf Philadelphus 'Petite Perfume White' (US hardiness zone 7), with clouds of small white flowers, is not yet available in the US. We may also have to wait till next year to see the rich blue scabious 'Kudo Blue' (US hardiness zone 4), which is very neat and amazingly prolific – ideal in a deck rail planter.

New plant varieties that are available in the US

The good news is that some shortlisted Plant Of The Year entries are already available in North America.

Look out for the improved giant hyssop, Agastache Beelicious Pink ('Agapk'), as shown in the image above, and Clematis Guernsey Flute ('Evigsy153'), a fine new variety from the world’s leading clematis breeder.

Giant hyssop Agastache Beelicious Pink (US hardiness zone 6) has crimson spikes speckled with tiny pink flowers that are packed with nectar – it’s a favorite with bees and other pollinators and the foliage is strongly aromatic, with a sharp minty smell.

Clematis Guernsey Flute (US hardiness zone 4) is the latest from renowned clematis breeder Raymond Evison. The huge white flowers are 5in across and carried on plants usually no taller than 4ft. But the great thing is that the individual flowers last far longer than the flowers of other white varieties so the display is more impressive, and over a longer period. Pruning is easy, too – simply cut the whole plant back to 6in in spring.

Look out for all these Chelsea Flower Show Plant of The Year shortlisted varieties as they become available in North America. If the Royal Horticultural Society says that these are good plants, you can depend on them.

Where to buy new plants

Mangave (Agave) ‘Praying Hands’ is available at One Green World.

Sempervivum Gold Mine ('Ggm2022') can be found here at Garden Solutions Plants.

Agastache Beelicious Pink ('Agapk'), is available from Monrovia.com. 

Clematis Guernsey Flute ('Evigsy153') can be found at Brushwood Nursery. 

Other varieties shortlisted for the award will become available over the next few years.

FAQs

Where does the RHS Chelsea Flower Show take place?

The Royal Horticultural Society has more members around the world – 600,000 in all – than any other gardening society. King Charles III was recently announced as the Society’s new Patron.

In May of each year, the RHS transforms eleven acres of grounds at London’s veteran’s hospital into the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, visited by almost 160,000 people. Held at Chelsea since 1912, the King toured the show with Queen Camilla earlier this week.

For more on the inspirational planting and garden design at the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show, check out some of the best plants we spotted at the show. 

Having a smaller outdoor space does not mean you cannot have big ideas. You can create a beautiful garden oasis on a deck, patio, or balcony, and make any urban space a green sanctuary.

I saw magnificent displays and ideas on the balcony and container gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024. It showed how lush and plentiful gardens can be created in more limited spaces with creativity and sometimes a willingness to think out of the box.

The container gardening ideas were so inspirational. I have grown many plants in pots over the years, but what I saw surpassed anything I had ever done on my patio, or in the courtyard garden I used to have. To help inspire you, I have picked out some of the creative ideas on show that inspired me and could help you create a green space in whatever sized space you have.

Balcony and Container Gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024

The 10 balconies and container gardens at RHS Chelsea were hugely varied in style. They ranged from a tropical jungle on a balcony, to a Mediterranean oasis, to a contemporary courtyard garden focused on saving and reusing rainwater. But, despite the differences in landscaping and planting, there was something inspirational to take home from each of them if you are after balcony garden ideas or want to create show-stopping containers.

1. Create storeys of planting

Think outside the box and stray from the tired-old trend of packing bedding plants into pots or hanging baskets for the summer. Yes, this will look colorful and bright but it can be much more dramatic to vary the height of plants and have different levels in the space.

'The Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden' showcased this superbly. It was beautiful, it promoted biodiversity, and there was real drama. The balcony garden had towering tree ferns growing alongside smaller palms and nasturtiums that climbed the balcony rails and tumbled over the edge.

It was designed to mirror the layers of a jungle and shows you can have a green and lush space even on an urban balcony. Using the ferns is also great for balcony privacy ideas as you can have a green oasis shielding you from the commotion of the city outside.

You may think it is a difficult look to pull off, but not all the plants were difficult to grow or maintain - as nasturtiums featured heavily and are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed.

2. Go vertical and showcase plants on walls

If you have a smaller ground plan, implementing vertical garden ideas and utilizing walls or fences is a great way to maximize the available space.

The gardens on show featured clever ways to do this. The main two that caught my eye were adding shelving to the walls to showcase plants or having a living wall of succulents - showcased in picture frames with overhead lighting on ‘The Water Saving Garden’ to give a unique gallery-style effect.

The simple and effective wooden shelving on the ‘Tomie’s Cuisine the Nobonsai’ garden was an easy system that can be replicated at home to create a vertical garden to display lots of plants in containers - similar to an auricula theatre but for a wide array of plants.

3. Get creative and recycle containers for a unique look

There was a wealth of different containers on show among the gardens, some were more classic pots made of terracotta, ceramic, or modern materials, while others were more unique.

I saw plants in troughs, tins, wooden boxes, metal barrels, watering cans, pedal bins, a sink, and even a houseplant in a disco ball. There were probably so many more that I didn’t even notice. It shows you can be creative when looking for container or planter box ideas to fit any design or style of a space.

As long as the container can hold enough potting soil, and has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape, it can sustain plants. Recycling old containers to grow plants is a great way to reduce waste and bring a unique style to a backyard space.

4. Immerse yourself in the planting

Surrounding yourself with plants can help create a peaceful sanctuary to enjoy the garden and switch off from the world outside.

‘The Anywhere Courtyard’ garden did this brilliantly as the planting was in large raised beds and containers to flourish around the seating, putting it at head height. It has a great mix of sensory herbs and fragrant perennials to create a very relaxing environment in which to unwind and connect with nature and others around you.

Placing taller containers around your seating space, or displaying pots on tables, allows you to sit and enjoy the flowers and the insects that will visit them. Whether with a morning coffee, or an evening glass of wine, sitting and enjoying the plants will be a calming and rewarding experience.

5. Consider the weight of containers

There will be strict weight limitations on balconies that can limit the amount of containers you can have. If you want to grow lots of plants alongside your balcony seating, then grow bags could be the ideal solution.

Plants were on show growing in bags in the ‘Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden’ to reduce the weight load. As grow bags are lightweight, breathable, and reusable, they offer a real alternative to weightier terracotta or ceramic containers.

If you do use large planters or containers on a balcony to put together fantastic displays, save weight by not filling them full of soil. Instead, put old plastic pots in the bottom to reduce the weight.

As container and balcony gardens become increasingly popular in urban areas, there are important aspects of plant care to get right when growing in pots. In particular, soil and drainage are always key factors to healthy plants. To help you navigate the path of growing in pots, see our article on the biggest container gardening mistakes to avoid to keep your plants thriving.

For the many garden and plant lovers among us, there is nothing quite like visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London for absorbing the very latest in gardening trends and innovations. It is also, of course, breathtakingly beautiful, and every year I come away feeling completely consumed by the new planting combinations and landscaping ideas I’ve seen, eager to recreate them in my own backyard. 

An overarching theme at this year’s show was the impact a garden can have on our wellbeing. Whether to help with recovery from or living with an illness, or with mental conditions. The Forest Bathing garden, designed by Ula Maria for sufferers of muscular dystrophy and winner of the 'Best Show Garden' award, is a superb and impressive example of this. It was designed as a place of solace and refuge, inspired by a birch grove and underplanted with woodland shrubs such as Melica altissima ‘Alba’ grass, and Geranium sylvaticum ‘Mayflower’. The garden is a humbling reminder to us all of the restorative and hopeful power that plants and gardens hold.

Unsurprisingly, there was also a big focus on environmental issues and sustainability this year, with flooding and drought informing the design schemes in several key gardens at the show. I talk about this in more detail below, plus highlight several other key trends and planting ideas that I’m certain you will be able to recreate in your own backyard. 

5 take-home trends from the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

With a little planning you can easily recreate these Chelsea trends at home, even in a small outdoor space. 

Get creative with water capture ideas 

With so many of us all over the world experiencing the effects of a changing climate on our gardens, be that excess rainfall or prolonged periods of drought causing damage to plants or crops, it is so important we learn to adapt and make choices that help our gardens work with the climate and not against it. 

The WaterAid garden designed by Tom Massey, and sponsored by Project Giving Back, explores this theme. With a focus on sustainable water management, the garden featured a unique rainwater harvesting pavilion, designed to store and filter water so that it can be used in the garden or as a source of drinking water. Its purpose is also to slow the flow of heavy rainfall, and create some shade in a garden. The planting was utterly diverse, ranging from bog plants which are fully submerged in water, to upland areas populated with plants that can survive in much drier conditions. 

For many of us, installing a structure such as this in our backyards would be a stretch. However, there are many simple ways you can introduce a rainwater harvesting system in your yard, such as a rain barrel or a rain chain - this elegant rain chain design at Amazon is a top pick. You could also consider planting up a flat roof on a shed or outhouse with plants that can absorb a lot of moisture, to slow the flow of heavy rain. 

Likewise, in the flood-resilient garden, created by garden designers Naomi Slade and Dr. Ed Barsley, we saw plenty more ideas on how to slow the flow of excess rainwater using large water capture tanks, and by the strategic planting of trees and shrubs, which help to absorb heavy rainfall. 

Add large foliage plants and moss to elevate your landscaping

In many of the RHS Chelsea gardens this year, from large show gardens to small balconies and container spaces, bold foliage was used to great effect. Large, dramatic foliage plants can add impact to any garden, perhaps even more so than flowering plants. 

‘The Ecotherapy Garden, designed by Tom Bannister, was a great example of this, using plants such as Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers', Rodgersia pinnata and Hosta Blue 'Mouse Ears' to add interest and character to the small container garden,’ says Thomas Rutter, gardener and content editor at H&G. 

‘Large foliage planting, while adding texture and form to any design, can also add a tropical twist and unique leaves can be transformative, evoking images of rainforest-like environments.’ 

You can see a wide range of textured hosta plants at Fast Growing Trees.

The use of moss as a groundcover plant was seen in several gardens, exemplified in the MOROTO no IE sanctuary garden, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara. ‘Moss is used in the garden to soften hard landscaping elements, helping to add greenery to stonework and rockery features,’ continues Thomas. ‘In mild, humid environments, moss will survive through the winter months, providing year-round interest.’  

Create elegant, hidden dining spaces  

One element of the show that inspired me immensely was seeing so many beautiful dining tables set up in glasshouses, or nestled in gorgeous enclaves in gardens, surrounded by soft, textured planting and delicious scents from climbing plants. 

Setting up a dining table in my greenhouse, and adorning the inside with festoon lighting is now something I really want to try, albeit temporarily, as mine wouldn't accommodate a table on a permanent basis. 

Another option, exemplified wonderfully in the Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees Garden, designed by Baz Grainger and built by Landform Consultants, would be to design a pergola structure and train climbers or shrub roses up its sides. In a few years, you can create a canopy of greenery and blooms under which to dine. Surely this would be the perfect spot for summer evenings. 

The garden was a haven of naturalistic and scented planting and was designed as a place to relax and unwind. It had several seating areas surrounded by textured, feathery planting to create a calming sanctuary in which to de-stress. Key plants included purple-flowering mint, apricot foxgloves, wild garlic and tall, frothy achillea - you can find a very similar variety of sunny yellow achillea at Nature Hills. 

Get innovative with height on a balcony using tropical planting

There is no need to feel restricted if you have a smaller outdoor space, as the Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden proved at this year's show. The designers, Mike McMahon & Jewlsy Mathews, created a space to inspire city dwellers. 

My two key takeouts from this balcony garden were the enormous tree ferns, such as this Australian tree fern from Nature Hills, showing that you can get clever and be bold with height on a terrace or balcony to magnificent effect. The result is a sense of privacy and shelter, and a connection to the natural world in the middle of an urban center. 

The other feature I loved about this balcony garden was its biodiversity, showing us all that a small space can still attract wildlife and pollinators, and combine a diverse range of plants. There were bird nests, a tiny pond and even bat boxes, such as these from Amazon, integrated into the garden design, all of which was hugely inspiring.

Add calming palettes and tangerines to your borders and pots

In every garden at Chelsea, I am always on the look out for color planting trends, and new combinations I might not have considered before. This year I saw calming shades in abundance, from minimalist palettes of whites, creams and greens, to cool tones of pale cornflower blue, lemon, lilac and blush. 

A stunning example of this was in the The National Garden Scheme Garden, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, which featured a mix of woodland plants, including foxgloves, trollius, dicentra, Astrantia major 'Star of Billion', and Thalictrum delavayi 'Splendide White'. 

A brighter color palette that sparked my imagination was tangerine, peach and orange. These warmer tones added depth and richness to many planting schemes, and would be so simple to recreate in your own backyard. 

Featured flowers included Geum ‘Pretticoats Peach’, Trollius chinensis ‘Golden Queen’, and Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’. Pair with pale blue grasses or irises for a striking combination with a Mediterranean feel. You can shop the vibrant range of Geum varieties at Nature Hills. 

For more Chelsea Flower Show design trends and inspiration, check out our report on The Bridgerton Garden, and discover how its clever planting reflects one of the show's key characters. 

Of all the beautiful gardens on display at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, one will certainly appeal to fans of the award-winning television drama, Bridgerton. Designed by first-time Chelsea designer, Holly Johnston, The Bridgerton Garden, tells the story of Penelope Fetherington, who transforms from a wallflower-like character to a confident and commanding presence in the Netflix show.

Drawing on the Bridgerton Regencycore gardens trend, this Chelsea sanctuary garden explores themes of hidden identity, feelings of invisibility and the duality of character. The Bridgerton Garden is small but certainly packs a punch, with unique and eye-catching hard and soft landscaping elements on display.

Here, we share some of the key features of The Bridgerton Garden and provide details on the planting used. So, if you are looking for backyard ideas this year, consider creating a Bridgerton-inspired space at home.

The Bridgerton Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Inspired by Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton, The Bridgerton Garden fuses Regencycore landscape and planting ideas to create a romantic, secluded space. Using some of the best plants from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show including climbing wisteria vines, rambling roses and colorful foxgloves, this garden is a tranquil retreat.

Key features of The Bridgerton Garden

'The garden is separated into three rooms,' says designer Holly Johnston. 'Standing at the front of the plot, visitors will see a moongate that beautifully frames the entrance to the garden.'

'The moongate is the most iconic part of the garden,' Holly says, 'and is symbolic of new beginnings.' This entranceway was a deliberate design feature, 'forcing visitors to step in and through the moongate, and transporting them into a personal, secluded sanctuary.'

Drawing on courtyard garden ideas, this gate leads to a sunken space with a seating area and a Regency-style three-tiered water feature. 'Here, in the center of the garden, is where I pictured the character of Penelope sitting and sharpening her Lady Whistledown quill,' Holly continues. Stone seating is positioned around the water feature, inviting visitors to stop, pause and reflect in this quiet and contemplative space.

At the end of the garden, in an enclosed space, a hand-carved sandstone sculpture is engraved with a phrase that cements Penelope’s growth: Even a wallflower can bloom.

Many of the structural elements in the garden were sourced from reclamation yards. 'The circular economy is important to me,' Holly says, 'and if we reclaim items, then they come with a cultural heritage and a story of their own which really can add to the narrative of a garden.'

'The Regency fountain and stone plinth in The Bridgerton Garden are upcycled items, and they all add to the story-telling.'

If you want to reclaim items to use in your garden, Holly recommends 'taking time to find the right piece... there will always be something out there that is perfect for your garden, you just need to find it.'

Planting used in The Bridgerton Garden

The planting in The Bridgerton Garden reflects the themes of secrecy, growth, and desire. Height and shelter is provided by dwarf field elms, Ulmus minor var. suberosa, commonly referred to as cork-barked elms. The gnarled back is aged and unusual, and the canopy offers protection and enclosure around the seating area.

Topiary is also a feature of the space, with clipped domes and pyramidal shapes adding formality to the planting. This contrasts effectively with the loose and textural planting.

The designer purposefully chose planting that evolves from shade on one side to light on the other, referencing the development in Penelope’s character, full of hidden meaning and intrigue, and seeking to fully express oneself.

'Penelope Featherington’s character has grown from an almost hidden and overlooked character to a young woman who isn’t afraid to know and celebrate herself,' Holly says. 'The shaded space down one half of the garden alludes to the themes of mystery, turmoil and defiance with layers of ground cover, ferns and ivy representing a woven network of secrets.'

In contrast, the flamboyant, brighter planting has a striking color palette, which 'speaks to the evolution of Penelope's character,' Holly adds. There is an informal mix of colorful climbers, shrubs, perennials and grasses designed to reflect a growing sense of confidence and ease.

Colorful perennial planting includes the striking blue flower of Iris sibirica 'Perry's Blue', as well as Lupinus ‘Masterpiece’, which produces classic lupin flower spikes but in a rich, deep mauve. Lupin plants are available from Nature Hills.

Roses are often seen in Bridgerton, trailing over pergolas and archways as the characters walk slowly through beautiful gardens. Within The Bridgerton Garden, rose garden ideas are important, and Rosa ‘Desdemona’ is used to great effect. 'This rose has been chosen to provide a sense of romance and enchantment around the moongate and dry stone walling,' Holly says.

In addition, English ivy, Hedera helix, is important in the garden, adding 'charm and intrigue as it snakes up tree trunks and scrambles over stone. It provides layering to the planting, helping to develop a sense of place, but also building on ideas relating to secrecy that the shade planting is intended to represent.'

The planting also includes a variety of ferns, largely inspired by Holly’s childhood in New Zealand. One fern that was included was Dryopteris, a vigorous, semi-evergreen fern with intricate arching fronds. Ferns are available to buy from Nature Hills.

FAQs

What climbing rose would be recommended for training over a fence, trellis or pergola?

Romantic roses are a key feature of The Bridgerton Garden, and growing these blooms is a great way you can add color and scent to your yard. Some of the best climbing roses have prolific, long-flowering blooms, and your local garden store will be able to advise on the best varieties for your region. Two of my favorites are 'New Dawn' and 'Constance Spry', which have bright and brilliant pink blooms that will quickly fill garden walls and fences.

If you are a fan of the hit show, Bridgerton, consider adding some Regency elements to your yard this year. Topiary shapes, trailing roses and trickling water features are central aspects of this brilliant garden, and could be mimicked in any garden, big or small.

For planting inspiration, see our guide on cottage garden plants, to add traditional favorites to your borders this year.

It is that time of year again when designers, growers and gardeners come together for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. As always, the Royal Horticultural Society has treated visitors to a spectacular show full of novel flower bed ideas.

All of the gardens showcase thought-provoking ideas and concepts. The Forest Bathing Garden in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK, won the coveted 'Best Show Garden' award. This garden was designed by Ula Maria, who sought to educate visitors about the Japanese practice of forest bathing, whereby spending time in nature is considered a form of relaxation and meditation.

The undoubted star of the Forest Bathing Garden, and every garden for that matter, was the planting. Each year, striking trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals wow and inspire gardeners who seek to emulate garden ideas and designs in their own spaces. Here, we share the top plants that stole the show this year. Why not try and grow some of these in your yard this year, and achieve a Chelsea-approved look?

Best plants from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024

If you want to add some of that RHS Chelsea wow factor to your yard, consider growing some of the following plants that drew the attention of visitors this year. These flowering perennials are sure to add color, texture and impact to any space, whether grown in pots or garden borders.

Verbascum

If you are looking for a perennial that will add floral interest and height, verbascum is the plant to grow. Tall and elegant verbascum flower spikes were in fine form across the Chelsea showground this year.

Verbascum plants can be found in various colors, ranging from pale peach to deep maroon. One variety that drew my attention was Verbascum phoeniceum 'Violetta', seen in the image above. Planted in drifts on the RHS Chelsea Repurposed garden, designed by Darryl Moore with Toby Magee, the effect was mesmerizing. Attractive purple blooms open on tall stems that gently move in the breeze, combining brilliantly with ornamental grasses.

Verbascum seeds are available to buy online from Burpee.

Saruma henryi

Saruma henryi, commonly referred to as wild ginger, is a full-shade perennial that is native to forests and wooded areas in China. Seen growing in several gardens at the show, including on The National Garden Scheme Garden, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, this low-growing plant is an ideal option for dry-shade conditions.

Confusingly, despite its name, this plant does not belong to the ginger family. As seen in the images here, it produces attractive heart-shaped leaves, but the real pull is the delicate three-petalled blooms that open in a lemon-yellow hue, flowering for much of the spring and summer. This perennial can also be grown in pots.

Primula

Primula vialii, commonly known as the orchid primrose, is a dramatic primula that drew much attention at this year's show. The cone-shaped flower appears both red and lilac, typically blooming from early summer.

This plant thrives in a partially shaded position, preferring consistently moist soil. Primula vialii could be seen growing on the WaterAid Garden, designed by Tom Massey and Je Ahn, with the colorful blooms punctuating the lush, verdant planting.

Primula vialii seeds are available to buy online from Amazon.

Foxgloves

Foxgloves are a Chelsea classic, typically found growing in several show gardens, blooming in a range of colors, from white to pink to peach. These spring biennials are ideal for adding vertical interest to garden borders.

This year, bright pink foxgloves were planted to brilliant effect on The Octavia Hill Garden, designed by Ann-Marie Powell. When considering how to grow foxgloves, these self-seeders are biennial, flowering in their second year. Leave spent blooms to go to seed, which will help increase your foxglove collection for subsequent years.

Foxglove plants are available to buy online from Nature Hills.

FAQs

What long-flowering perennial is best to grow in full-sun?

Many verbascum varieties grow best in full-sun, but for a long-flowering showstopping option, I would recommend growing rudbeckia. These long-flowering plants can be grown in full sun and tolerate dry conditions, blooming from late spring through until the fall. For more information, see our guide on how to grow rudbeckia, with tips and advice on how to successfully grow this perennial from seed.

Consider adding some of these plants to your borders and pots, enhancing your perennial displays with show-stopping blooms. For more planting inspiration, see our guide on some of the best perennials, to add even more floral interest to your yard this year.

For more inspiration from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, see our guide to The Bridgerton Garden, a tranquil, regency-inspired space.

There's beauty in the way gardens can bring us together, whether it's enjoying tending to plants with each other or sitting with loved ones in nature.

This week at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, I had the joy of exploring many beautiful backyard ideas. One that stuck out was the Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden, designed by Katherine Holland. This garden showcased a peaceful place for people to come together to discuss grief and reflect on lost loved ones.

I spoke with the award-winning designer to find out more about using garden spaces for grief and how to create a memory garden in your own backyard.

What is a memory garden?

If you've already explored green therapy, you'll know that there is a lot of research on the wellbeing benefits of gardening and plants. Memory gardens are an example of this, a place to honor and reflect on those you have lost.

'A memory garden doesn’t need to be costly - it can be a simple design,' Katherine says. 'Remember, this space is hugely personal to you and reflects your relationship with the person who has died,' she adds.

Katherine lost her mum in 2020 and has since been inspired to create safe garden spaces to talk about grief and remember those we have lost.

And you don't have to dedicate the whole of your outdoor space to achieve this either, you can carefully use garden zoning to create a memory space within your yard.

Katherine suggests asking yourself a few questions before creating your memory garden.

'How do you want to feel when you use the space?' she says. 'What would you like to remember about them?'

Taking some time to think about what you want to achieve in the space and the best way you can honor your loved one is the best place to start when planning your garden.

How to make a memory garden

There are many ways you can make a memory garden in your backyard. Award-winning designer, Katherine Holland, has shared five ideas to get started so that you can create your desired space to honor and remember your loved ones.

1. Use different textures to remember an event

A good place to start when creating a memory garden is pinpointing a special event or occasion you want to remember.

'For some, an overarching memory of a loved one can relate to a holiday or celebratory event such as a wedding - or even just a special day out,' Katherine says.

'For example, my mum and I went on a short holiday to the Isles of Scilly. If I wanted to create an area in my garden to remember that special time, I would place a simple water bowl in the space and surround it with loose, soft ornamental grasses such as Stipa Lessingiana and nepetas,' she adds.

Using a range of textures can transport you back to that time. This could include making a sensory garden with different ornamental grasses or water features.

2. Incorporate features to honor their hobby

For something linked more directly to the person you wish to remember in this space, incorporate something to reflect their hobby or personality.

'If the person who died was a craft beer drinker you could buy a second-hand cut-down barrel for use as a planter and fill it with herbs that could garnish your own drink to toast them,' says Katherine.

You can likewise add birdhouses and choose plants for birds to remember birdwatchers. There are plenty of birdhouses in different styles available online, like this green birdhouse from Amazon.

'For me, secateurs and a straw hat will always remind me of Mum and our shared love of gardening,' says Katherine. 'This is why during show week at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the coffee table at the center of the Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden will feature both those items as a special memory for me,' she adds.

3. Choose fragrant plants that remind you of them

Scent can instantly bring memories to our minds, which is why planting a fragrant garden is a popular way to remember loved ones in your outdoor space.

'Sue Ryder research has revealed that 91% of people believe that the five senses of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell can trigger emotions and poignant reminders of someone they are grieving,' Katherine shares.

'Fragrance is often the most evocative sense and much has been written about its effects in evoking even the most distant memories,' she adds.

Katherine suggests approaching this in a couple of ways. You can try finding plants that resemble a fragrance the individual wore, whether it's floral like fragrant roses or woody like pine trees. Popular fragrant plants include lavender, like this Grosso Lavender from Nature Hills.

'Another way to introduce fragrance is including a person’s favorite plants and surrounding a little seat with fragrant flowers,' says Katherine. 'My mum potted up a lily of the valley flower because that was my granny's favorite flower. Now I have that pot and it reminds me of both of them.'

4. Create immersive planting to evoke a safe feeling

When you create a memory garden, you want the space to feel calm and safe so that you can use it to reflect.

'When I was overwhelmed with grief and felt an overriding sense of despair after my mum died, I needed a space that would help me feel still and calm,' says Katherine. 'I think to gain such a feeling, you need to be immersed in the planting, to feel safe and sheltered,' she adds.

At Chelsea, Katherine used a mixture of sensory garden plants, including fragrant flowers, grasses that move gracefully and different pops of color to create a feeling of being enclosed by planting. 'When you're in it, you feel protected and sheltered. I describe it as a green hug,' she tells me.

Ornamental grasses for privacy are also a great choice for creating a closed-off, quiet space.

5. Make room to reminisce with others

If you aim to create a space that can be shared and enjoyed by others, then it's key to include outdoor seating.

'You may seek to create a space that can be shared by friends and family to remember a loved one. You may want to come together and share that space for a specific anniversary so do make sure the space is adaptable to varying numbers of people,' suggests Katherine.

You can go the extra mile to make your memory space inviting by creating an outdoor living room mixing furnishings and planting together.

Try choosing furniture with soft, calming colors, too. Katherine's Chelsea design had sculptural benches in a lighter wood color to provide a welcoming space for conversations about grief. Find outdoor seating perfect for your space online, like this Beachcroft Outdoor Bench from Ashley Furniture.

FAQs

Can you create a memory garden indoors?

A memory garden is a space created to remember and honor lost loved ones. Just because you don't have an outdoor space doesn't mean you can't create a memory garden. Try styling houseplants that remind you of the individual, such as using their favorite plants or indoor flowering plants in their favorite color. You can also create an indoor herb garden with fragrant herbs that remind you of them. No matter the space you have available, it's always possible to use plants to create a space of memory and reflection.

You can create a memory garden in your backyard by simply incorporating planting and features that evoke memories of a lost loved one. Katherine suggests making the space personal to you so that it serves you in reflecting on time with the individuals you are remembering.

Find more inspiration for creating a green sanctuary in your yard by exploring our expert guide on zen gardens.

If you live in an area susceptible to heavy rainfall and flooding, it's vital to get your yard in shape to ensure both your land and home are protected from damage. Understanding how to work with your local climate, by incorporating different features and making careful choices about planting, can help to make your yard flood-resilient.

This week I attended the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, where I had the joy of exploring many inspirational backyard ideas. The Flood Resilient Garden designed by renowned garden designers Naomi Slade and Dr. Ed Barsley, in collaboration with Flood Re, illustrated how you can make landscaping and planting choices to protect your home and help your garden cope with extreme weather.

I spoke to the pair of designers to find out more about how to make a yard flood-resilient, and asked them to share some top tips.

What role do gardens play in flood resistance?

Whether or not your backyard is susceptible to flooding will depend on your US hardiness zone, local weather conditions, and the design of your backyard. If you do live in a flood risk area, your yard will have an important role to play in protecting your home.

'If you think of a garden as a natural or semi-natural system, there are all sorts of ways that it can absorb water or slow the flow of rainwater into the surrounding environment,' Naomi tells me.

'For example, simply planting trees and shrubs means that the water has to pass through a canopy of leaves, will reach the ground more slowly and sink in more gradually,' she adds.

Reducing the likelihood of your backyard flooding and helping it to better cope with excess water can ensure both your yard and home are protected from possible damage.

5 ways to make your yard flood-resilient

Naomi and Ed share five ways you can help your garden to cope with extreme weather.

1. Slow the flow of water

Naomi and Ed tell me that the first thing you should try to do is slow the flow of water in your yard.

'Slowing the flow of excess water will allow more time for your garden to absorb excess water and increase your resilience to floods,' says Ed. 'You can start by disconnecting your downpipes, fitting bigger gutters and reducing hard landscaping in your garden,' he adds.

Regularly cleaning your gutters from the roof and giving it some maintenance will also prevent gutters from clogging and ensure water doesn't build up there.

Other ways to reduce the pace of water flowing is by planting trees and shrubs to provide more foliage to capture water and slowly release it to the ground. Naomi and Ed included plenty of dense foliage in their Chelsea garden to demonstrate this.

Whether its the best trees for small gardens or bigger trees for privacy, it can be wise to have some in your yard to capture rainwater.

2. Make space for water

You should also make sure that excess water has somewhere to go in your yard, whether its by adding a garden pond or creating a water garden.

'Adding ponds, using water butts and planting deep-rooted plants can reduce surface runoff and improve soil infiltration, which will minimise the risk of local flooding,' says Ed.

'Creating designated areas for water to collect during heavy rainfall will allow excess water to be stored whilst keeping your garden beautiful,' he adds.

The Flood Resilient Garden at Chelsea included a sunken swale to capture and accommodate surplus water.

It can also be a good idea to make a rain barrel or install a rain chain to collect surplus water. The bonus is that these both help with garden water-saving, so that you can reuse the collected water in your yard.

There are plenty of rain barrels available online, like this rain barrel from Amazon, and rain chains, like this rain chain from Amazon.

3. Use flood-resilient plants

Just as there are many drought-tolerant plants, there are plenty of plants out there that can cope with being oversaturated and the designers encourage using them in your yard if you live in a flood risk area.

'Incorporating flood-resilient plants like willows, water mint, astilbes, male ferns and lady’s smock will mean that there is plenty of interest, even in damp conditions,' Naomi shares.

If you have a pond in your backyard, you can also use pond plants to ensure you are providing lots of interest with plants that can thrive in wet conditions. Many are oxygenating pond plants which can also ensure your water is kept looking clean and fresh.

4. Take care of your soil

Soil health is vital in any backyard if you want a thriving garden, but Naomi and Ed stress the importance of keeping your soil in good condition to prevent surplus water on the ground of your yard.

'Soils which are full of organic matter and have been allowed to develop a good structure with plenty of air pockets act as sponges, soaking up the water gradually when it rains and allowing it to disperse naturally or be taken up by plants,' Naomi tells me.

You can improve you soil by aerating it with this aerator from Amazon, a method also used to aerate lawn. You can likewise use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to test how saturated your soil is and ensure it isn't becoming waterlogged.

5. Create areas that drain well

Another way to equip your backyard for flooding is by ensuring you have plenty of garden drainage features.

'Water runs downhill so creating raised areas such as mounds, planning on slopes or even installing a raised bed will give plants drier conditions if they need them and allow them to thrive,' says Naomi.

Hiring a landscape designer may help you incorporate more areas of your yard where plants that don't tolerate being consistently wet can drain well and not suffer from oversaturated soil. This includes designing a sloping garden or exploring raised garden bed ideas. You can also try using a French drain as an effective drainage solution.

FAQs

How can you protect garden wildlife from flooding?

By making your backyard flood-resilient, you can help protect garden wildlife from extreme weather. This includes ensuring habitats, like bird boxes and bug hotels, are raised above flood level. You can also provide plenty of climbing plants that provide wildlife with foliage for refuge above flood level.

'Thinking about how other creatures live and what they need to survive in a flood situation is a really interesting exercise,' says RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer Naomi Slade.

Naomi and Ed's RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden highlights so many ways to protect your yard from extreme weather. If you live in an area susceptible to flooding, try these methods to make your backyard flood-resilient to protect your garden and home.

Discover our expert guide to reducing surface water run off in your yard for more advice on creating a garden that can cope with wetter conditions.

If there is one hue with the power to transcend all interior trends and impress designers through the centuries, it is white. The benefits of this tone are abundant, making it a safe (but nonetheless sophisticated) choice for every room of the home, but none more so than the kitchen – and Sheryl Crow's abode is no exception. 

The singer, who naturally resides in the country music capital, Nashville, shared a glimpse inside her all-white kitchen, complete with glass-fronted cabinets and vertical storage painted in this hue. 

In opting for white, Sheryl has ensured her kitchen will impress long beyond 2023, as many designers suggest this color will remain fashionable for decades and even centuries into the future. But what makes it so timeless? We asked them to weigh in. 

'White kitchens remain timeless for many reasons. Choosing this kitchen color is a good bet because it gives your kitchen a feeling of simplicity and cleanliness as well as elegance and sophistication,' comments Chelsea Potthast, the principal of Potthast Design. 

'The hue is a versatile canvas for the homeowner to add their own style through lighting and plumbing fixtures. This style lends itself to different aesthetic genres, making it easy to personalize,' she says. 'Also, a white kitchen is attractive to a wide variety of potential home buyers if you are thinking of resale value.'

While Sheryl does not appear to be contending with a compact space, Chelsea adds that this color is especially impactful in small kitchens due to its size-enhancing qualities. 

'White reflects light and helps create the perception of space even in a small room with little natural light,' she says. 

It's also unsurprising that Chelsea is not exclusive in her observations. 'White kitchens are timeless because they are clean, versatile, and flexible,' adds Elana Mendelson, the CEO of Elana Designs. 

'Their aesthetic can be enhanced and modernized by updating accents, decor, and design elements without having to renovate the entire space. This allows the white kitchen to withstand the test of time as they’re classic and universal.'

We're buying our way into Sheryl Crow's space with these three picks (including one of all-time favorite whites) below.

Sheryl Crow is not the first celebrity to emphasize kitchen color's power, nor will she be the last – but we couldn't overlook her celebration of this tone, and remind ourselves what makes white so timeless every single time. 

The UK’s Royal Horticultural Society has revealed its show garden designs for the 2024 event, several of which are set to highlight key health and wellbeing issues. These include autism, muscular dystrophy, stroke and HIV. Others will focus on environmental and climate concerns, such as flooding and water management. 

The Chelsea Flower Show is the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship event and has been delighting garden and plant lovers for more than 110 years. 

The world-renowned flower and garden design show, which takes place in London from 21-25 May next year, will feature nine show gardens and six sanctuary gardens, all bursting with cutting edge design and inspiration. 

Health and wellbeing-focused show gardens

Garden designer and botanist Sophie Parmenter, alongside Dido Milne of CSK Architects and will create a garden themed around the experiences and challenges of autism and masking. 

The planting scheme will be multi-layered, evolving from wetland meadow to river birch woodland. It will feature a vibrant color palette at its boundary, soothing to softer hues, where textured curling bark will sit alongside large crusted blocks of expanded cork. 

'The three outer spaces in our garden, each with its own character, accommodate a type of social activity: a large, covered space for a family or friends; a more formal space for colleagues; and a more intimate corner for a quiet conversation with a partner,' explains designer Sophie Parmenter. ‘Each space is defined by a cork and timber screen - or ‘mask’ - which together create a fourth area, a sunken, protected sanctuary at the heart of the garden. This sheltered central garden becomes a metaphor for the inner mind.’

Another designer focusing on health and wellbeing is Ula Maria, who will create the Forest Bathing Garden, to represent a place of solace and reflection for those affected by the muscle wasting condition muscular dystrophy.

Ula's design harnesses the therapeutic power of nature, with over 40 birch trees enveloping the garden, creating an oasis of tranquillity. It seeks to showcase how an immersive, accessible garden can offer a place of refuge.

The design of the garden is inspired by the ancient Japanese practice of 'Shinrin-yoku', which means bathing in the forest atmosphere, and reconnecting with nature through our senses. The garden seeks to awaken imagination and innate connection to nature by bridging a gap between us and the natural world.

Elsewhere at the show, designer Miria Harris will be creating a garden for stroke survivors.

The garden is designed as a peaceful, sensory space for recovery. Wildlife-friendly and native perennials including Salvia greggii, Lunaria annua and Ranunculus flammula will be placed according to different planting conditions, in a scheme that encourages reconnection with the natural world after the disconnecting experience of a stroke.

The garden promotes a sustainable and low environmental impact design approach, incorporating materials including hemp, and celebrating traditional crafts such as lime rendering.

Miria herself is a stroke survivor, and the garden is shaped by her story.

Another health-focused inspirational show garden design will come from award-winning garden designer Matthew Childs. He will create a garden to celebrate the vision of zero new HIV cases by 2030, in association with HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust.

The entrance into the garden will be reminiscent of the flooded base of a rejuvenated quarry landscape. The water level will rise and fall, revealing a monolith slate stepping stone, that creates a bridge to the 2030 vision of no new HIV cases.

All four of these show gardens are supported by Project Giving Back, which champions gardens for good causes. 

FAQs

If reading about these show garden design for the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show has got you thinking about your own yard, why not read more about gardening therapy, and have a look at these modern backyard ideas for even more design inspiration. 

Besides her acting talents and quirky personality, Zooey Deschanel is known for her knack for color. From her green couch to her turquoise kitchen tiles, the actress and musician seems to be able to sniff out a color trend from a mile away. The walls of the home Zooey shares with her husband Jonathan Scott are no different. The cream wallpaper with deep berry and pink trees is so stylish and versatile.

Furthermore, the rich berry shade in Zooey Deschanel's wallpaper embodies one of the biggest upcoming color trends for 2024, according to experts.

Chelsea Clark, Head of Brand at wallpaper company Lucie Annabel, states: 'A trending shade for this autumn, damson has a timeless quality, meaning as trends come and go throughout the years, this classic color will remain stylish.' Not only is the shade on trend, but the allure of Zooey's wall decor will last for years to come.

Chelsea continues, 'Perfect for spaces where you want to evoke a sense of coziness, this rich shade creates a great backdrop, adding depth and enveloping the room in an inviting and warm ambiance.' 

Hebe Hatton, Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens adds: 'The mix of light pink and deeper berry add dimension and an artful edge to the room. The traditional pattern paired with the non-traditional color of Zooey Deschanel's wallpaper makes for an extra cool look.'

Experts also love the way Zooey Deschanel's wallpaper design pairs with the trim in her living room. Hebe says, 'I love the contrast between the traditional, berry-colored wallpaper and the dark wood in Zooey's space. The chocolate brown and pink color scheme is warm and inviting, while the stylish, conventional design adds an air of sophistication.'

On the wallpaper and trim pairing, Chelsea states, 'This rich berry hue pairs perfectly with dark wood, as the complimentary undertones give a dramatic yet cozy feel. A striking but harmonious contrast, these colors paired together to add depth to a room, adding a level of sophistication.'

Whether it's 2024 or 2040, Zooey Deschanel's wallpaper color scheme is an everlasting trend. To take more inspiration from the queen of twee and color, read our piece about Zooey's colorful couch.

Few design rules convert to every single room of the home, but Chelsea DeBoer's recent tip translates from the kitchen to the bathroom and beyond. 

'One thing I think people should try to think more about is their room's proportions: whether it's furniture or rugs or lighting, if things are too big or small in proportion, it just doesn’t look right,' the Down Home Fab star shared with H&G. 'Sometimes people forget, if something is too big, it can look unproportionate – and that, in turn, makes the room feel small. Considering proportions makes such a difference.' 

The HGTV personality and Aubree Says co-founder, has spent her career mastering decorating and design – but of all the lessons she's learned, choosing the right-sized furniture is among the most impactful. However, finding a piece perfectly sized for any room in our home can be easier said than done. So, should we go bigger or smaller? 

'I would rather have an oversized light and make a statement than something that's too small. I would also rather choose a rug that's too big than too small. I tend to suggest going bigger and having a statement to look at instead of going too small,' she says. 'That's my biggest tip for people to look out for; I encourage them to be considerate about the proportions of any items in their space.'

Considering our room's proportions is, as Chelsea emphasizes, highly influential to our home's overall aesthetic. However, the designer also reminds us not to overlook the power of a new area rug. 

'One way to change or refresh a room is with a new area rug. I just changed out the area rug in my living room, and it just made the whole space feel completely different,' she says.

'If you change your area rug, your pillows, or your throw blankets, it can feel like a new space and feel much more refreshed. It's a reminder that we should never forget about the floor area; it's such a base. I always say to build from the bottom up.'

'Start with your floor and build from there because it really is a huge space that is going to impact how your entire space looks.'

Adding a kitchen rug is one way to give our space a refresh, but in this space particularly, Chelsea also encourages us to upgrade our hardware to further improve our space. 

'If I were going to talk to someone and they wanted to change their space without spending loads of money I would say that changing out the hardware in a kitchen can make a huge impact. It's a relatively easy project and not too expensive.' 

We've listed some of our favorite rugs below, but of course, we're taking note of our room's proportions before investing. 

Though rugs and hardware may not some like rug changing additions, Chelsea's advice reminds us how even the smallest of details (including throws and pillows) have a transformative impact. Her brand, Aubree Says, is our first port of call for these accessories, in case we need more tempting to buy new blankets and candles this fall. 

Choosing a color that's versatile enough to work in every style of room in every kind of home is no easy feat, but Chelsea DeBoer has made it possible.

The Down Home Fab designer and Aubree Says co-founder has spent years refining our design habits, so we're not scared to trust her color choices – and though she admits they are safe, they're almost entirely failsafe. 

'Saying white works in every single room is a basic answer, but it's the truth. Having a white base can work anywhere because you can still make it feel warm, cozy, and inviting even if you paint it white,' Chelsea says in an interview with H&G.

'Specifically, when decorating with white, I recommend Sherwin Williams' Alabaster. It's the perfect white, and it looks great in all spaces.'

Though it's no secret that white paint is one of the most versatile choices for our homes, this hue is an eternally safe investment – making her second color choice all the more surprising. 

'I initially wanted to say black works in all rooms because that's my personal favorite color, but I don't know if that's something you can use in every single area,' she comments.

'I personally love black rooms – my bedroom isn't huge, but we painted it black, and it doesn't feel smaller. Black is underrated, whether we use it on our walls or throughout a whole room. However, in this case, white is so classic and so good every single time.'

White paint will always be a timeless color trend, but as Chelsea explains, this isn't the only feature that will look just as fashionable in 'decades to come'.' 

'Medium to light wood tones will always be in – they'll always be classic and gorgeous. I'm less sure about hues with orange tones and darker wood tones, but medium to light woods will look stylish,' she adds. And paint and wood shades aside, some furnishings will always be worth the investment.

'Choosing functional design and decor, such as built-in storage options, is never a bad idea. Durable design features will always be useful – and they'll always be timeless.'

Chelsea's brand, Aubree Says, is a natural starting point when accessorizing our rooms, whatever color our walls and wooden accents may be. We love these three picks, perfect for fall decor too.

Chelsea DeBoer: the HGTV personality and Aubree Says co-founder has an enviable résumé in the design world – so when she shares decorating lessons, we take note. 

The Down Home Fab star, whose home decor brand is known for its everyday products, recently sat down with H&G, and naturally, the conversation quickly turned to the surprising decorative power of accessories. 

'With my brand, Aubree Says, I wanted to focus on everyday home products, as they can be a building point or a finishing point at the same time,' Chelsea says. In many ways, this rewrites conventions that suggest accessories should be one of the last things to consider when designing a space. 

Though these items may be smaller and conventionally less powerful than elements like new flooring or paint, Chelsea says we can use these products to form the 'base of a room' and decorate around them.

'You can throw your blanket down, get some cute candles, and build from that,' she explains. 'Or alternatively, you can use them in the final steps or as filler items that allow a room to come together.' We can shop her collection via Amazon here. 

Whether working with accessories or embarking on a large-scale renovation, Chelsea adds that we should always focus less on following trends – and more on creating a home that feels like our own. This could be a case of decorating with antiques or painting in a color that brings us joy personally, no matter what others may say. 

'How do you want to feel in your space? It's about finding things and items and finishes that kind of give you that feeling. It really is that simple,' she says. And, while larger-scale redesign often comes with reservations, Chelsea urges us that it's often not as complex as people believe. In some cases, we may even find it enjoyable. 

'The process of redesigning is often not as complicated as people think. When we started building our house, everyone we spoke to wished us good luck, but we really enjoyed the process because we made it fun.'

'We wanted to design a space that gave us a warm, cozy feeling in our home, and so we took enjoyment from that process. We simplified it, and I think that that helped a lot.'

We're taking this as our cue to begin a redesign, and when in doubt, begin with accessories. Plus, for more tips from Chelsea, we're catching up on the first season of Down Home Fab via Amazon now. 

London's Chelsea Harbour plays host to WOW!house again from this week. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, WOW!house 2023 showcases 18 extraordinary rooms by world-class designers – some, such as Nicky Haslam, established luminaires; others are rising stars – all in a huge show house space. 

The rooms, designed in collaboration with 12 luxury brand room sponsors, take visitors on a journey of discovery – calm and classical spaces are juxtaposed with dramatic and elaborate rooms. Each concept has a design takeaway, so visitors will leave with fresh ideas and inspiration for their own homes. 

Here, we take a closer look at what you can expect to see – plus you can book talks, private room tours and more – H&G is hosting a tour and ceviche class in the Martin Moore kitchen by Henry Prideaux on Monday 19th June – at the WOW!house talks page. WOW!house closes after Thursday 6th July.

The Legend Room by Nicky Haslam and Colette van den Thillart

Invited to create the inaugural WOW!house Legend Room, interior designers Nicky Haslam and Colette van den Thillart have conjured up a theatrical salon to delight the eye. 

‘This room is a prelude to the many to come,’ says Haslam. ‘It needs to have diverse areas to suit diverse activities... reading, studying, gaming’. 

The dining room by Joy Moyler Interiors

New York-based interior designer Joy Moyler has combined a bold color palette with strong architectural details to create a space that will tempt you to stay long into the night. 

‘I carved this niche in the Dining Room as an ode to Christian Dior,’ states Joy. ‘I love the idea of stealing away from the crowd after a wonderful meal for a little bit of a gossip,’ she adds. 

Look up for a beautifully textured ceiling. 

Fromental courtyard by Maddux Creative

Given free access to Fromental’s extraordinary archive, designers Scott Maddux and Jo Le Gleud were, they say, ‘like children in a sweet shop’. 

Taking the delicious treasures they found there as a starting point, they collaborated with Fromental to produce brand new textures, fabrics, patterns and effects for the space. This room has been nicknamed 'The 3am Room'. 

The Martin Moore kitchen by Henry Prideaux

Kitchens are the heart of every home and, since this home is the WOW!house, that heart has a glorious, glamorous beat. Interior designer Henry Prideaux’s starting point was room sponsor Martin Moore’s ‘New Deco’ kitchen. Inspired by the architects and craftsmen of the 1930s, the custom-built , handcrafted cabinetry and free-standing pieces have ‘great shape’, says Prideaux. ‘Every room needs to include something that’s going to draw your eye, something to catch your interest,’ he adds.

You can see the De Gournay Morning room (top). This chimerical space is the creation of Waldo Works. 

‘We wanted a light, bright room to while away the morning comfortably daydreaming’ says Tom Barlett. 

The starting point was the scenic wallpaper ‘Drafting Room’, which de Gournay transposed onto ‘Satin Grey’ dyed silk from Bartlett’s line drawings. It’s a true room with a view. 

But we don't want to give everything away...

Needless to say, there are many more fabulous spaces, including the Iksel entrance foyer by Mark D Sikes; the C&C Milan Salon by Nicolò Castellini Baldissera; the drawing room by Vanessa MacDonald for Melissa Wyndham; the Drummonds principal bathroom by Barlow & Barlow; the Colony by Casa Luisa principal bedroom by Natalia Miyar; the Alexander Lamont + Miles + Lauren Hwang New York day room by Timothy Mather Design; the House of Rohl bathroom by Studio Mica; the Gosling Library by Tim Gosling; the study by Clare Gaskin Design; the dining room by Martin Hulbert and Jay Grierson of Martin Hulbert Design; the De Le Cuona bedroom by Christian Bense; the home bar by Tala Fustok; and the Summit Furniture Terrace by Studio Winch. 

The show house closes at the end of the day on Thursday 6th July; advance booking is recommended.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show – the most prestigious floral festival in the UK – will celebrate the life of the late Queen in the first event since her passing. 

An aptly-named Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration, created by award-winning garden designer Dave Green, will exhibit Queen Elizabeth II's most-beloved plants – including silver birch and Olivia Austin roses. It will also pay homage to the new King – commemorating his coronation with his most favored plants. 

It is no secret that delphiniums are the King's most-loved flower – often appearing in Royal residences, including his summer retreat, Highgrove House. However, alongside some light pink and white flowers – planted in memory of Queen Elizabeth – the garden will include camassia and geranium, both of which featured on the King's preference list. 

Designer Dave Green sought advice from Sandringham's Head Gardener, Jack Lingfield, to seamlessly celebrate the new monarch's tastes. Sculptor Keziah Burt created a bust of King Charles that will also sit among the flower bed.

Chelsea Flower Show will take place from May 22nd to May 27th on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. With just under three weeks to go, the only images of the Garden of Royal Reflection are CGI impressions, seen above. However, these images offer a glimpse of what visitors (and the rest of the world) can expect before photographs are released.

The Queen was a frequent visitor of the Chelsea Flower Show – visiting even last year in May 2022, four months before her passing. 

'Her Majesty became Patron of the Society on accession to the throne in 1952. From an early age, The Queen regularly accompanied her parents to RHS Chelsea Flower Show, visiting the show more than 50 times during her reign, and always took great pleasure in touring the gardens and plant displays and speaking with exhibitors,' the RHS shared in a statement. 

'Her Majesty understood the importance of gardening, and there can be no doubt that The Queen and HRH Prince Philip enjoyed the peace and privacy of their gardens at Sandringham, Norfolk, Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, and Buckingham Palace, but they also enjoyed the gardens as a venue for summer garden parties; it is said that no one knew the gardens of Buckingham Palace better than The Queen.'

We await photos of this special garden once Chelsea Flower Show opens to all, but in the meantime, we're reading up on Buckingham Palace's famous royal gardens below.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022 marked a significant shift in the British royal family. Her son, Charles III, became King of the United Kingdom –meaning his eldest son, William, ascended to the position of the Prince of Wales. 

The former Duke of Cambridge and his wife, Catherine (formally the Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales), recently made headlines following their move to Adelaide Cottage in Berkshire – near Windsor Castle – the famous royal residence that belonged to the late Her Majesty. However, despite moving to the country, William and Catherine are expected to keep their most recent residence, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace.

Where is Kensington Palace?

Kensington Palace is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. The estate is one of the grandest in the British capital and is one of the world's best homes – featuring 107 hectares of garden and a mansion with a rich royal history. 

What is Kensington Palace famous for?

The royal residence is best known as the official home of William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales. However, it has housed other notable royals since its completion by Sir George Coppin in 1605. Queen Victoria enjoyed the palace's regal decorating ideas at the start of her life (when she was Princess Alexandrina Victoria), and she was baptized in the Cupola Room (pictured above).

In recent history, Princess Margaret, the Countess of Snowdon (Queen Elizabeth II's sister), and her husband, the Earl of Snowdon, moved into Apartment 10 before undergoing a large renovation in the early 1960s.

The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and his wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, also lived in Kensington Palace during their marriage. It remained Diana's official residence following their divorce until her death in 1997. There is a statue of Princess  Diana in the palace gardens. 

Prince William and Harry spent their childhood in the palace, which remains the official home of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Is Kensington Palace open to public?

Yes, the State Rooms are open to the public, but there are some offices and accommodation areas that remain private for the family.

The palace exhibits a host of paintings and other objects from the Royal Collection that are displayed to visitors. 

Beyond the State Rooms, Princess Catherine commissioned designer Ben Pentreath to decorate their apartment in 2017. The London-based designer, admired for quintessential yet playful home decor ideas, had already worked with Charles on the Duchy of Cornwall estate and the Royal Pavilion in Poundbury in Dorchester. His clientele also includes actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Liv Tyler. 

Who lives in Kensington Palace now?

The Prince and Princess of Wales will likely keep their apartment in Kensington Palace, despite moving to the Berkshire town of Windsor in southeast England.

You can visit Kensington Palace at Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX. 

Take a period house that had been converted into a dentist's studio with apartments above, sprinkle with plenty of imagination, and hey presto, the result is an elegant five bedroom townhouse in Chelsea, London. Now restored into one of the world's best homes, it's a masterclass in how to create an opulent aesthetic. 

The first redevelopment project undertaken by Fiona Barratt-Campbell and her husband Sol under their new business arm Fiona Barratt Projects, a luxurious look was key. 

'The aim for the property was to carefully balance aesthetics with functionality, using luxurious artisan finishes to create a sumptuous and welcoming home,' says Fiona. 'We wanted to create a liveable feel throughout the house.'

Soothing neutrals evoke a serene and calming interior. 'I love the way in which the neutral palette we used throughout the house is offset by statement pieces. Texture, color and contrasting materials all combine into a signature style, adding depth and definition to the warm, neutral backdrop in most of the rooms.'

1. Use a textured wallpaper in a hall

Structural work included reconfiguring much of the interior to maximise the space. The very narrow hallway, for instance, was widened to add a greater sense of arrival when entering the house. 

One of the hallway ideas to create a luxe feel as soon as you enter the home was to incorporate a suede effect wallpaper. 'I wanted to add warmth in the hallway as it is the first room people see when they enter,' says Fiona. 'The suede textured wallpaper achieves this perfectly, enveloping guests as soon as they step through the door.'

2. Install a statement kitchen island

Fiona created a statement kitchen with bespoke cabinets by her brand, FBC London. 

Among her kitchen ideas was installing an eyecatching central island to create an all important ‘kitchen triangle’. 

'This instantly creates a social gathering point and centerpiece for the kitchen; the overhang of exquisite Italian Calacatta Viola marble creates additional seating suited to a range of uses from relaxed family breakfasts and afternoon coffee with a laptop, to evening drinks with friends,' Fiona says. 

The marble’s variety of warm brown tones complements the tones of the cabinetry. 'The pattern of the marble really lifts and adds character to the matt lacquer and veneer cabinetry frontage, instantly creating a focal point for the space. We intentionally chose simplicity in the smaller details, including handleless cupboards and drawers for a cleaner look.'

The starting point for the kitchen design was to create a large open plan space that incorporated the cosy television area and the dining area, while maintaining the functionality and identity of these individual spaces.

3. Create a showstopping dining space

Despite the space being so narrow, Fiona has managed to create a sumptuous feel with carefully considered furniture. 

One of Fiona's key dining room ideas was the hero dining table. 'The hammered glass top and industrial scale rivets on the columns below create a showstopping entertaining piece,' she says. 

Because of the size of the space, Fiona incorporated a fixed banquette on one side and chairs on the other, so that seats could be easily moved and the area opened up, if needed.

4. Introduce gold leaf accents 

Fiona intentionally chose tones to complement the golden brickwork in the outdoor courtyard, to create one harmonious indoor-outdoor environment. 'The gold leaf accents in the wallpaper reflect the abundance of natural light to create a luminous and luxurious living space,' she says.

5. Choose opulent upholstery fabric

'The living room is one of my favorite rooms in the house and a real entertaining space with floor to ceiling sash windows,' says Fiona. 

Furniture with smooth curved edges is key to the sophisticated feel. Fiona opted for statement FBC London Angelina armchairs, which have a detailed cast bronze foot. Opulent upholstery fabrics are among her living room ideas. 'I chose the fabric, which in person has a beautiful luminescent, almost golden appearance, as it sits so well against the more neutral tones of the other pieces in the room,' she says. 'We needed a moment of color and the two chairs really do pop and provide a focal point as soon as you enter the room.'

Bespoke joinery units provide elegant storage. 'This additional shelving allowed us to balance aesthetics with functionality, and the carefully curated art and antiques add contrasting accents and pops of color to the surrounding neutral background palette,' says Fiona.

6. Add interest with a shimmering paper

In the main bedroom, Fiona opted for a slightly warmer neutral base with luxurious artisan finishes to create a sumptuous and cocooning retreat. Central to her bedroom ideas was the bespoke wallpaper with its dappled shimmer effect, which draws the eye into the space.

7. Indulge with an oversized headboard 

Fiona has made a statement in this bedroom with an oversized headboard that features soft, luxurious upholstery. She contrasted it, in terms of style and texture, with two mounted hammered metal sidelights. Shimmer effect wallpaper creates a luxe backdrop. The sky light was added to maximise natural light.

8. Layer textures in a bedroom

Fiona played on the juxtaposition of nature and materiality to create an elevated rustic aesthetic in this guest bedroom. The layering of texture and warm tones adds depth. 'To me, this is the essence of modern luxury in the home,' she says.

9. Opt for dramatic marble in a bathroom

Fiona had a monochromatic vision for the bathroom. Among her bathroom ideas was  a bold marble with strong veining in predominantly whites, black and greys to create a dramatic backdrop. Offsetting it with the soft, matt white tub and accessories avoids a heavy atmosphere.

Interior design/ Fiona Barratt Interiors

Photographs/ Fiona Barratt Projects

There is no denying that recent design movements have an emphasis on wellness. From minimalism and botanical motifs to the ever-growing interest in color psychology – it is clear that people crave a home that looks good and makes them feel good, too. 

Enter; therefore, the aptly-named 'self-care space' – the latest interior design trend that prioritizes mental health and wellbeing – and its appeal is clear. These designated spaces (of all sizes) offer a 'meaningful break from life' through therapeutic decorating ideas – including mood lighting and house plants, naturally. 

And while designers can advise on the best shapes and colors, psychology experts explain that your 'self-care space' is entirely personal – meaning many decisions come down to you. Here's how to get started.

How to create a 'self-care space' 

Psychology professors Belle Liang and Timothy Klein recently published How to Navigate Life – a book that explores how to cut through stress and design a purposeful, meaningful life. Drawing from their principles, we asked them how to create a self-care space at home. They recommend designing for your energy.  

Design for energy 

You may have heard about energy in terms of bedroom feng shui, but Belle and Timothy's teaching differs from this ancient teaching. 

'Ask yourself what you need a break from.  Do you need a break from stress and anxiety? Are you feeling overwhelmed, irritated, or restless?  You want to design for a calming, pleasant, tranquil, or serene space,' they say. Alternatively, if you crave a break from boredom and monotony, you should design a 'high-energy, inspiring space' that will make you feel more energized. 

'If you’re living a stressful life, you want to design a pleasant and serene space. So, consider what makes you feel peaceful, balanced, tranquil, or serene,' they add. You should look for objects, colors, and other elements that promote the feeling you desire. 

How to curate a serene space – according to a designer

As Belle and Timothy explain, each self-care space has a different purpose depending on the individual. Though, it never hurts to have some starting points, especially when they're approved by Chelsey Preuss, a Holistic Interior Designer from Chelsey Home. 

1. Choose the location wisely

Your self-care space should be as distant from reality as possible, so it's important to consider its placement. Chelsea urges you to find a space that is separate from other people – and above all – away from your home office or workspace.

2. Experiment with lighting

Your lighting ideas hold great power in every room – often used to make a statement or make a space feel bigger. However, as Chelsey suggests, they are particularly impactful in terms of self-care. 

'Low lighting slows us down, whether that be string lights, lamps, or color mood lights,' she says. LED light bulbs offer an ambient glow, and they're also more energy efficient (compared to standard bulbs) – making your self-care space slightly more sustainable, too. 

3. Opt for a grounding palette

The growing interest in color psychology is already no secret, so it is perhaps unsurprising that your palette plays a part in your self-care space. Light blue is one of the most calming colors you can choose, and it's entirely backed by sleep experts – welcome news if you're creating your space in the bedroom. 

Chelsey similarly recommends drawing your color ideas from nature – including warm neutrals and various shades of green that will connect you to the world beyond your four walls. 

4. Create fluidity through shapes

If your self-care space is large enough to welcome large furniture, Chelsey recommends choosing round, circular shapes and edges that will create fluidity. 

'You can add floor cushions, window coverings, and bedding,' she says. 'And for hard goods like tables, wood or natural stone which allows you to feel grounded.' She urges you to place most of your furnishings on the ground to emphasize this feeling further. 

5. Finish with houseplants

The best house plants need to introduction, as their natural benefits are already admired for their mood-boosting qualities. This is why Sam Baldry, the Head of Design at Swoon, urges you to bring them into your self-care space.

'Not only have [plants] been scientifically proven to boost moods and increase creativity levels, they can also reduce stress, as well as eliminate air pollutants in your home,' he says. 'They  can contribute to promoting wellness and self-care, as well as creating an aesthetically pleasing display in every space.' Let the preparation begin. 

The Society of Garden Designers Awards celebrate the very best in garden design innovation and voting has now opened for the People's Choice Award, the only award that is decided by public vote.

Members of the public can choose their favorite garden from a shortlist of 15 eligible projects, ranging from a large rural garden situated among vineyards and olive groves of a Tuscan estate in Italy, to a tiny courtyard in Kensington.

Sponsored by Homes & Gardens, the People's Choice Award entries have been chosen by an independent judging panel of industry experts from among the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2022 shortlist. They include captivating garden designs from across the UK and abroad, with some of the brightest new names in garden design alongside some of the most established designers. 

See below for details of all the entries in this year's Society Of Garden Designers People's Choice Awards and then vote for your favorite on the voting page of the SGD website, where you can also find more images of each of the shortlisted entries.

The voting is open from 1 July until 31 July 2022. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony, along with the rest of the winners on 23 September 2022.

Society of Garden Designers People's Choice Award – the shortlist

The People's Choice Award offers an exciting opportunity for you all to have your say in which you think is the best garden design. With so many fantastic entries, it won't be easy, but enjoy looking at all of the inspiring designs and then vote for your favorite.

Acomb High House, designed by Matthew Wilson

This design by Matthew Wilson was for an old walled garden.  

'While the client was open to exploring all possibilities for the design, they were explicit that the garden should be wildlife friendly, and that wherever possible the materials already on site – including large quantities of local walling stone – should be re-used,' he explains.

Paving stone and gravel for the footpaths were sourced from a local quarry, and many existing plants were dug up and retained to further reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

Low maintenance ornamental plants were selected, with pollen and nectar rich perennials and flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs.

Alexander Square, by Stefano Marinaz

Split over two levels, the design of this garden by Stefano Marinaz increased planting beds while retaining space for dining al fresco in the summer.

'Even though the garden is South-West facing the large Catalpa tree provides a lot of shade to the garden and influenced the type of plants chosen. Above the dining table we hung pendant lights from simple stainless steel wires that also allow climbers to grow on,' Stefano explains.

The feature fencing utilises iroko vertical elements of different width and depth alongside some decorative bronze details that resemble a wooden pattern. 

A Sense of Discovery, designed by Stefano Marinaz

Garden designer Stefano Marinaz recreated the 'jungle' feel of this previously overgrown Queen's Park garden through considered planting, with a meandering path creating a sense of discovery.

'The garden was split in 3 different areas and we concentrated our design on the section closer to the house, which includes the terrace and the garden up to the metal arch,' he explains.

The existing large Robinia sp. and Syringa sp. were retained and incorporated within the scheme, while the rest of the planting has an emphasis on perennials and bulbs combined with shrubs that provide interest all year round.

Bishop's House, Rwanda, designed by Chloe Humphreys

This design by Chloe Humphreys meets the requirement of a calming and private garden for guests in a suburban hotel in the heart of Ruhengeri, Rwanda. 

The brief was for the garden to be in keeping with the location's existing flora and architecture; providing screening and privacy from neighboring buildings was important.

Chloe says: 'Being in a highly volcanic area the most easily available stone is volcanic stone and we celebrated this unique stone within the design. Using locally sourced materials often is the most sustainable solution as the carbon footprint of the projects are much reduced. 

With most of Rwanda farmed, she used a dominant crop, the banana, within the planting design to create fast privacy while waiting for the combination of indigenous trees to grow. 'This has resulted in a unique project which is wholly encompassing of a sense of true identity to the site and to the project as a whole,' she says. 

Chelsea Townhouse, designed by Adolfo Harrison

This family garden designed by Adolfo Harrison reflects the personalities of the Irish and Italian owners, providing spaces to entertain and lounge in both sun and shade.

'The concept was to create a seamless flow of spaces that starts the moment you walk through the front door of the house till you reach the garden studio at the end, via three outdoor rooms, and by doing so removing any hierarchy between the indoors and out,' explains Adolfo.

Crittall windows from inside the house were taken for the design of the dividing screens and pergola, which are smothered in climbing flowers. 'These screens never allow you to see the complete garden at any one point but neither do they deny the sense of depth,' Adolfo adds.

Clapham family garden, designed by Garden Club London

The brief for this family garden design by Garden Club London was to provide more balance between hard and soft landscaping and improve the link between the two levels.

An outdoor studio was an inherent feature in the space, while a lower level was redesigned to accommodate an outdoor kitchen.

Garden Club London explains: 'Particular attention was put into creating a better journey through the garden leading to the outdoor studio. A soft curved path leads from the lounge patio through generous planting borders to a small lawn and bespoke playhouse. The minimalist planting scheme has also been expanded, including a wide range of species to increase seasonal interest and biodiversity.'

Davines Village, Italy, designed by Tommaso Del Buono

This landscape design by Tommaso Del Buono for the new corporate headquarters of a cosmetics company includes an 'Apothecary Garden' (Orto Scientifico) to display the organic plants that form the basis of their formulations, and two large central courtyards.

'The Orto Scientifico is an instrument for research, an open air ‘showroom’ and importantly a place of work but also rest and relaxation for both employees and visitors.

'A "Paradise" garden, the Orto is traditionally and practically laid out in geometrically arranged beds with plants selected and grouped in accordance to their beneficial properties and uses,' Tommaso explains.

Golfe Leste, Portugal, designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson

This garden located in the Portuguese Algarve was designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson to meet the client's brief of creating a place of sanctuary and retreat but with views of the surrounding landscape.

Dry gravel naturalistic planting is inspired by the local landscapes and habitats and in the wider garden, boulders and stone steps deal with the level changes of the sloping site, while tall Italian cypresses deliver vertical punctuation.

Gavin McWilliam says: 'The design turns its back on the high input, water thirsty gardens typical of the surrounding area, offering a new aesthetic of naturalistic and native planting that will not require irrigation beyond the establishment period, and will dramatically increase biodiversity.'

Heathside pool garden, designed by Matthew Childs

Full of interest and atmosphere, this garden design by Matthew Childs is both contemporary but also has a strong link to the natural surroundings.

The design incorporates waterfalls and a large wildlife pond which abuts a stepped limestone terrace surrounding the house, linking home with garden. 

The strong, contemporary features of the pool house are balanced with soft, prairie style and pollinator friendly planting, large multi-stem birches and natural stone to give the illusion the garden had always been there.

'Our project approach was to take inspiration from the site’s history. Heathside was originally the pool house to the neighboring mansion, and had been a place for people and pleasure and we wanted to restore this. The steeply sloping topography and extensive amounts of existing Westmoreland stone were seen as a positive rather than a constraint and informed the design direction,' Matthew explains.

Kensington Courtyard, designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson

The simple and coherent design by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson of this small enclosed space was to provide an oasis of calm for a family to enjoy and an extension to their kitchen area.

A more coherent treatment of paving, boundaries and level change has created a calming environment.

'Due to the restricted light levels paving needed to be considered carefully in order to deliver safe use and to age well over time. The introduction of vertical planting delivered a much greater planting impact,' says Gavin McWilliam.

Le Mie Colline, Italy, designed by Tommaso Del Buono

This rural property in Tuscany sits at the heart of a new estate comprising vineyards, olive groves and areas of native woodland. Designer Tommaso Del Buono's brief from the client was to create a much expanded and ambitious garden, to include a new infinity swimming pool, productive gardens and orchards, within a framework of different spaces tailored to the clients' lifestyle.

The stony, heavy soil and relative lack of water informed and guided the selection of drought tolerant plants used. 

'Given the strong character and beauty of the surrounding and nearly untouched countryside and landscape, one of our main challenges was to ensure that the new gardens and elements within them should fit naturally and harmoniously with their surroundings,' says Tommaso.

RHS Wisley, World Food Garden, designed by Ann-Marie Powell

This design of the new World Food Garden for RHS Wisley by Ann-Marie Powell was to combine and consolidate their fruit, vegetable and herb gardens.

Split into three sections, the garden was inspired by the unusual oval site. Contemporary Corten pergolas in the Main Avenue overflow with edible climbers, leading to a central water feature encircled by pleached fruit trees. Flanked by beds filled with edible annuals and perennials, the avenue provides a joyful, productive and inspiring educational experience. 

Elsewhere are mixed borders of culinary herbs and edible flowers, mixed height steel raised beds in the World Food Maize allow visitors to get lost within a world of flavor of more unusual vegetable and fruit varieties, and Good to Grow beds highlight how to grow crops.

'The design needed to create a cohesive landscape with separate experimental compartments to welcome and encourage exploration by the visitor,' Ann Marie explains.

Richmond garden, designed by Tom Massey

One of the first commissions Tom Massey was awarded two years after graduating from college, this garden features dual level sawn Yorkstone dining terraces with bespoke steps, a 12m long living wall, and a water feature that runs the entire length of the garden, starting as a natural stream, transitioning into a Corten steel rill and ending in a lily pond trough.

'The garden is divided in distinct zones; close to the house it is formal in character with the crisp clean lines of sawn Yorkstone paving, further along stepping-stones lead through the lawn with its planted borders to a productive area, screened from view by bespoke louvered timber screens. At the rear of the garden is a more naturalistic woodland area,' says Tom.

Twickenham garden, designed by Tom Massey

The owners of this Twickenham garden wanted an interesting and dynamic way to move from basement to ground level and that is exactly what designer Tom Massey delivered.

'Bespoke concrete cuboid steps – nicknamed the cubist cliff path – advance through a sloped bank of lush green planting and cascading concrete and Corten steel water features, providing a playful way to move from basement to ground floor level,' explains Tom.

The upper garden offers bespoke bench seating and steel planters, maintaining a continuation of the cuboid theme. The rear of the garden houses a studio with reflective glazing, surrounded by multi-stem hawthorn trees.

The easy to manage planting scheme includes blossom, scent and evergreen shrubs softened with perennials and grasses for seasonal interest, while a water feature increases the biodiversity of the garden.

West London family garden, designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson 

The design of this London garden by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson was to focus on family socialising, leisure and dining. 

Improved access into the main garden from the higher terrace and lower basement level created a stronger connection with the house, and through careful choice in planting, privacy was improved for both the front and rear gardens.

'The main aims of the design were to create a more immersive garden experience and to relate house and garden together more successfully,' says Gavin McWilliam.

Vote for your favorite design for the Society of Garden Designers People's Choice Award

The shortlisted entries for the Society of Garden Designers People's Choice Awards are listed again below. Visit the SGD website for more images of each of the designs and then vote for your favorite before 31 July 2022.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE FINALISTS:

Acomb High House 
Alexander Square 
A Sense of Discovery   
Bishop's House, Rwanda   
Chelsea Townhouse  
Clapham Family Garden   
Davines Village, Italy 
Golfe Leste, Portugal   
Heathside Pool Garden  
Kensington Courtyard   
'Le mie Colline, Tuscany 
RHS Wisley, World Food Garden  
Richmond Garden 
Twickenham Garden 
West London Family Garden

Matthew Wilson MSGD 
Stefano Marinaz MSGD 
Stefano Marinaz MSGD 
Chloe Humphreys MSGD
Adolfo Harrison MSGD 
Garden Club London
Tommaso Del Buono MSGD
Gavin McWilliam MSGD & Andrew Wilson FSGD 
Matthew Childs 
Gavin McWilliam MSGD & Andrew Wilson FSGD 
Tommaso Del Buono MSGD
Ann-Marie Powell FSGD 
Tom Massey MSGD 
Tom Massey MSGD 
Gavin McWilliam MSGD & Andrew Wilson FSGD 

Among the most coveted annual awards in the gardening world, the Society of Garden Designers Awards celebrate the very best of garden design innovation.

We're delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2022 awards, with many leading names in the industry hoping to win an award across the 14 categories. 

Richard Sneesby, head of the Society of Garden Designers judging panel, says: 'This is another great showcase year for the SGD. The judges were delighted with the range of entries which covered the stimulating work of SGD members both here in the UK and internationally. 

'In particular we were pleased to see the wide range of entries in the smaller garden categories, which often celebrate the work of new members and those who have recently joined the profession. As always, the gardens showcase lots of new ideas, innovative materials and current planting trends, but this year especially the designers, clients and contractors have a strong focus on environmental issues.

'Plants which are resilient to climate change and global pathogens, sustainable water management, minimising carbon footprint of materials supply, wildlife friendly gardens and health and well-being are all evident within many gardens. 

'With most of this years entries having been planned or built during or following the pandemic, this is a testament to the hard work and sensitivity of the whole profession,' Richard adds.

The judges have shortlisted 25 projects for the 2022 awards finalists, with some projects shortlisted under a number of categories. 

New names in garden design have been selected alongside some of the most established designers. Among the well known names shortlisted include Ann-Marie Powell FSGD for her World Food Garden at RHS Garden Wisley and Helen Elks-Smith for a garden in Dorset. Newcomers who have made it onto the shortlist include Harry Holding, for a cemetery garden in London.

The inspiring designs have been entered for categories ranging from International and UK residential and commercial projects large and small, to those including Garden Jewel, for designs of less than 150m2, Healing or Learning Landscapes or Gardens, Planting Design, and The Design for the Environment Award, for designs focussed on environmental contribution and sustainability, which is also open to non garden designers. More details can be found in the full list of the SGD 2022 Awards categories.

Projects in seven of the categories will also be entered into the People’s Choice Award, which is open for votes via the SGD website on 1st July 2022 for one month.

West London family garden, designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson 

The design of this London garden by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson was to focus on family socialising, leisure and dining. 

Improved access into the main garden from the higher terrace and lower basement level created a stronger connection with the house, and through careful choice in planting, privacy was improved for both the front and rear gardens.

'The main aims of the design were to create a more immersive garden experience and to relate house and garden together more successfully,' says Gavin McWilliam.

Heathside pool garden, designed by Matthew Childs

Full of interest and atmosphere, this garden design by Matthew Childs is both contemporary but also has a strong link to the natural surroundings.

The design incorporates waterfalls and a large wildlife pond which abuts a stepped limestone terrace surrounding the house, linking home with garden. 

The strong, contemporary features of the pool house are balanced with soft, prairie style and pollinator friendly planting, large multi-stem birches and natural stone to give the illusion the garden had always been there.

'Our project approach was to take inspiration from the site’s history. Heathside was originally the pool house to the neighboring mansion, and had been a place for people and pleasure and we wanted to restore this. The steeply sloping topography and extensive amounts of existing Westmoreland stone were seen as a positive rather than a constraint and informed the design direction,' Matthew explains.

Twickenham garden, designed by Tom Massey

The owners of this Twickenham garden wanted an interesting and dynamic way to move from basement to ground level and that is exactly what designer Tom Massey delivered.

'Bespoke concrete cuboid steps – nicknamed the cubist cliff path – advance through a sloped bank of lush green planting and cascading concrete and Corten steel water features, providing a playful way to move from basement to ground floor level,' explains Tom.

The upper garden offers bespoke bench seating and steel planters, maintaining a continuation of the cuboid theme. The rear of the garden houses a studio with reflective glazing, surrounded by multi-stem hawthorn trees.

The easy to manage planting scheme includes blossom, scent and evergreen shrubs softened with perennials and grasses for seasonal interest, while a water feature increases the biodiversity of the garden.

Acomb High House, designed by Matthew Wilson

This design by Matthew Wilson was for an old walled garden.  

'While the client was open to exploring all possibilities for the design, they were explicit that the garden should be wildlife friendly, and that wherever possible the materials already on site – including large quantities of local walling stone – should be re-used,' he explains.

Paving stone and gravel for the footpaths were sourced from a local quarry, and many existing plants were dug up and retained to further reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

Low maintenance ornamental plants were selected, with pollen and nectar rich perennials and flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs.

Clapham family garden, designed by Garden Club London

The brief for this family garden design by Garden Club London was to provide more balance between hard and soft landscaping and improve the link between the two levels.

An outdoor studio was an inherent feature in the space, while a lower level was redesigned to accommodate an outdoor kitchen.

Garden Club London explains: 'Particular attention was put into creating a better journey through the garden leading to the outdoor studio. A soft curved path leads from the lounge patio through generous planting borders to a small lawn and bespoke playhouse. The minimalist planting scheme has also been expanded, including a wide range of species to increase seasonal interest and biodiversity.'

Golfe Leste, Portugal, designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson

This garden located in the Portuguese Algarve was designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson to meet the client's brief of creating a place of sanctuary and retreat but with views of the surrounding landscape.

Dry gravel naturalistic planting is inspired by the local landscapes and habitats and in the wider garden, boulders and stone steps deal with the level changes of the sloping site, while tall Italian cypresses deliver vertical punctuation.

Gavin McWilliam says: 'The design turns its back on the high input, water thirsty gardens typical of the surrounding area, offering a new aesthetic of naturalistic and native planting that will not require irrigation beyond the establishment period, and will dramatically increase biodiversity.'

Le Mie Colline, Italy, designed by Tommaso Del Buono

This rural property in Tuscany sits at the heart of a new estate comprising vineyards, olive groves and areas of native woodland. Designer Tommaso Del Buono's brief from the client was to create a much expanded and ambitious garden, to include a new infinity swimming pool, productive gardens and orchards, within a framework of different spaces tailored to the clients' lifestyle.

The stony, heavy soil and relative lack of water informed and guided the selection of drought tolerant plants used. 

'Given the strong character and beauty of the surrounding and nearly untouched countryside and landscape, one of our main challenges was to ensure that the new gardens and elements within them should fit naturally and harmoniously with their surroundings,' says Tommaso.

Richmond garden, designed by Tom Massey

One of the first commissions Tom Massey was awarded two years after graduating from college, this garden features dual level sawn Yorkstone dining terraces with bespoke steps, a 12m long living wall, and a water feature that runs the entire length of the garden, starting as a natural stream, transitioning into a Corten steel rill and ending in a lily pond trough.

'The garden is divided in distinct zones; close to the house it is formal in character with the crisp clean lines of sawn Yorkstone paving, further along stepping-stones lead through the lawn with its planted borders to a productive area, screened from view by bespoke louvered timber screens. At the rear of the garden is a more naturalistic woodland area,' says Tom.

A Sense of Discovery, designed by Stefano Marinaz

Garden designer Stefano Marinaz recreated the 'jungle' feel of this previously overgrown Queen's Park garden through considered planting, with a meandering path creating a sense of discovery.

'The garden was split in 3 different areas and we concentrated our design on the section closer to the house, which includes the terrace and the garden up to the metal arch,' he explains.

The existing large Robinia sp. and Syringa sp. were retained and incorporated within the scheme, while the rest of the planting has an emphasis on perennials and bulbs combined with shrubs that provide interest all year round.

Bishop's House, Rwanda, designed by Chloe Humphreys

This design by Chloe Humphreys meets the requirement of a calming and private garden for guests in a suburban hotel in the heart of Ruhengeri, Rwanda. 

The brief was for the garden to be in keeping with the location's existing flora and architecture; providing screening and privacy from neighboring buildings was important.

Chloe says: 'Being in a highly volcanic area the most easily available stone is volcanic stone and we celebrated this unique stone within the design. Using locally sourced materials often is the most sustainable solution as the carbon footprint of the projects are much reduced. 

With most of Rwanda farmed, she used a dominant crop, the banana, within the planting design to create fast privacy while waiting for the combination of indigenous trees to grow. 'This has resulted in a unique project which is wholly encompassing of a sense of true identity to the site and to the project as a whole,' she says. 

Chelsea Townhouse, designed by Adolfo Harrison

This family garden designed by Adolfo Harrison reflects the personalities of the Irish and Italian owners, providing spaces to entertain and lounge in both sun and shade.

'The concept was to create a seamless flow of spaces that starts the moment you walk through the front door of the house till you reach the garden studio at the end, via three outdoor rooms, and by doing so removing any hierarchy between the indoors and out,' explains Adolfo.

Crittall windows from inside the house were taken for the design of the dividing screens and pergola, which are smothered in climbing flowers. 'These screens never allow you to see the complete garden at any one point but neither do they deny the sense of depth,' Adolfo adds.

Kensington Courtyard, designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson

The simple and coherent design by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson of this small enclosed space was to provide an oasis of calm for a family to enjoy and an extension to their kitchen area.

A more coherent treatment of paving, boundaries and level change has created a calming environment.

'Due to the restricted light levels paving needed to be considered carefully in order to deliver safe use and to age well over time. The introduction of vertical planting delivered a much greater planting impact,' says Gavin McWilliam.

Alexander Square, by Stefano Marinaz

Split over two levels, the design of this garden by Stefano Marinaz increased planting beds while retaining space for dining al fresco in the summer.

'Even though the garden is South-West facing the large Catalpa tree provides a lot of shade to the garden and influenced the type of plants chosen. Above the dining table we hung pendant lights from simple stainless steel wires that also allow climbers to grow on,' Stefano explains.

The feature fencing utilises iroko vertical elements of different width and depth alongside some decorative bronze details that resemble a wooden pattern. 

Triple Texture Courtyard, designed by Mandy Buckland

Creating zones for dining, relaxing and socialising, Mandy Buckland created purpose to the levels in this two-level small city garden.

The material palette includes charred black timber, seasoned oak and Corten steel . 

'I have designed some interesting quirky angles and junctions. My planting design uses lots of green foliage, creating calm, harmony and texture rather than a riot of color,' Mandy explains.

The Lodge, designed by Harry Holding

Sitting within a cemetery in central London, the design of The Lodge gardens by Harry Holding is sensitive to and distils the essence of the serene landscape beyond. 

Picking up on architectural details of the property, the four outside spaces work to enhance the relationship between the old Neo-Gothic lodge and new extension. 

The richly diverse and low maintenance garden planting creates myriad wildlife habitats. Biodiversity has been hugely improved with 68 new plant species introduced across the four gardens, including a 70m2 wildflower meadow that adorns the flat roof.

'There is a long season of interest for both pollinators and people. A blend of native and non-native plants create an enhanced form of nature that flowers from late winter to early fall,' Harry explains. 

Fifield Farm, designed by Andrea Newill

Andrea Newill's brief for the design of Fifield farm was to open up views from the house and garden to the rural landscape, with a better flow from the house through the garden. 

An extensive, sunken porcelain and clay paver dining and entertaining terrace close to the house includes a barbeque and hot tub area. A black basalt gravel path leads beneath an oak pergola to the games room, wildflower planting and a woodland garden, with water feature and bespoke bench. The design and naturalistic planting enhance views to the rural landscape. 

'The existing 1970s planting style with a preponderance of evergreen shrubs, and coniferous trees, was static and lacking seasonal interest, as well as creating a divide between the house and landscape beyond. This was completely revamped into a naturalistic, contemporary style, in keeping with the rural location,' Andrea explains.

Poole garden, designed by Helen Elks-Smith

Including structural plants with well-defined form was key to this garden design by Helen Elks-Smith. 

'Having previously had a garden with traditional topiary and pleached hedging, albeit in a fairly contemporary setting, the client wanted a different approach although still "structured". The garden is used a lot in the evenings and consideration was also given to lighting when selecting plants and their form,' Helen explains.

The design solution includes the use of key low evergreen trees and shrubs that can be pruned to size and shape and offer a variety of texture and foliage color.

Bulbs, perennials and ornamental grasses create seasonal highlights and further textural interest, while the planting also part defines different garden zones.

Richmond garden, designed by Mike Harvey

The aim of this garden design by Mike Harvey was to provide year round interest, with Mediterranean style planting suited to sandy conditions.

Screening planting, including fruiting and flowering trees, provides privacy from neighboring properties, while not casting too much shade.

'The client wanted the garden to be beautiful both day and night, with a seating area surrounded by plants,' Mike explains.

A Place To Unwind, designed by Sue Townsend

This garden designed by Sue Townsend has an overarching sense of privacy. A large native pond, swathes of perennials and grasses and organic shapes in the gravel garden add to its feeling of natural serenity.

A cantilevered oak deck floats over the pond with views over to a beautiful Flora sculpture set in drought tolerant planting, and a seating area enjoys the shade from a pergola.

Sue says: 'Large island beds with textural and nectar rich coastal planting provide plenty of seasonal interest and allow you to meander around the garden and experience the pond life, planting, bees and butterflies at close hand.'

Wildlife Friendly Eco House Garden, designed by Kristina Clode

Located in a wild coastal setting, this garden design by Kristina Clode had to suit its surroundings.

Kristina explains: 'My client wanted an ecological and sustainable garden, with a low carbon footprint. Planting had to be naturalistic, relatively low maintenance, wildlife friendly and drought tolerant.'

Sustainable, low cost materials used include reclaimed sea timbers, Lydd shingle, reclaimed Yorkstone slabs and rockery stones, while planting had to ensure biodiversity and reinstatement of habitat for the resident bats on the property. 'This meant that a significant proportion of the plants were native, including the perennial wildflower meadow and species rich turf in the rear garden. I am happy to say the bats did return to their new bat box,' Kristina adds.

Rewilding North Barn, designed by Anna Murphy & Sarah Jarman

The design of this garden by Jarman Murphy sought to create a wild, enhanced haven, and limit the impact on the environment by reusing materials from the site for construction, and source and reclaim sustainable materials with longevity.

Murphy and Jarman say: 'The design was to give the clients immersion in nature and wildlife, opening up views to the water meadows across the road, giving them privacy, space to entertain on a large or small scale, space to relax, places be in their garden, places to go to, places to walk through, sound to distract, focal points, sculptural interest. Human spaces within an enhanced rewilded garden.'

Davines Village, Italy, designed by Tommaso Del Buono

This landscape design by Tommaso Del Buono for the new corporate headquarters of a cosmetics company includes an 'Apothecary Garden' (Orto Scientifico) to display the organic plants that form the basis of their formulations, and two large central courtyards.

'The Orto Scientifico is an instrument for research, an open air ‘showroom’ and importantly a place of work but also rest and relaxation for both employees and visitors.

'A "Paradise" garden, the Orto is traditionally and practically laid out in geometrically arranged beds with plants selected and grouped in accordance to their beneficial properties and uses,' Tommaso explains.

RHS Wisley, World Food Garden, designed by Ann-Marie Powell

This design of the new World Food Garden for RHS Wisley by Ann-Marie Powell was to combine and consolidate their fruit, vegetable and herb gardens.

Split into three sections, the garden was inspired by the unusual oval site. Contemporary Corten pergolas in the Main Avenue overflow with edible climbers, leading to a central water feature encircled by pleached fruit trees. Flanked by beds filled with edible annuals and perennials, the avenue provides a joyful, productive and inspiring educational experience. 

Elsewhere are mixed borders of culinary herbs and edible flowers, mixed height steel raised beds in the World Food Maize allow visitors to get lost within a world of flavor of more unusual vegetable and fruit varieties, and Good to Grow beds highlight how to grow crops.

'The design needed to create a cohesive landscape with separate experimental compartments to welcome and encourage exploration by the visitor,' Ann Marie explains.

Hilltop garden in Berkshire, designed by Adam Vetere

This concept of this garden design by Adam Vetere will enrich the site its ecosystem and diversity, while remaining sympathetic to the surrounding ancient woodland.

The aim would be to incorporate recycled materials into the design, while sustainable planting and a rainwater harvest system would further its eco credentials. A long term management plan for the woodland would ensure its enjoyment for decades to come.

Adam says: 'Inspiration for the structure and design of the garden came from many sources, such as the site itself which is steeped in ancient history. The underlying theme was one of strong lines and geometry in the formal areas near the house, which gently recede into the magic and ethereal atmosphere of the ancient woodland beyond.'

Woodland Ensemble, designed by Tabi Jackson-Gee

This design by Tabi Jackson-Gee was shortlisted by MacMillan Cancer Support and selected for Southgate Flower Show 2022, but the designer was unable to make the dates.

Tabi says: 'The brief was to communicate to visitors that a gift in your will is your way to make a lasting legacy and make a difference for people affected by cancer for future generations to come.

'We wanted to design something accessible and not overly manicured – so anyone could replicate similar ideas at home, affordably and sustainably.

'This design was inspired by one brilliant fact: that a dead tree can provide just as much support to a landscape as living ones. 

'The message is we can support and nurture one another throughout our lives – and beyond – in so many ways,' Tabi continues.

Different planting and features in the design would communicate various messages, such as evergreen planting representing the importance of wills to the organisation; winding paths getting narrower, wider, or sometimes blocked, reflecting the unpredictable nature of life; and the 'Legacy Tree' at the centre showing how we can make a difference to other people's lives after we've gone.

For the visitor, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is an incredible source of new landscaping and planting trends and inspiration that we expect to see emerging in domestic garden design in the seasons ahead.

This maze of diverse botanicals, unconventional house plants, and exterior decor features has repercussions not just in London or the UK, but globally. Therefore, it is only natural that you may want to keep up with the most exciting of garden trends to be showcased at this year's event, wherever you are in the world, and whatever the style or size of your backyard.

5 trends to take away from Chelsea Flower Show 2022 

From interior-designed greenhouses to the promotion of (good) bacteria, this year's garden ideas are as provocative as ever.

1. Mindfulness 

Mindfulness and wellbeing are, arguably, the most prominent trends to emerge from Chelsea this year. Just as the world of interiors is increasingly concerned with paints and decor pieces that promote better mental health, the garden is certainly no exception. Many spaces paid homage to mindfulness in some way, including designer Nikki Hollier's container garden. 

'My garden supports mindfulness with its colors, plants, and water feature. A pond, water feature, or fountain can have positive health benefits, primarily reducing blood pressure and stress levels as well as improving physical and mental health,' Nikki shared with H&G. 

The designer suggests that the increased focus on mindfulness is a response to the current pressures of the world that is 'full of technology, stress, and pollution' – so anything that can improve our mental health is a positive. 

'Water features and ponds can provide a sense of calm and tranquillity and allow us to enjoy our surroundings even more by reducing the noise pollution around us,' Nikki says. 

If you're looking for another way to improve wellbeing in your garden, the designer recommends investing in sensory plants whose organic benefits can aid your health. She suggests choosing 'roses for their scent, mint to make tea, and grasses that you can run your hands through and help you connect with nature.'

2. Interior-designed greenhouses 

You would be forgiven for believing that Chelsea is a festival for green-thumbed enthusiasts only, but this greenhouse idea proves that it has an impact on those with an admiration for interior design too. This stylish trend involves turning your greenhouse into a space that mimics your interiors, so you can continue your space outside and elevate a 'practical' space into a fashionable sanctuary. 

Greenhouse manufacturers Hartley Botanic exhibited the space shown above – designed and styled by Llevelo. It comes complete with decor pieces that wouldn't look misplaced in your living room.

'Excellent design always combines both form and function,' says their CEO, Tom Barry. 'The team wanted to showcase the emotional benefit of a greenhouse with its 'unparalleled beauty and style when in the right context.'

These greenhouses allow you to continue your favorite decorating ideas outside so that you can elevate a functional space into another room in your home. '[We wanted to] demonstrate how our greenhouses might look within customers' gardens. But most importantly, we want visitors to have an emotional response. To feel calm, relaxed and to realize how a garden with a wellness focus can deliver this with style,' Tom adds. 

3. Yellow planting 

Following trends doesn't always need to involve a significant investment, and the rise in yellow planting is an example of one of Chelsea's most accessible statements of the year. Many gardens, including the Swiss Sanctuary (designed by Lilly Gomm) above, featured yellow flowers in some form – but the demand for this garden color scheme is no surprise to Nikki. 

'Yellow is bright and cheerful. I feel after everyone has been through the doom and gloom of the pandemic and other world events, a simple pot of yellow daffodils, or swathes of geums on a border and fields of sunflowers can be a simple way to brighten our day,' Nikki explains. This joyful cottage garden idea will 'lift our spirits' and shine through the sunny season without a notable commitment. 

4. Bacterial goodness 

According to Cityscapes Director and Landscape Designer Darryl Moore (who designed St Mungo's garden above), this year saw a rise in the understanding of 'good' bacteria and how you can use it to benefit your health in the garden. 

'There are a lot of new sciences coming out about how the relationship with bacteria in the soil, air, and plants circulates, and how we breathe it forms part of our microbiomes in our gut,' Darryl says. 

In the discussion of his garden, Darryl shared that there is a lot of interaction between the plants – and it is important to replicate its diversity in your own garden. 

'The planting is very dense, and it involves a lot of different species, like a natural, wild plant community. We are looking at expanding that diversity, so it's better for us and better for all the other wildlife that shares that garden with us,' he adds. 

5. Mushrooms  

The mushroom plant trend is so unconventional that we already had to explore it further. This feature comes from stylist James Whiting who collaborated with Malvern Garden Buildings to create the Planet Studio (above). In this studio, the designer used mushrooms as house plants around his home bar – to make an edible statement unlike any other. 

'People are cooking these at home, and they're quite expensive to buy in the shops, so if you love growing things and you love house plants, then mushrooms are stunning. They're yellow, they're pink, they're real, and it's just fascinating,' the stylist shared. 

James recommends starting with oyster mushrooms that you can observe before ending up with a flavorful result in the end. 'You can watch things develop and change, and you can go on a journey with your plant. You become proud of what you create,' he adds. 

Will a mushroom become one of the best indoor plants of the year? Only time will tell. 

RHS’ Chelsea Flower Show 2022 has offered us a host of design techniques and trends that will shape gardens far beyond the British capital. The event is a melting pot of backyard ideas for spaces of all sizes – whether you’re working with a balcony garden or have a spacious plot beyond your home. However, the latest technique to emerge from this year’s event is made with small spaces in mind. 

The lesson comes from designers Darryl Moore and Adolfo Harrison, who created St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots Garden (pictured above and below) in collaboration with the charity. 

While the garden itself was certainly not one of the smallest at the Chelsea Flower Show, it did showcase a clever diagonal line design technique that is perfect for making a small garden look bigger. And the best part? Diagonal lines are also at the peak of current garden trends – so you can emphasize your exteriors in style. 

Using diagonal lines to accentuate small gardens  

What does this small garden idea involve? According to the designer, it is all about how you use diagonal lines. 

‘I really like diagonal shapes. They are dynamic, and they create a sense of movement through a space,’ Darryl shared with H&G. He used the pattern on both the fencing and floor to create a pathway and a sense of a journey through your garden. ‘We play with circles that are a bit more static – they are an anchor point. So, you have two different designs,’ Darryl says. 

While diagonal lines can create the sense of a journey in a space, they also lead your eye upwards – opening the garden beyond the fencing into the space above. Garden design expert Phil Deakin from NeoTimber similarly emphasizes that you can cleverly use lines on your fencing to ‘take your eye upwards’ and consequently make the garden feel larger.

Why are diagonal shapes trending? 

Alongside their ability to ‘extend’ a small garden, diagonal stripes feed into one of the biggest trends of the moment, according to Pinterest. The platform saw a 42% increase in interest in bold stripes, such as diagonals for 2022. Bringing this motif into your garden also allows you to celebrate maximalism in your garden landscaping ideas – no matter the size of the space. 

‘Maximalism is in, so stripes can be pretty out there - don’t be afraid of breaking the rules, in some ways, that’s the point,’ adds Karen Yu, the Marketing & Product Strategy Manager at Zinus. 

If you’re looking for a fashionable way to enhance your garden, Chelsea may have offered you the solution you desire. 

RHS's Chelsea Flower Show is here – and with it comes a prediction of the most provocative trends you can expect to see for the rest of 2022. While the festival provides a host of striking statements and unconventional inspirations, there is one indoor garden trend that is set to change everything you know about houseplants this year. 

The 'plant' in question comes in the shape of mushrooms – funghi that has made a surprise appearance at the RHS showground this week. Mushrooms are not typically counted amongst the best indoor plants, but this year's show may make you want to learn how to grow mushrooms indoors.

Why the mushroom house plant trend is here to stay

Stylist and curator James Whiting collaborated with Malvern Garden Buildings to create the Planet Studio. In his studio (below) he used mushrooms as decor surrounding the bar.  In an interview with H&G, James explains that people are drawn to this trend as the funghi knows how to make a statement – but it is easy to maintain and multifunctional too. 

1. Mushrooms are edible 

James recommends choosing mushrooms that you can cook with (such as oyster mushrooms) – adding that the trend relates to the plant-based movement that is becoming increasingly popular. 

'People are cooking these at home, and they're quite expensive to buy in the shops, so if you love growing things and you love houseplants, then mushrooms are stunning. They're yellow, they're pink, they're real, and it's just fascinating,' James says. 

'Growing things like the oyster mushrooms it's that connection to nature. You can watch things develop and change, and you can go on a journey with your plant. You become proud of what you create at the end.' So, if you're looking for a kitchen garden idea with a twist, this trend is made for you. 

And the stylist isn't alone in his observation of this edible garden trend. Dobbies' Horticultural Director Marcus Eyles similarly observed a rise in demand for edible statement pieces at Chelsea – from chillis and peppers to the popular funghi. He suggests this feeds into the protege garden movement – a garden that is more decorative but includes salads and other vegetables that you can use in your cooking. 

'It's about picking out the particular plants that will grow well together and give you that statement feature,' he says. 'Some things are rewarding to grow – and they look decorative…People want to try different things.'

2. Mushrooms are easy to maintain

And even with its unique style and edible qualities aside, James suggests that the funghi is easy to take care of inside your home. 

'With mushroom kits, it's a very simple set-up,' he says. 'You just mist it and stand it on a plate on your kitchen windowsill or whether you want to put it. If you put it next to an armchair, you can sit and watch it develop into something.'

'Although they are an unusual crop to grow, you can trust the mushroom to elevate your interiors – and dinner table – to magical new heights,' says Digital Editor, Jennifer Ebert. 'A tasty and healthy addition to your diet, if learn how to grow mushrooms you will be able to enjoy many different varieties that you might not always be able to find at the grocery store.'

Crisp, luxurious yet comfortably contemporary are the signature notes of interior design by Irene Gunter created for her international clientele. From the Gunter & Co offices in London, she and the team of 12 she leads offer full interior architecture and design services and relish working on a diverse range of properties. 

Completed projects include an English country mansion, a Cote D'Azur seaside property and a contemporary Villa in Dubai, multiple London townhouses – in Chelsea, Belgravia and Notting Hill – as well as an architect-designed new build in Wimbledon.

Here we consider Irene’s design sensibilities, her career path and the power of word of mouth.

Style Aesthetic

The studio portfolio of Gunter & Co gleams with homes that are filled with light and are rich with architectural detailing and textural interest. Comfort plays an important role too. Her aesthetic might be best described as ‘softened modernity’, with European and mid-century influences a strong but subliminal undercurrent.

Inspiration is derived from myriad elements: from modern art to classical architecture to travel. Irene has a keen desire to seek beyond the time-honoured resources and expects this of her team.  

When asked if her studio has a signature she immediately says, 'Yes, definitely! Being curious and never resting on your laurels is a big one.' 

She employs only those who are 'naturally curious and look beyond a well-known small London market for different routes, sources and influences of inspiration.'

Formative influences

Belgian-born and educated to Masters’ Degree level before training at the renowned Inchbald School of Design, Irene’s upbringing undoubtedly had a formative influence upon her design sensibility. Raised in a family of interior lovers, with a mother and sister who pursued architectural studies and a father who developed properties at the weekends, Irene was always immersed in the world of contemporary design.

'My background and my upbringing have definitely helped shaped how I see the world and how I approach my projects but it’s not something that has been conscious,' Irene says. 

'In Belgium – in terms of design and interior design – it is definitely much more modern (than in the UK). There is Vincent Van Duysen; there is Axel Vervoordt; there are lots of names that have become big international designers admired across the world who are known for a  pared back, almost monasterial design style that is very calm, soothing and serene but very contemporary. 

'My aesthetic is definitely not at that extent of minimalism but I can appreciate that compared to the average British designer the designs from Gunter & Co definitely have a more modern take to them. Even if we’re working in a grade II listed traditional house you’ll still feel that it has been touched with a fresh perspective.'

Journey into design

Irene Gunter talks – and thinks – quickly, articulating thoughts warmly and precisely. Her ability to assimilate information at speed – as well as her relish for grasping a challenge – has been central to her career. 

Upon graduation, she was directly approached for a role as the sole interior designer at a London property development company but had just months to get up to speed. 

'The company interior designer who was going on maternity leave trained me intensively –  I think maybe for two months – and then it was just me, the Chelsea clients, builders with lots of questions and Youtube,' Irene reveals. 'It was very, very much learning on the job. The company had a director, a PA, a project manager and me, so in terms of  design and understanding what I was doing, I had to make it up as I went along.' 

Four years in that first role afforded a powerful education into on site management, the demands of construction, and considerations of interior architecture. 'I was on site twice a week with the AV guys, with the plumbers, with the electricians, figuring it all out and I definitely still feel the benefits from that now. As a designer I’m very much driven by understanding how everything is built and how it works with the building,' Irene says. 

She goes on to add: 'Having been 23 and dealing with all that responsibility set me up for quite a good journey in this industry. I guess I’ve got this kind of little bug inside me that likes a challenge; I’m up for a fight and it gives me lots of satisfaction to be able to problem solve.'

Professional achievements

Irene next sought a more creative role in a bigger studio which had eight existing designers. With experience beyond her professional years, she found herself quickly promoted to design manager and was project managing her own projects. The launch of her own studio was precipitated just two years later when two clients (including her first boss) approached her directly about private work. 

She decided the time was ripe, but knew she would have to work hard and smart. 'I’m not British, I didn’t grow up here, I definitely didn’t go to any private schools, I don’t have that network of connections, so any enquiry that came in I pursued with a lot of gusto and enthusiasm. I guess being responsive and professional made us stand out and brought us to where we are now, which is a position where about 50% of our work is word of mouth and where clients say they are incredibly happy with the service as well as the aesthetic. 

'As an interior designer you don’t necessarily always get recommended on your look – there are plenty of people out there who are very talented and can do beautiful things – it’s also about the delivery of that end result and the journey that takes you there. That’s why we focus so much on a professional service and do what we say and say what we do,' says Irene. 

When asked for her proudest professional achievement she reveals it is having so many repeat clients. 'We see people we worked for two or five years ago and they want to take us along on the journey of finding their next family home, even advising what to buy, making sure that it’s got the right bones to achieve what they want to achieve. That is something I’m very proud of because there is no greater testament than that.'

Current projects

At the time of writing the studio was expanding further, with the recruitment of a head of procurement. Projects underway include a Chalet on Lake Tahoe, a Surrey Estate, a Surrey Country House and a Villa in South Kensington

Design enthusiasts, brace yourself. The aptly-named WOW!house event will take over Chelsea Harbour from June 1st to July 1st – but you have permission to get excited right now. 

The Design Centre has labeled this ‘pioneering new vision for an annual live event’ as one of their most ambitious projects to date. But what sets WOW!house apart?

Alongside its natural ability to reset interior design trends for the summer season, this event will bring the best of international design to one place – and excite all your senses in the process. 

The event will exhibit over 20 interior and exterior spaces (all of which are created by an esteemed interior designer) – to collectively represent diverse styles and inspiration from across the globe. The Design Centre forecasts that each room will spark ‘imaginative wonder’ and extraordinary decorating ideas that will transform spaces far beyond West London’s riverside. 

Beyond the live event, design enthusiasts across the oceans access the WOW!house through Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s digital platform. So, you don’t need a plane ticket to enjoy the best in global design. 

‘Our desire is to pioneer a sense of wonder, to amaze and inspire by showing the world what extraordinary achievements can be made when our incredibly talented industry come together in such an ambitious and exceptional way,’ says Claire German, the CEO of Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour. 

To date, quintessentially British brand Colefax and Fowler and French interior design company  Pierre Frey have confirmed they will participate in the event. Other brands include pattern powerhouse GP & J Baker, Schumacher, and all-time H&G favorites, Sanderson Design Group. 

While WOW!house offers the best in interior design tips and decor inspiration, it is also making headlines in the sound industry too. In discussion with H&G, The Design Centre revealed that contemporary conceptual sound artist Peter Adjaye is behind the soundscape, following successful art installations in Washington, New York, Rome, and Scandinavia. 

‘I am also a designer but of sound and how different design disciplines can sit together beautifully and bring to the consumer new and exciting immersive experiences which touch more of their senses than ever before,’ Peter says in response to the collaboration. 

WOW!house early bird tickets are £20, with a proportion of this going to Centrepoint – a leading youth homelessness charity. Or, you can tune in online – wherever you are. 

We're on the verge of London Design Week 2022. The season’s most anticipated event will take over the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour from March 13th to 18th 2022 – and it's set to be their biggest celebration yet. 

In a similar way to previous years, the festival will celebrate creativity and fuel decorating ideas for the year ahead – but in many ways – this year's event will differ from its predecessors. 

The organizers have dibbed this year’s Design Week as their most ‘meaningful’ ever – due to its reflection of the desire for shared experiences that many people share (amid the pandemic). But you don’t need to be in London to take part.

In the spirit of widespread shared experiences, design enthusiasts from shores far beyond Chelsea Harbour can join in the celebration. The Design Week officially kickstarts with a global online launch on March 13th, which brings the best of London to an international audience. So, what can you expect from this year’s lineup?  

London Design Week 2022 – what can we expect?  

This year, over 600 brands and 120 international showrooms will descend on the Design Centre – and the set interior design trends in the process. The outlook for 2022 is elegant, pretty, and upbeat – so you can expect poetic prints, playful pastels, and soft silhouettes that represent new beginnings. 

The festival pays homage to some of the most exciting designers across the continents. Standouts include accessories from Arteriors with US interior designer Celerie Kemble and sculptural furniture by Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon with Ceccotti Collezioni. Jean-Paul Gaultier will also reshape your garden decorating ideas with his outdoor collection with French fabric powerhouse Lelièvre Paris. 

Alongside its showrooms, London Design Week will run a curated program of events to inspire your new home ideas, including meet-the-designer sessions and artisan demonstrations – so you can discover more about the process behind your new favorite piece. 

The Inspiration Gallery will also showcase the best of spring’s design scene – with a series of stylish vignettes and specially commissioned places to drink and dine around like-minded design lovers. If you need us between March 13th to 18th 2022 – we’re officially occupied. 

You can discover more about London Design Week 2022 via their website. Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour, Lots Rd, London SW10 0XE.

Garden landscaper Dan Pearson has built his career around his rich exteriors color palette. The designer and RHS Chelsea Flower Show regular has curated spaces for the likes of Paul Smith and Jonathan Ive – but there is one painting that you will never see in his portfolio. 

Sharing his colorful garden ideas with H&G, Dan Pearson warned against pairing purple – explaining that – despite its richness – the shade holds ‘somber’ undertones. 

Why you should avoid a purple pairing in your garden – according to Dan Pearson 

‘Purple is a really interesting color. It can be rich and sumptuous, and it can make somewhere feel quite sophisticated. But it can also be somber,’ Dan explains. ‘In some cultures, it is used as a color that lines coffins. I had never thought of it like that, but some people feel quite strongly about it in terms of it being a somber color.’

Therefore, with these associations in mind, Dan revealed that he avoids using purple and purple together. ‘I wouldn’t tend to think about doing a garden that is all purple as it might all get a bit serious,’ he says. 

However, you don’t need to rearrange your backyard landscaping ideas entirely. Instead, the designer suggests that you can still bring purple into your scheme when paired with the right colors.  

Which colors work best with purple?  

‘I like to use purple for its richness and its ability to absorb light,’ Dan says. ‘I tend to contrast it with an accent. You might put it against its opposite, which might be lime green, for instance. This will punch the purple. ’ 

If you’re looking to ensure you avoid a somber aesthetic, Dan recommends pairing purple borders with a contrast of silver. ‘This takes the somber feeling away because you’ve pulled the color forward against the light of the contrast,’ he says. 

When thinking about color combinations in the garden, the rules remain similar to what you may practice in your interiors. ‘In terms of layering or grouping, it’s quite important that you have a degree of contrast, but not so much of it that it becomes distracting or confusing,’ the designer adds.

Springtime 2022 is no longer somber – and our country garden ideas have never felt quite so lively.

Whether you have been rewatching The Crown before the next season, or have been to see the hotly anticipated Spencer at the cinema, you will have spotted at least one pair of iconic Wellington boots. And if you are wondering what these ubiquitous boots are that the Royals wear to walk the grounds of Balmoral, the answer is Hunter Wellingtons.

They hold two Royal Warrants of Appointment to HM The Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh. Put simply, if they are good enough for royalty, then they are good enough for the rest of us. But prestige often comes at a price so we were delighted to see some Hunter favorites on sale this week.

One such pair is a variant of Princess Diana's go to – the Original Tall Hunter. 

Princess Diana was rarely out of her favorite Hunter wellies when she was in the countryside and Prince Charles has been wearing the same style of Hunter Argyll boots for decades. 

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall favors them whenever she's out and about and the Queen, while she doesn't wear branded Hunter boots, one assumes (remember that Royal Warrant) she wears a special one-off pair created just for her.

• Want a 'Royal' look? Take a look at these Barbour jacket sale great-value deals

Hunter's iconic Wellington boots are brilliantly versatile, too as they're both perfect for winter's rainy days, as well as a muddy festival in the height of summer. Not only do they protect your feet against the elements but they come in a wide range of colors, shapes, patterns and styles.

There are tall, slim boots and sturdy gardening boots, boots for those that are wide of calfs and ankle grazing Chelsea boots. Fashion designer Stella McCartney has a collection of vegan footwear with the brand and there's a whole range of rain boots for children of all ages.

So whether you prefer a neat or a relaxed fit, want a cute boot for a weekend in the countryside or your children need some new wellies for splashing about in big muddy puddles, Hunter will have something for everyone.

Thankfully, there's no bettrer time to grab yourself (or a loved on) a new pair of Hunter Boots. The brand is running a Black Friday sale all week with 20 per cent discounts across all lines.

Take a look at our top picks below...

• Head straight to our Hunter welly sale page for the latest discounts

Where to buy Hunter wellies

Hunter boots are stocked in a number of other retailers, so if you can't find what you want on the Hunter website, try any of the following stores.

US:

• Amazon Hunter wellies: footwear, outdoor wear and accessories from Hunter
• Bloomingdales Hunter wellies: Hunter clothing and footwear for adults and children
• Nordstrom Hunter wellies: a wide range of styles

UK:

• Amazon Hunter wellies: tall, short and Chelsea styles for men, women and children
• ASOS Hunter wellies: Chelsea boots and pool slides
• House of Fraser Hunter wellies: a wide range of styles for everyone
• John Lewis & Partners Hunter wellies: boots, bags and accessories

Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour in London is about to launch an inspiring new lighting show called Lighting by Design. Running from Monday 15 through Friday 26 November, the exhibition will be dedicated to this essential design element. 

The free exhibit comes at the perfect time, as we begin to experience much shorter days and darker evenings. Having had a sneak peek at a selection of the bold and brilliant lighting on show, we know it will spark lots of modern living room lighting ideas to light up any dark corners.

The installation, which throws open its doors in just two days' time, comprises a series of themed galleries. Showcasing over 90 pieces from 30 brands from around the world, Lighting by Design includes innovative brands such as the Italian masters of handmade glass lighting, Gallotti & Radice.

Talks will be held by the brightest minds in the industry, with lighting designers Sally Storey and Rebecca Weir as guest speakers. Guided tours and talks on the transformative power of light are available of book on eventbrite. 

Lighting is arguably the most powerful tool in a designer’s arsenal; the 'make or break' component of a scheme. Correctly done, it defines a specific atmosphere, enhances architectural features and, more practically, means we can see what we're doing.

Moreover, light has an undeniable impact on our productivity and mood and well-being more generally, a topic that is being explored increasingly by designers.

With work by a multitude of designers concentrated in one space, the Lighting by Design installation is sure to be a fabulous way to gain inspiration for striking lighting features at home. Think pendants hanging down to meet floor, dynamic wall lighting and table lamps raised on platforms.

The exhibit is organized into four key elements: glass, texture, color, and white. Each section has a range of exceptional and creative lighting, whether you're looking for impactful entryway lighting ideas or simply soaking up the atmosphere.

Glass is reinvented by designers – see Baroncelli’s ‘Mico’ pendant, a suspended hoop studded with glass ‘pearls’. Light's quintessential partner is also transformed in Bella Figura's roaring twenties-inspired 'Ruffle' chandelier with overlapping rosettes of satin glass.

Texture is used in innovative ways, from papier-mâché pendants to bronze ‘Reef' table lamp in bronze by Alexander Lamont. Subtle, semi-translucent colour, on the other hand, brings playfulness in Adam Nathaniel Furman x Curiosa & Curiosa’s amorphous Glowbule (pictured above, top).

Lovers of minimalism and neutrals will be inspired by the white lighting, from matt plaster to marble and alabaster. There's the unique ‘Melange’ table lamp by Kelly Wearstler for Circa Lighting and glowing bone china chandeliers.

The event will be the first of its kind at Chelsea Harbour, and it's set to become an annual celebration. This year’s Lighting by Design gallery anticipates a bigger and brighter version of the event in November 2022.