Out of the shadows

Deriving from the ancient Persian word ‘shah’, which means ‘king’ in an early form of chess, checks have been a decorative staple in interiors and fashion for centuries. The chequerboard pattern has b

As any good gardener knows, September and October can be among the most glorious months of the year. But November? and Helen Andrew Ward of Norwell Nurseries are enthusiasts of this month, too. “I’m p

Ken, Central Scotland A MATT SAYS These situations seem to be more frequent across the country these days. Happily, many of the willows and dogwoods with colourful winter stems cope well with intermit

Do I leave baby figs on over winter? Why are fuchsias distorted? Read on…

The drinks are poured, the nibbles are out and the guests are gathered, but nothing gets a party started quite like playing a vintage record. From the moment the turntable starts to spin and the needl

Early autumn and early spring are good times to start improving the ground. If your allotment has been recently cultivated, then wait until spring, when the earth is beginning to warm up and the textu