The Irish Garden – Jane Powers and Jonathan Hession

Jane Powers’ new book, with husband photographer Jonathan Hession, The Irish Garden, will be published next April. With 400 pages and describing approximately 60 gardens it will be the biggest treatment of Irish gardens in 15 years. We are familiar with Jane’s writing from her years with the Irish Times, now with The Sunday Times …

Iris unguicularis ‘Kilbroney Marble’

Iris unguicularis, commonly called the Algerian Iris, is one of the delights of the winter garden. It is a perennial plant, growing from rhizomes which spread with ease when planted in a soil which is free-draining and in full sun. It grows to about 30cm. high and though generally described as being evergreen it is …

The Plant Lover’s Guide to Snowdrops by Naomi Slade – A Review.

Naomi Slade has extensive writing experience, many years with Gardening Which – and won three silver-gilt medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in the Science and Education Section while with them. She has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The English Garden and The Garden.  I mention this background because it adds to my …

The Holistic Gardener by Fiann O Nuallain – A review.

Fiann O Nualláin’s book, “The Holistic Gardener”, gives a list of first aid treatments which we can make from the plants in our gardens and other to-hand materials.  There are the usual suggestions for nettle burns and wasp stings along with suggestions for potions for relaxation and general wellbeing with some recipes to tempt our …