Spring is here so it’s time to get out into the garden and transform winter-ravaged flowerbeds into a bloomin’ lovely summer spectacle. To help your fingers turn green in 2016, we’ve ploughed the internet and dug up the very best garden bloggers. Read on to discover who’s made our list plus find out how to win two tickets to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show that takes place this summer.
Our top garden bloggers
Mark Ridsdill Smith
Mark Ridsdill Smith’s passion for growing food in the smallest of spaces began 20 years ago when he cultivated vegetables on the balcony of his London flat. As well as enjoying fresh home-grown produce, Mark began to see the city in a new light. From balconies and roof terraces to tiny window sills, potential vegetable plots were everywhere. Vertical Veg started as a way to help others make their desire to grow their own food a reality.
Mark’s mission has led to appearances on national television, in national newspapers like the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph, and in many gardening magazines. His little London balcony has also been featured in at least six books published all over the world.
Follow Mark:
Louise Curley
Louise Curley is a freelance writer and stylist with a passion for plants. She regularly writes for the Guardian and contributes to a variety of garden magazines including Gardeners’ World, Grow Your Own, and Garden Answers. Louise has also published two books: The Cut Flower Patch is a guide on how to grow, pick and arrange gorgeous cut flowers for your home. Her second book, The Crafted Garden, combines Louise’s passion for nature and crafts in a variety of fun projects.
When Louise isn’t holding a pen, she’s wielding a spade in her trusty pair of green wellies. Wellywoman is a blog about what she gets up to in her garden and allotment, plus what else is going on in the countryside around her home.
Follow Louise:
John Walker
John Walker has acres of advice for anyone interested in a greener way of gardening. An award-winning gardening and environment author, he has written several books on the topic, including a practical guide on how to create an eco-garden. John has also been published in several magazines and newspapers, including The Telegraph and The Garden (the magazine published by the Royal Horticultural Society).
The earth-friendly gardener is John’s patch of the internet where he shares is planet-friendly philosophy with the green-fingered world. A resource for both experienced and beginner gardeners, the blog includes practical advice and thought-provoking articles about the impact gardening can have on the natural world around us.
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Robbie Blackhall-Miles
Robbie Blackhall-Miles is a plantsman and conservationist, specialising in propagating rare and unusual plants for horticulture. This love of ancient plant varieties began as a boy when Robbie moved into his Grandmother’s home. Here, he became fascinated by the Monkey Puzzle tree that grew by his bedroom window. Upon discovering this type of tree had been around at the time of the dinosaurs, he was compelled to learn more.
Robbie’s small garden in North Wales is a pre-historic wonderland where most of the plants have a fossil record dating back to between 360 and 60 million years ago. Fossil Plants is where Robbie documents his efforts. He also regularly blogs for the Guardian.
Follow Robbie:
Nadine Pierce
A self-confessed ‘gluttonista’, Nadine Pierce is the author of Eating Edinburgh, a blog all about her foodie adventures in the Scottish capital. However, when she’s not wining and dining in the city, Nadine can be found tending to her garden on the edge of the Scottish Pentland Hills.
The Pentland Garden Diary documents Nadine’s and her husband’s efforts to transform their cottage garden into a little piece of Eden – despite not having much gardening experience. The blog is packed full of tips for newbie gardeners, recipes to follow using your home-grown veg, plus regular updates about how the Pentland Garden is progressing.
Win two tickets to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2016
To celebrate National Gardening Week, we’re giving you the chance to win tickets to RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Taking place 5th-10th July 2016, the annual flower show is world’s biggest with plenty of show gardens, talks, demonstrations and exhibits to enjoy.
Top image via Sarah
