Garden History

In nature, a prairie is an undulating ecosystem of savanna, grassland and shrubs that all require similar soil conditions and a dry, temperate climate. Once roamed by herds of grazing buffalo, the Great Plains of Montana and Wyoming in Midwest USA are nature’s very own prairie. Although much of their vast area is now used […]

In nature, a prairie is an undulating ecosystem of savanna, grassland and shrubs that all require similar soil conditions and a dry, temperate climate. Once roamed by herds of grazing buffalo, the Great Plains of Montana and Wyoming in Midwest USA are nature’s very own prairie. Although much of their vast area is now used […]

Michaelmas daisies are beloved for their cheery late season blooms; a last hurrah before the cold, dark winter months arrive. But why are these asters (and other members of the Asteraceae family) commonly known as Michaelmas daisies? Since the 5th Century, Michael’s Day or the Feast of St Michael the Archangel has been held on […]

The United Kingdom’s National Plant Collections are managed and supported by Plant Heritage as a means of documenting and preserving specific plant families for the future. This registered charity was started in the 1970s by a group of passionate horticulturalists and botanists under the original title of National Council for the Conservation of Plants and […]

The mulberry is a tall deciduous tree with spreading branches that produce berry-like fruits. Native to Persia and South Asia, they are the favoured food source for silkworms which then produce silk cocoons. When the fine strong threads of silk are unravelled, they can be spun and woven to produce luxurious silk fabrics. It’s no […]