Welcome to your summer magazine.
Gardening has many faces. It’s about unusual plants as well as common ones and those that feed us; and about fascinating people and the places where gardeners hang out. This issue covers all of those aspects of gardening, with news and views to keep you entertained and informed in your chosen quiet time.
For a bit of escapism we’ll take you to the island of Madeira for its flower festival. Portugal is a real garden hot spot – you may have seen my recent Better Homes & Gardens stories on Lisbon’s Fronteira Palace Garden (November 2) and Quinta Da Regaleira Gardens (November 11). If you missed them check out at www.bhg.au/tv. In January I’ll take you to the island of Madeira on Better Homes & Gardens, and if you’d like to see if for yourself, Sandra will be leading our tour of Portugal and Madeira in May.
We’re meeting gardeners all over the world in this issue, from Heather Cant in the Southern Highlands of NSW to Zara Gordon Lennox at Gordon Castle in the Scottish Highlands, and Dr Kate Neale in Bangalow in northern NSW. We’re sharing tips on using seaweed in the garden, growing vegetables from seed and filling the garden, and the balcony pots, with flowers.
There’s lots more but I wanted to remind you to call or email your gardening questions to our team on the Garden Clinic Helpline, 7 days a week – we’re all here to help - and don’t forget to request your 10% discount on plants at our preferred garden centres. You’ll find the list at the back of the magazine.