Time to make a garden visit!

As we gradually come out of lockdown and start venturing out into the wider world, it’s good to see so many of our wonderful visitor gardens open their doors again. The last few months, normally so busy for them, must have been a desperately worrying time. We’re blessed with a wonderful variety of gardens that are open to the public across the UK – not only are they a lovely day out in themselves, they can also serve as a great source of inspiration for our own gardens. You don’t have to have acres to copy an idea you might spot in a border – and you’ll mostly find that staff are all too happy to help with advice and plant identification. So let’s get out there and do our bit for the economy by supporting our terrific visitor gardens; maybe have a coffee when you’re there too – every little helps!

This week’s magazine has a strong emphasis on things we can sow and plant now to keep our gardens going for longer – and there are still plenty of flowers we can sow now that will bloom later this summer (see page 18). Many gardeners worry about missing the ‘sowing window’, but this week we identify the plants that will grow quickly to add some dazzle to your plot this year.

And don’t forget to plan beyond summer too – there are autumn-flowering bulbs to get in and winter bedding to think about to guarantee a genuine year-round spectacle.

I love planning what’s next but the lockdown has at least made me enjoy the present a little more! Have a great gardening week – and get sowing!