Fun, Chat, Eat and Relax are the key words for 2016 in the garden.
Our desire for a healthy lifestyle continues from last year and growing your own vegetables, fruit and herbs in our gardens remains popular. From mixing it up and growing vegetables and flowers together, and in spaces both big and small from all types of containers to allotments and community gardens.
Outdoor cooking areas from BBQ’s to fire pits, pizza ovens to outdoor kitchen areas are a growing trend, ready to cook all our home-grown veg.
We also want to enjoy eating our food outside. Outdoor living areas are increasing in popularity with lots of choices for garden furniture and lighting, mixing styles and looks together.
Colours for 2016 are bright and bold. So ring the changes with bright cushions, throws and container planting.
The wish to use local hard landscaping materials in innovative and creative ways in our gardens is increasing, giving an added sense of the ‘local’ to our spaces both in town and country gardens.
Shrubs and large flowering plants giving less maintenance remain popular. Dahlias are very fashionable this year, many with bright jewel coloured flowers echoing the colour theme for 2016.
I am going to try a pot or two in 2016 in my own garden.