by GillianPolley | Dec 5, 2013 | advent season, back gardens, berries, Christmas, christmas carols, Colour, December, Edinburgh, focal points in the garden, Hedges, holly, Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King', Plants, Polley Garden Design, shrubs, trees, winter, winter colour
The Holly is the plant linked to the Christmas season and we celebrate it in many advent carols. It is a great evergreen and bright plant for a garden border with seasonal berries. I have also used it in a design to surround part of a sitting area to add a focus and...
by GillianPolley | Nov 6, 2013 | Acers, autumn colour, bare root plants, Birds, bulbs, Colour, Edinburgh, Grasses, Green house, Hedges, herbaceous perennials, insects, Jobs to do in the garden, Plants, Polley Garden Design, Roses, shrubs, Snowdrops, Spring, trees, wind rock, winter colour
As I write this, it is raining hard, the wind is blowing strongly around our garden and autumn leaves flying everywhere. The first frosts of the season are about to arrive, the clocks have gone back and it is time for hearty autumn and winter soups to warm you up...
by GillianPolley | Oct 24, 2013 | Acer griseum, art in the garden, Colour, containers, Denmans Garden, focal points in the garden, John Brookes, Plants, Polley Garden Design, Ronald Rae, scent, sculptor, sculpture in the garden, seats in the garden, sundials, trees
I was at a talk yesterday given by the Sculptor, Ronald Rae about his work, which was both fascinating and inspiring. If you live in Edinburgh you may remember his huge hand carved granite sculptures of animals exhibited in Holyrood Park. His Lion sculpture is...
by GillianPolley | Jun 13, 2013 | containers, herbaceous perennials, Jobs to do in the garden, June, Laburnum, Lawns, Polley Garden Design, Ponds, Roses, scent, shrubs, Spring, summer, trees
Summer has finally come to Edinburgh at long last and plants are making up for lost time with some unusual flowering combinations in the last month. The Laburnum in our garden is in full flower just now and looking beautiful with a soft subtle scent. I would like to...
by GillianPolley | Mar 3, 2013 | Birds, Cornus, Edinburgh, Hedges, herbaceous perennials, Jobs to do in the garden, March, Plants, Polley Garden Design, Roses, shrubs, Spring, trees
March is the month when you really see Spring beginning to gear up in the garden, but winter can still have the last word. If the weather remains spring like, March can be the month to give you lawn a first cut. The first cut should be high and light, so lift your...
by GillianPolley | Feb 15, 2013 | Acer griseum, berries, bulbs, clematis, cyclamen, Edinburgh, February, garden design, Hamamelis, holly, Plants, scent, shrubs, Spring, trees, Viburnums, winter colour
I have been working this week on a planting plan for a driveway and front garden. The client has asked for evergreen structure with year round interest and colour and I have used a number of the shrubs and plants I have written about, starting with my first...
