Eastern skunk cabbage may not look—or smell—like a traditional flower, but its arrival heralds longer, warmer days ahead.
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Friday, January 30, 2026
The chill factor: why our plants need a sustained cold period
Garden crops such as apples, garlic, carrot and beetroot will grow better if they experience low temperatures in winter
Having made it through January, I’m wishing for the swift arrival of spring. After a long winter (they always feel long) seasonal change starts to loom. Yet I remind myself why, for many of the plants and crops we love, a sustained cold period is essential.
While little plant growth takes place in winter, important biological processes happen in this stillness. For a great number of plants that are able to survive cold weather, a good period spent below a certain temperature is key to their flowering in spring – a process called vernalisation.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Thursday, January 29, 2026
The lure of a guiltily accessible pinnacle | Brief letters
Bagging a Marilyn in Crowborough | Romeos ranked | Guardian footnotes | South Nesting | Bring back the eiderdown
I am sorry to see Crowborough involved in another controversy (Thousands march in Crowborough over asylum plan for former military camp, 25 January), but at least it removes the spotlight from the one that used to concern me as a Marilyn bagger. (A Marilyn is any hill in Britain surrounded by a 150 metre drop.) Unlike the Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Isle of Skye and almost all other Marilyns, the summit of Crowborough is in someone’s front garden. I am afraid the lure of the list was too great and I tiptoed up its barely perceptible horticultural slopes, but still feel guilty.
Margaret Squires
St Andrews, Fife
• If it’s any consolation to Zoe Williams and her dog (Victoria Beckham has trademarked her kids’ names – and my dog is not happy about it, 27 January), when I hear the name Romeo I think of her dog first, then Romeo and Juliet, with Romeo Beckham much further down the list.
Steve Sheppardson
Snettisham, Norfolk
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
The lure of a guiltily accessible pinnacle | Brief letters
Bagging a Marilyn in Crowborough | Romeos ranked | Guardian footnotes | South Nesting | Bring back the eiderdown
I am sorry to see Crowborough involved in another controversy (Thousands march in Crowborough over asylum plan for former military camp, 25 January), but at least it removes the spotlight from the one that used to concern me as a Marilyn bagger. (A Marilyn is any hill in Britain surrounded by a 150 metre drop.) Unlike the Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Isle of Skye and almost all other Marilyns, the summit of Crowborough is in someone’s front garden. I am afraid the lure of the list was too great and I tiptoed up its barely perceptible horticultural slopes, but still feel guilty.
Margaret Squires
St Andrews, Fife
• If it’s any consolation to Zoe Williams and her dog (Victoria Beckham has trademarked her kids’ names – and my dog is not happy about it, 27 January), when I hear the name Romeo I think of her dog first, then Romeo and Juliet, with Romeo Beckham much further down the list.
Steve Sheppardson
Snettisham, Norfolk
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Ask a Vet: Does my dog need a coat?
The inside scoop on whether jackets and other garments help keep dogs warm in winter
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Monday, January 26, 2026
RHS unveils plans to protect UK gardens from future water shortages
Environmental charity to prioritise water capture and storage as it urges gardeners to prepare for ‘new normal’
The Royal Horticultural Society has unveiled emergency plans to protect its gardens from major water shortages in the future.
The environmental charity, which owns and operates five renowned public gardens in England, said on Saturday it will invest in more water-capture and water-management projects in 2026 after severe droughts last year.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, January 25, 2026
RHS unveils plans to protect UK gardens from future water shortages
Environmental charity to prioritise water capture and storage as it urges gardeners to prepare for ‘new normal’
The Royal Horticultural Society has unveiled emergency plans to protect its gardens from major water shortages in the future.
The environmental charity, which owns and operates five renowned public gardens in England, said on Saturday it will invest in more water-capture and water-management projects in 2026 after severe droughts last year.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, January 24, 2026
RHS unveils plans to protect UK gardens from future water shortages
Environmental charity to prioritise water capture and storage as it urges gardeners to prepare for ‘new normal’
The Royal Horticultural Society has unveiled emergency plans to protect its gardens from major water shortages in the future.
The environmental charity, which owns and operates five renowned public gardens in England, said on Saturday it will invest in more water-capture and water-management projects in 2026 after severe droughts last year.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Friday, January 23, 2026
'The world's ugliest lawn' isn't really that ugly, according to its Australian owner – video
Jarno Coone, the winner of the international 'world's ugliest lawn' competition, says he doesn't let his garden grow wild to annoy his neighbours in the regional Victorian town of Kyneton. He says he is 'proud to get the message out there for water conservation and living more harmoniously with nature'. 'I really do believe it is better for the environment,' he says
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Two friends are on a quest to catalogue every living thing in Maryland
The Maryland Biodiversity Project has documented 22,000 species and counting.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Why ‘aspirational clutter’ is some of the hardest to part with
The gap between who we are and who we want to be often takes the form of unused stuff around the house.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Houseplant hacks: can you really use banana water as a fertiliser?
Bananas contain nutrients, but rotting peel smells and attracts fruit flies
The problem
Do you ever finish your smoothie, look at the peel and think: “Surely this could feed something?” You are not alone: social media is full of claims that soaking banana skins in water makes a fertiliser that will give you bigger leaves and better blooms.
The hack
Put banana peels in a jar of water, leave them to sit, then pour the liquid on your plants. Bananas do contain potassium and small amounts of other nutrients. The snag is you have no idea how strong it is or what’s missing.
* This article was originally published here
Monday, January 19, 2026
Ask a Vet: Does my dog really need heartworm medication?
The parasite, spread by mosquitos, can be life-threatening.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Still confused about swedes and turnips | Brief letters
Vegetable names | Swindon Town | Unusual plants | Robert Jenrick
When I was growing up in Sunderland, the big round vegetable with orange flesh was a turnip and the small round purple and cream vegetable with white flesh was a swede (Letters, 14 January). When I moved to London, the big vegetable was called a swede and the small one a turnip. After 57 years of living in London, I’m still confused.
Linda Seal
Hammersmith, London
• In the quiz by Thomas Eaton (10 January), Swindon Town were incorrectly listed alongside Elgin City, Juventus and Marseille as having had league titles stripped from them. In 1990, after finishing second in the old Second Division and winning the playoff final, they were found guilty of financial misconduct and denied promotion, but they never won a title to have it stripped from them.
David Bibby
Bramley, Hampshire
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Still confused about swedes and turnips | Brief letters
Vegetable names | Swindon Town | Unusual plants | Robert Jenrick
When I was growing up in Sunderland, the big round vegetable with orange flesh was a turnip and the small round purple and cream vegetable with white flesh was a swede (Letters, 14 January). When I moved to London, the big vegetable was called a swede and the small one a turnip. After 57 years of living in London, I’m still confused.
Linda Seal
Hammersmith, London
• In the quiz by Thomas Eaton (10 January), Swindon Town were incorrectly listed alongside Elgin City, Juventus and Marseille as having had league titles stripped from them. In 1990, after finishing second in the old Second Division and winning the playoff final, they were found guilty of financial misconduct and denied promotion, but they never won a title to have it stripped from them.
David Bibby
Bramley, Hampshire
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Friday, January 16, 2026
Still confused about swedes and turnips | Brief letters
Vegetable names | Swindon Town | Unusual plants | Robert Jenrick
When I was growing up in Sunderland, the big round vegetable with orange flesh was a turnip and the small round purple and cream vegetable with white flesh was a swede (Letters, 14 January). When I moved to London, the big vegetable was called a swede and the small one a turnip. After 57 years of living in London, I’m still confused.
Linda Seal
Hammersmith, London
• In the quiz by Thomas Eaton (10 January), Swindon Town were incorrectly listed alongside Elgin City, Juventus and Marseille as having had league titles stripped from them. In 1990, after finishing second in the old Second Division and winning the playoff final, they were found guilty of financial misconduct and denied promotion, but they never won a title to have it stripped from them.
David Bibby
Bramley, Hampshire
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Houseplant hacks: do moisture meters prevent overwatering?
Given how easy it is to kill plants by overwatering, these devices are tempting – but can they beat simply sticking your finger in the soil?
The problem
Houseplants often die from too much water, not neglect. Might a moisture meter help?
The hack
For around £10, a probe promises to tell you exactly when to water.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Houseplant hacks: do moisture meters prevent overwatering?
Given how easy it is to kill plants by overwatering, these devices are tempting – but can they beat simply sticking your finger in the soil?
The problem
Houseplants often die from too much water, not neglect. Might a moisture meter help?
The hack
For around £10, a probe promises to tell you exactly when to water.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Houseplant hacks: do moisture meters prevent overwatering?
Given how easy it is to kill plants by overwatering, these devices are tempting – but can they beat simply sticking your finger in the soil?
The problem
Houseplants often die from too much water, not neglect. Might a moisture meter help?
The hack
For around £10, a probe promises to tell you exactly when to water.
* This article was originally published here
Monday, January 12, 2026
My rookie era: I wanted to think about something that wasn’t grim, so I enrolled in gardening school
Short courses on permaculture can be really expensive. When I found out there was a way I could study for free, I was really excited
We had a family veggie patch growing up, and even in share houses I’ve gardened. I’ve always been interested in what you can grow – fruit, vegetables, flowers. All good gardeners know you need good dirt but understanding why is a different thing, and I’d been thinking about learning more for a long time.
I researched short courses on permaculture but found they were really expensive. Studying at a university can cost even more, and you can only learn so much from reading gardening blogs. When I found out I could do a free Tafe (technical and further education) course, I was really excited. I was worried my existing qualifications would exclude me because I have a diploma in writing and editing but it’s something that’s offered free to anyone willing to invest the time.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Gaza’s garden is a rare story of hope | Brief letters
Act of resistance | Amended signs | Curt waiters | Disgusted in Tunbridge Wells | Crossword clues | Smug travellers
What a brilliant message of hope for the new year (As the Israeli bombs fell, my family committed an act of rebellion: we planted a garden in Gaza, 8 January). Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi’s article is inspirational for those who believe in the real world of human life and reject the synthetic values of a world viewed as real estate.
Ruth Baker
Matfield, Kent
• Years ago there was an advert for the railways with the slogan “This is the age of the train” (Letters, 7 January). On one of them someone had written “This train takes ages”.
Maggie Rylance
Winchester
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, January 10, 2026
The trouble with friendlords: the pitfalls of renting from a mate
Amid an affordable housing crisis, renting a room from a friend can seem like the perfect solution. But without clear rules, it can lead to power imbalances, feuds and even unfair evictions …
When Rachel needed a place to live, Maya was only too happy to offer her spare room. What are friends for?
Rachel had recently returned to her home town to start afresh, having been made redundant. Maya, a childhood friend, owned her three-bedroom home, having been helped to buy it by her parents.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
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