I hope you’re all doing well and enjoying your gardens, whatever the weather’s been doing where you are. It’s been really windy where I am and quite dull, but I’ve been pottering around nonetheless.

I’ve had a really really busy couple of weeks as I’ve been overseas with the QVC plant buyers. We’ve been visiting about 25 different companies as they’ve been putting on a showcase with all the new plant varieties that are coming up to 2023, and beyond! I’ve been teasing a few on social media, but here I’ll be teasing even more…

I think it’s really important that we keep our viewers and customers in the loop when we’re looking at new plants. We don’t want to be guessing what you want, we want to be asking you directly, through the channels we have, especially our busy and very friendly Facebook group.

I’ve got high hopes for the range of angel pelargoniums. These are great for the windowsill inside or outside on a tabletop. Look at how many flowers there are, you can barely see the foliage or the pot. I assure you it’s in a pot though LOL! Legend has it the fragrance of the foliage also deters mosquitoes from the patio.

And for something exotic, there’s sundaville! You might be used to seeing these type of flowers on holiday, but they can actually be grown very easily in the UK and bloom for months and months. They do like to be kept on the dry side, which is great news for anybody that’s worried about them being high maintenance. Lots of different colours, mostly across the pink and red palette, and they also work as a houseplant in the winter months.

There is one plant that we viewed, but we probably won’t be allowed to buy. That’s because it is reserved exclusively for the cut flower market, so you might need to look out for it at the florists. But I can’t resist showing you, it’s a double flowered form of the Peruvian lily, alstroemeria. It has an extra layer of petals, which makes it look just like a rose – absolutely phenomenal. I actually shrieked when I saw it for the first time!

We also found a range of different hydrangeas, including the brand-new variety Switch, which is launching on QVC this weekend. You can see that we moved very quickly with some of the most exciting products. Eeek! This hydrangea only grows about a foot and a half in height, and the flowers change colour from green through rustic shades. I think this is a winner, don’t you agree?

We also spotted some brand-new colours of a plant you already love; it’s the strawflower “gran via”. I’ll season, we brought you the yellow, but now there is a full colour range of five different shades, and it’s set to take the gardening world by storm. The flowers are incredibly long lasting, and actually dry on the plant, which means they pretty much last forever. You probably remember these from the 80s, but these are new varieties, with even more vigour!

There’s so much more I could tell you about, but I might wait until next time. I think there’s more than enough to get your appetite whetted! Before I go, I need to show you the most perfect red begonia though, which can be grown indoors or outdoors, and also tolerates full sun. It needs a name though, any ideas?

Until next month, see you!

Michael x

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How are you doing? It’s been another busy month, but as I write this summer has arrived, it’s really warm and I feel good. I have finally tidied up my garden and I feel better for it. I don’t know why, but it always gets so messy then I have a massive blitz! Is it just me?

Earlier in the month, I had a great time in Holland around the Keukenhof bulb gardens, where we were super lucky to interview the team for our podcast. I also got the chance to go in the flower auction which was a real eye-opener. I had to get up at five a.m. though! I’m not bothered really… it was totally worth it and I saw so many unique cut flowers – it really got me thinking.

I rounded off the trip with a visit to a plant breeder and we walked around his daffodil beds. I recognised a few new plants, I can almost see them from a distance – I think I have a good eye for it hehe! Some amazing new double flowered types, star-shaped types, and of course those pinks that I’m in love with!

Also this month, I had a magazine come and shoot in my garden. So, that meant a mad Sunday evening, running around weeding. I had a crisis of confidence as I pulled out the nettles. I wanted to leave them, but I wasn’t sure what the magazine would think. However, I wish I had now, and I was the pioneer for leaving pollinator-friendly “weeds” in my borders… maybe next time!

I am feeling quite proud of my front garden recently, and I really am pleased that I planted the fennel, it has a lovely feathery vibe!

I have also had a brilliant time at the Malvern show, and was very excited to meet many QVC viewers as well. I was hosting and speaking on the main stages and doing various other activities, basically hobnobbing around the place. I was doing some talks with my friend and colleague Ellen, and we used the rotating composter as a tombola machine. The audience could win prizes and I think they quite enjoyed that!

We also did a floral challenge with Jonathan Moseley and I won, although I did steal various sprigs from the surrounding display… but I see that as being creative!

And if that wasn’t enough, I had a last-minute call to go down to Cornwall to film at Heligan, the Lost Gardens, for Steph’s Packed Lunch. They even got me weeding in the lake – it was a really fun day, and I also learnt how to grow pineapples in our country!

A little bit of downtime this month, as Lorna dragged me to Syon Park, where apparently they film Bridgerton. I’m not a fan, so I wasn’t sure. But before I knew it, I was dancing around a conservatory!

Finally, I made an interesting piece of content for a brand this week, and it was all around sharing your gardening love with your neighbours. Do you do that? I must admit, I sometimes have spare plants, and leave them on the wall out by the front of my house for my neighbour, so she hardly ever has to go to the garden centre. LOL.

Until next month, keep gardening and stay safe

Michael x

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In case you haven’t heard of it, this is an annual event on April 22, where we look to highlight the small ways you can help the environment. And of course, I will be giving some tips on how you can do that in your own back garden, balcony, or even from your kitchen worktop. you could be part of an event that includes 1 billion people in almost 200 companies, all doing their bit to help, and invest in, our planet.

1: Save energy, plant more!

This sounds a little bit strange, encouraging you to buy more plants, but then of course I would do that, wouldn’t I?! However, the more plants you plant into your borders, the more ground you will cover, keeping the moisture locked in, and also keeping the weeds down, so you won’t need to go digging around disturbing the soil trying to get rid of them! Although of course, I would advocate leaving the weeds, but that’s a story for next time…

Anyway, really pack out your borders with plants, and you will find that it will be incredibly biodiverse, which will attract a range of wildlife, not just visiting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. You’ll find that it’ll also create habitats for small mammals, and seed heads can be great for the birds, and a little winter hibernating zone for insects!

Mulching around your plants can be beneficial too! It means you won’t disturb the soil and what’s going on down there, but also means you can conserve the moisture around your plants. It also looks attractive! You can use bark, decorative stones, or organic matter.

2: Grow the right plants for easy maintenance

It goes without saying, choosing the right plant for the right place will make gardening a lot easier for you, and better for the environment, because the plants will be happy in place without you giving them extra water, or having to replace them!

Drought tolerant plants can be very useful, and look stunning, gravel gardens are in vogue, whereby you plant a range of flowering plants that originate from dry environments. This list also includes gorgeous ornamental grasses, that really give a sensory feel, and outdoor succulents, which store their own water, so you don’t need to give them any!

You can also plant up containers with drought tolerant plants, which means you won’t have to worry about watering them through the summer, or asking the neighbour to water them when you go away!! We all know how awkward that can be, hehe!

3: Refresh and re-use

By being creative with your containers and reusing certain receptacles, you cannot only help the environment, but you can also let your imagination run wild. How about being creative with some old tin cans, some old welly boots, or perhaps even a chest of drawers! This is a chance to break all the horticultural rules, not all plants need to grow in terracotta pots!

You can also reuse lolly sticks as plant labels, egg boxes as seed trays, and of course make your own compost…

4: Make your own compost

This is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a gardener, but you don’t need much space to do it, you can even buy composting units that fit onto the balcony, or even under the kitchen sink. It’s a good idea to have a good mix of wet and dry materials, about 50-50, and later then like a lasagne.

Warm conditions will make compost quicker, but you’re generally looking at about three months to make your own golden treasure. The resulting compost will be very rich, so won’t be ideal for potting plants, but it will be good to mix into your usual compost, or to mulch around plants, or mix into borders to improve the soil.

5: Support others in their endeavours

If you haven’t got a garden of your own, you can do your bit indoors, by reusing your organic waste items, reusing containers, and by propagating some of your own house plants. You could also reach out to a range of initiatives, and get involved that way!

I really hope this has given you a bit of an insight into how are you can garden a little bit more sustainably, once you get into it it’s actually really rewarding and fun, and you will certainly notice a difference to your wallet!

I really hope this has given you a bit of an insight into how you can garden a little bit more sustainably. Once you get into it, it’s actually really rewarding and fun, and you will certainly notice the difference to your wallet!

Until next month, have a great time

Michael

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Gardening season is upon us, and doesn’t it feel good! My plant addiction is back with a bang – as if it ever went away… I even snapped up a few Nemesia on QVC, from last week’s Garden ReLeaf Day for Greenfingers.

Now, don’t be too fooled by spring. As I write this it’s summery, but alas frosts are still very much a thing. Even though we are braving shorts and legs during the day, it’s still like zero degrees at night. Don’t fall for the “fool’s spring!”

I’ve been busy with the telly this month, not just at QVC but also with Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4. We got behind the scenes at Kew Gardens to cover their orchid festival and find out a few extra tips and tricks for growing these home beauties. Now I know exactly where to cut the dead flowers off – and what a resting period really means.

At home, I’ve been playing as usual. I recently brought some of the lovely Belarina Primroses inside as a houseplant. It lasted twice as long as a bunch of cut flowers, I’ll tell you that. I actually took a trip to the breeders behind the plant this month too – the Kerley family – where I spotted a few new colours (and a few that I can’t show you!) Amazing plants are on their way. There’s also trailing frilly pansies, it was like a sweet shop, and I was a kid in it!

We’ve had a few Today’s Special Value offers this month too, the most fun of which was the faux trellis with my dear friend Lorna. She doesn’t half make me laugh. We created some super content to promote the offer, and it turned out to be a very successful day. If you watched, you’ll also have seen the other fun and games we did, such as the “guess the garden” game…

For the first time in two years, the garden press event was on in London. It’s always a hot bed for new plants and gardening accessories, and I was particularly taken with the rubber seed trays. Never buy a seed tray again!

Back home, I was experimenting again with some tropical coloured pots, oh and a gorgeous black and white one. I do enjoy creating pots, it’s possibly one of my favourite tasks. Although, I did need to clear up my garage, so my weekend off was spent doing just that. It took ages, but at least now I feel more Zen and I finally have a work space. As soon as it was cleared, I was trying out a few kokedama – trying to get right – but I’m happy with my results.

The month rounded up with a little northern trip. I was sent to a daffodil field near Lincoln, filming a live segment for Steph’s Packed Lunch. It was brilliant, and we even “delivered” a bunch back to Steph in the studio! Later that week I was in the studio building rockeries on tables.

And as I write this blog, I’m catching up on my emails in London and preparing for the hottest plant Today’s Special Value offer of the month. It’s the amazing miniature fuchsias… hope you snap a pack up!

See you next month,

Michael x

The post Gardening season is upon us! appeared first on Stories.

Good to see you again!

I’ve had a busy month, which actually started off in Denmark, in the city of Copenhagen. We popped over for three or four days, and of course I made sure we saw lots of botany too. I can really recommend the Botanic Gardens, they are a treasure trove of unique and unusual plants. I was also feeling quite inspired by the plants on the market; they use a lot of pastels and baby blue, as you’ll see from the photos.

Once I got home, I couldn’t resist assembling a few of those colours, as you’ll see in my shelving unit that I’ve now moved outdoors!

No sooner was I back, but I was up to Leeds to teach Steph McGovern and Anton du Beke how to build a terrarium. I have to say, they both did pretty well. Anton made a display that looked like the Seychelles with some lovely big rocks, and Steph’s was like a forest floor. I hope they took them home and will be caring for them!

I also attended an utterly fab day at RHS Wisley, as part of the Young Horticultural Movement. I’m an ambassador not a member, hehe! I made a speech about Weird and Wacky Plants, and we all got tours of the grounds, which were looking all wintery and sparkly.

It’s been a busy month on the podcast too, as we managed to land an interview with the Executive Producer of the Green Planet Series on BBC. What an honour! We got lots of behind-the-scenes gossip, and I couldn’t resist asking about David Attenborough and, of course, the plants. Putting this down as a career highlight.

I’ve also had a bit of a Primrose month, creating tonnes of fun content for these rainbow beauties. Lots of amazing colours coming through which we hope to bring you at QVC. I’m also testing out a few as houseplants indoors, which is brilliant. They last twice as long as cut flowers and I’m totally backing this trend. In fact, I’m obsessed with mixing things up, and I’ve even brought a few aconites indoors to enjoy on the table recently.

Lastly, I’ve been doing something I haven’t done since I was eighteen. Pollinating flowers… this was one of my first jobs when I joined Thompson and Morgan and I got to try it again after all those years. It was brilliant, and you can see the video on my Instagram page.

Busy month at QVC coming up. This week I’m involved in two Today Special Value offers, so I’ll need a few coffees for that! But I love it, and I love bringing you fantastic gardening products and cool new plants.

See you next month!

Michael

The post A busy February! appeared first on Stories.

The ultimate summer colour collection

Garden looking a little too green? It might seem like a contradiction (because of course we want our gardens to be green!) but there’s nothing that brings a smile to a gardener’s face like the colours of spring flowers!

This Garden Ready Plants collection from Plants2Gardens features some of the most popular and interesting spring plants – begonias, geraniums, impatiens and petunias – ready to be planted straight into your garden. Yep, that’s 48 bedding plants, all grown to the perfect size and ready to plant for an instant garden refresh.

What’s included:

• 12 x 5cm Begonia Semperflorens mix
• 12 x 5cm Geranium Palladium mix
• 12 x 5cm Impatiens Beacon mix
• 12 x 5cm Petunia Express Ice mix

Technical details:

• Flowering period: May – October
• Plant position: full sun or part shade
• Soil type: moist, well drained
• Mature size (h x w): 30cm x 30cm (11.8″ x 11.8″)
• Order now to receive yours in May

Living wall trellis

Update your outdoor living area with the simplest of additions! This living wall trellis is designed for outdoor use, and comes with luscious faux fern foliage to bring some extra interest to your patio, terrace, balcony and more.

It can be used to cover up bare walls, to create a divider between spaces, or create shelter and cosiness in a seating area. You can even opt for a version with lights for a magical twilight sparkle!

Lamp posts 

Every garden can benefit from a little bit of light, whether that’s to illuminate pathways for safety, increase security or to highlight areas of interest.

These lamp post are perfect for adding practical lighting while looking very classy. Standing at 1.3m metres tall, they’re great for general illumination, plus the new design allows even more light distribution.

Best of all, they’re eco-friendly! Being solar-powered, there are no fiddly or hazardous wires to install – and they turn on automatically when you need them to.

A water feature

You can’t beat having water in the garden or conservatory, and this elegant Buddha feature is sure to make a wonderful addition. Casting a magical glow with its LED light, it’s so nice to watch and listen as the water calmly flows out. This will create a serene atmosphere!

Bird feeders

Could it be time to update your bird feeders? These mini feeders come in three colours – blue, pink and purple – and are perfect for adding colour to your garden while feeding your local wildlife.

Simply add your chosen bird feed (these can hold seeds, fat balls, mealworms, and more), and watch your feathered friends flock to their next meal.

Thanks for reading and see you soon,

Michael x

The post 5 things to brighten up your garden appeared first on Stories.

The reality of UK bird life is that if there isn’t enough food, and the freezing weather rages on for days at a time, deaths can occur, affecting local populations. However, it’s actually possible to make a difference with small actions that will help birds survive these harsh conditions.

So, how about making your garden a super bird-friendly place this winter? Doing a good deed for local wildlife can be a joy, as can spotting beautiful native species as they pop up in your garden throughout the season and beyond. Here are five tips for keeping birds happy in the winter.

Put out high-energy bird food

Birds need lots of energy in winter to keep warm during the cold weather and fuel their search for more food. High energy bird food might include lard or suet, peanut butter, fruit, dried mealworms, and nuts such as sunflower seeds and chopped up peanuts. Grumpy Gardener know a thing or two about quality feed!

Created by a family of gardeners spanning three generations, the Grumpy Gardener range puts high-quality craftsmanship at the heart of every innovation. They know what they’re doing when it comes to creating a bird-friendly garden, and they’ve created an easy solution for gardeners and wildlife lovers who maybe don’t have the time to make their own bird food.

This huge box of fat balls has been specifically formulated to help provide nutrients for feathered friends. Give wild birds in your garden or outdoor space a real treat with this impressive Grumpy Gardener selection!

Keep drinking and bathing water from freezing

It is easy to create reserves of drinking and bathing water for birds in your garden – you don’t even need a bird bath! You can even turn a garden bin lid upside down, and either fill it with water or wait for the rain to collect.

Keeping the water from freezing requires a little more creativity, but one easy tip is to place a lightweight ball (like a ping pong ball) in the water. The wind will blow it around on the surface, and the movement will help stop the water freezing.

Create winter shelter 

Birds will often nest in dense hedges and bushes, such as hawthorn, to acquire shelter and food (in the form of berries and insects). Planting these in your garden will allow birds to use the plants as shelter in winter, but if you can’t plant these, you could instead install a bird box, as long as it is placed in a location that is sheltered from wind, rain and harsh sun.

Don’t tidy your garden too much 

Unfortunately, though a tidy garden may look nice, it doesn’t offer much for wildlife. In a slightly messy garden, birds can find sticks, leaves and other debris to use for their nests, and there is more chance of finding insects to snack on.

As proud gardeners, we like to have a presentable outdoor space. However, a little chaos isn’t a bad thing and is beneficial for our feathered friends!

Avoid feeding birds large chunks of bread

Bread should only be put out in your garden sparingly, as it doesn’t offer much nutrition to birds and can be difficult to digest in large quantities. If you have bread spare and you don’t want to waste it, tear it up into very small chunks, and only use it if you are also putting out high-energy bird food.

Don’t forget, you can care for your garden wildlife all year round with QVC’s curated selection of products.

Until next time,

Michael Perry X

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The post 5 things you can do to keep native birds happy in winter appeared first on Stories.

But it’s one thing to figure out which plants feature in your gardening calendar, and another to actively order those plants now so that you don’t miss out – or worse, forget – later down the line. Ordering your plants now means that there’s one less task on your plate as the seasons shift, and plants will arrive at your door throughout the year ready for you to install in your garden without you even having to think about it!

Plug plants

Plug plants are a great way to save money, instead of buying full-size plants at the garden centre. Plug plants arrive safely and neatly packaged in purpose-built containers, and require only a little bit more care to become established in your garden. Plus, it’s so satisfying watching a young plant grow through to its mature state – you feel like you get more for your money!

You can find a whole range of plants available as plug plants – it’s really not limiting in any way!

What to order now 

There’s no right or wrong when it comes to what you’re ordering, or how much of it – the limit is your garden fence! Just make sure that your plants will suit your garden type. QVC has a great selection, including annuals, perennials, flowering shrubs and more.

Take a look below at some of the plants you can order right now.

Arriving in April 

Garden Ready Favourite Fragrant Sweet Pea

Bring wonderfully colourful verticality to your garden with this fabulous collection of Garden Ready Favourite Sweet Pea plants. Perfect for cut flowers through the summer months, these beautiful climbing plants will fill your garden with fragrance as well as a vibrant array of white, pink and purple blooms.

Petunia Tumbelia Francesca

Looking for a low-maintenance addition to your garden that’ll still bring stunning looks and plenty of colour? It’s got to be Thompson & Morgan’s Petunia Tumbelia Francescas! With beautiful pink blooms that are easy to care for, these flowers are perfect for any gardener, whether you’re a novice or completely green-fingered.

Fuchsia Giant Marble Collection

Dreaming of a vibrant outdoor area filled with masses of flowers of various colours? Make that dream a reality with this magnificent collection from Thompson & Morgan, which includes four different varieties of Fuchsia Giant that will produce cascades of pretty unscented flowers over the summer months.

Arriving in May 

Garden Ready Plants Collection

Add colour and variety to your garden with this mixed plant collection from Plants2Gardens. Featuring begonias, geraniums, petunias and more, you’ll love the finished effect these beautiful blooms offer to your beds and containers.

Arriving in June 

Garden Ready New Generation Busy Lizzies

They’re so popular for a reason, and Precious Plants brings you this new generation of Busy Lizzies to be a star in your garden! In a vibrant mixture of red, pink, purple and white, these disease-resistant blooms are early to flower and are compact yet bushy, making them a gorgeous addition to almost any container or flowerbed.

Begonia Apricot Shades Improved Garden Ready Plants

Bright and colourful, the Begonia Apricot from Thompson & Morgan are sure to bring a smile to your face whenever you spy their cheerful appearance in the garden. Great for pots, borders, baskets and more, these perennials will bring a touch of sunshine to your space year after year.

Thanks for reading!

Michael x

The post Get an early start on your garden plan for 2022 appeared first on Stories.

Do you believe in New Year’s resolutions? I really don’t to be honest. I think you should be able to start behaving better at any time of the year. But if you were to ask me about resolutions this year, I’d say to be a bit quicker with what I do in my garden… I always seem to be running late on everything, but you know, I’m a busy guy!

Ah, January has been really busy. Somehow the first few days were very quiet but it’s just exploded since. I’ve been busy at QVC, and also up north on Steph’s Packed Lunch, plus I’m also putting the finishing touches to my book!

But I did fit in a few days to start a couple of new hobbies – knitting and making cappuccinos! You can see the pictures here. Yes I know, I dropped a stitch, and my froth is too fluffy. But I’m learning…

When in London, I like to go out and explore, try new foods and see new places. At the moment the winter containers are looking super fit, especially the ones in Mayfair, with no expense spared of course.

Check out the amazing Christmas rose displays. I was also overjoyed to find the tiny parks – these are old London underground ticket booths that have been filled with plants. Here’s a photo of one at Kilburn Park.

I’m very excited about the snowdrops, they should be coming through soon. I spotted a couple the other day in a graveyard near my home. When snowdrops start, we really know the year is starting.

Have you seen the BBC show Green Planet yet? I am transfixed every Sunday evening. There’s so much to learn, I need a notepad!

I’ve been super lucky to see some of those plants in the wild too, such as the Rafflesia flower in Borneo. I bet you can guess what my book is about right?

Just before Christmas, I did sneak in a little visit to the Eden Project, almost in preparation for the Green Planet. It’s always humbling to see what goes towards making the every day things that we eat and drink, such as coffee trees, and the pods that chocolate are made from.

I rounded off the month with some videos and photos too. I had another photo shoot at a new local flower shop in Chiswick, with Capri from the backstage team. It was fun, and she has made me look really rough and ready – I love it! I’ve also been filming new content for QVC. We recently did composting with our new rotating composter – very fun and educational. And lastly, I’ve been convinced to do my first Reel on Instagram, which is like TikTok – check out the dancing!

This month at QVC, you should be looking out for summer flowering plants. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s a good time to order them, so we can get you to the front of the guest list. This way, you know you’re getting just the ones you want, and they’ll be sent at the right time for planting out.

You also still have plenty of time to plant bare root plants, such as perennials, fruit bushes, and roses. It’s a really economical way of filling your garden, and winter is the perfect time while they’re dormant!

Till next month.

Michael x

The post What I’ve been up to this January appeared first on Stories.