George Harrison may be best remembered as a Beatle, but away from the stage and recording studio, he found another creative outlet in the garden. His historic Friar Park estate in Henley-on-Thames became a lifelong labor of love, with its sprawling grounds offering a retreat from the outside world.

For Harrison, gardening was more than a hobby: it was a way of finding peace, getting his hands dirty and nurturing something over time. That passion is now inspiring a new wave of garden-inspired design, thanks to a collaboration between the Friar Park estate and Japanese gardening brand Niwaki, developed with Harrison’s son, Dhani.

The collection brings together gardening tools and accessories, but it’s the jacket that’s catching everyone's eye... and for good reason! It's taken things well beyond the normal realm of gardening clothes, in the best possible way.

George Harrison's Gardening Jacket

The Friar Park and Niwaki Meditation Jacket (as seen above) is just stunning, isn't it? With its Japanese silhouette, chic denim material, oversized hood, relaxed cloak-like shape and thoughtful detailing, it’s the sort of jacket that makes pottering among the plants feel a lot more stylish.

Think practical workwear with a distinctly design-conscious twist – and it’s easy to imagine wearing it well beyond the garden, too.

There’s just one catch: it costs $875, which is a substantial investment for a jacket you might wear to prune roses, turn the compost or nip out to check on your seedlings. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend nearly a thousand dollars to capture some of that same style, as these alternatives offer different takes on the trend, from a traditional Japanese-style jacket to an everyday barn coat and a practical hooded layer.

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If you love the George Harrison-inspired Meditation Jacket but can’t quite justify spending $875, Niwaki’s Engei Lightweight Garden Jacket is worth a look. It has the same garden-minded, Japanese-inspired sensibility, though at $320, it’s hardly an impulse buy either.

The beauty of the original Friar Park x Niwaki jacket is that it doesn’t look like conventional gardening gear. It’s practical, yes, but it also has a distinctive shape and enough style to wear well beyond the garden gate.

Of course, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to give your gardening wardrobe a little more personality. Whether you go for a Japanese-inspired hanten, a classic barn jacket or a relaxed denim layer, there are plenty of ways to borrow the look without breaking the bank.

And as the Beatles once sang, money can’t buy you love – but it might just buy you a rather good gardening jacket.

Decorating for the holidays doesn't always have to mean a towering evergreen, baubles in every colour and tinsel from floor to ceiling. Sometimes, the simplest ideas make the biggest impact, and Michelle Obama's understated twig tree look is well and truly proof of this!

There is something magical about using natural shapes and soft lighting to create an elegant display, isn't there? And, while a Christmas tree is very much an 'only for December' kind of vibe, the Obamas' approach of using illuminated branches offers a more pared-back alternative, with a gentle glow that can work well beyond the festive season.

It's a look that feels particularly suited to anyone who prefers a more minimalist Christmas, or who wants to introduce a little seasonal magic without buying another large decoration that will spend most of the year in storage. Check it out if you don't believe me:

Love it? The good news is that you don't necessarily need to buy a ready-made twig tree to achieve a similar effect. In fact, with a few suitable branches from your garden, a sturdy vase and a string of delicate LED fairy lights, you can create your own version of Michelle Obama's holiday display for a fraction of the cost.

It's a lovely way to make use of branches left over from routine pruning, giving them a second life as part of your Christmas decorating. And, brilliantly, it's one of the simplest DIY projects going! All you have to do is choose branches with interesting shapes, arrange them so they form a loose, tree-like silhouette, and add lights sparingly enough that the natural structure remains the star of the show.

How To Make Michelle Obama's Twig Tree

You don't need specialist crafting skills to recreate Michelle Obama's holiday look. The most important things are choosing branches with an appealing shape and making sure your finished arrangement is stable.

What You'll Need

• A selection of sturdy garden branches or suitable fallen twigs
• A pair of sharp, clean secateurs
• A heavy-based vase, planter or decorative container
• Small stones or pebbles to help secure the branches
• A set of warm-white LED fairy lights
• Optional: a few lightweight decorations or ribbons

Whether you leave the finished display unadorned or add a handful of small ornaments, this easy DIY is a beautiful way to bring the outdoors in for the holidays.

With that in mind, then, let's get our Michelle Obama on...

1. Choose Your Branches

Start by looking for branches with plenty of natural character. A mixture of upright stems and smaller offshoots will give your display a fuller (aka more tree-like) shape, while branches with interesting curves can add a sculptural quality.

You can use fallen branches or suitable cuttings from routine garden pruning. If cutting from a living shrub or tree, make sure you're pruning at an appropriate time and in a way that won't damage the plant. Avoid brittle, rotten or diseased wood, and check branches for insects before bringing them indoors.

2. Arrange Them In A Sturdy Container

Choose a vase or planter with a wide and heavy base to help prevent your tree from tipping over. Position the tallest branches towards the centre and arrange the shorter ones around them, allowing the natural shapes to spread out.

Add small stones or pebbles around the base of the branches to help hold them in place. And take care to step back occasionally to check the overall silhouette, adjusting the stems until the arrangement feels balanced without looking too uniform.

3. Add Your Fairy Lights

This is where the magic happens. Wrap your LED fairy lights loosely around the branches, starting near the base and working towards the outer stems. Try to distribute the lights evenly, rather than clustering them in one area.

Warm white lights will give the arrangement a soft, inviting glow, while a more delicate micro-LED string can create a subtle, almost starry effect. Battery-operated lights can also be useful if you want to position your display somewhere without a nearby socket.

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The trick to nailing that MIchelle Obama look is to make sure you pick some with a flexible wire that is easy to wind around smaller branches. Take care, too, to check that the length is sufficient for the size of your arrangement.

A timer function is a useful extra if you'd like your tree to illuminate automatically in the evenings.

4. Keep Decor Simple

One of the best things about Michelle Obama's holiday display is that it doesn't need much embellishment; you can leave the branches bare apart from the lights for a minimalist finish, or add a few small ornaments if you prefer something more traditionally festive.

A restrained palette of white, silver or muted gold will complement the natural wood without making the display feel too busy. Alternatively, a simple velvet ribbon tied around the vase can introduce a little texture without distracting from the branches.

5, Find The Perfect Spot

Once your arrangement is finished, place it somewhere it can be appreciated after dark, and take care to position it on a level surface, away from candles, fireplaces and other sources of heat.

The beauty of this Michelle Obama-inspired DIY is that it doesn't have to disappear as soon as Christmas is over. If you keep the decorations minimal, your illuminated branches can continue to bring a soft glow to your home throughout the winter – and beyond.

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for a little inspiration to get me out into the garden as the seasons change. And if there's one person making fall cleanup look positively magical right now, it's Pamela Anderson.

The actor and gardening enthusiast recently shared a video on Instagram captioned, "A beautiful fall morning from the garden… another clean up day," along with a few of her favorite October gardening jobs.

Honestly, it's the sort of thing that makes you want to put the kettle on, pull on your gardening gloves, and spend a few hours pottering among your plants, Pamela Anderson-style.

Check it out:

Moving through her garden in the soft fall light, Pamela has her pruners at the ready as she tends to her roses and gathers fresh produce, including carrots, tomatoes, and peppers. There's even a wonderfully whimsical soundtrack, accompanied by little murmured observations such as "the early bird gets the first worm."

Honestly, if all gardening chores came with that kind of fairytale atmosphere, I might be a lot more enthusiastic about getting them done. But beneath the dreamy aesthetic, Pamela Anderson's video is also a timely reminder that fall is an important season for garden maintenance (even if it's just to do this one expert-approved job).

Pamela Anderson's Fall Cleanup Advice

That's right, folks; Pamela Anderson's video isn't just a mood, but a blueprint for a well-functioning garden in the autumn.

With that in mind, then, here are a few jobs worth tackling now to help your plants make it through the colder months – and to make the most of any vegetables still growing in your beds.

1. Show Your Roses Some Love

One of the first things that caught my eye in Pamela Anderson's video was her tending to her roses, pruners in hand. Still, fall generally isn't the time for a dramatic cutback, as hard pruning can encourage vulnerable new growth or leave plants more exposed to winter weather.

Instead, focus on what your roses really need in October and stick to removing dead, damaged, or diseased stems, along with fallen leaves and other debris around the base of your plants. And, while you may also be tempted to deadhead every spent bloom, remember it's worth exercising a little restraint. Some roses develop attractive rose hips that provide winter interest and a food source for wildlife, so you don't necessarily want to remove every fading flower.

If you're unsure whether your roses need attention, a little tidying is often better than reaching for the pruners with too much enthusiasm. Save any substantial pruning for the appropriate time for your rose variety and local climate.

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2. Harvest Your Fall Veggies

Pamela Anderson's garden isn't just about beautiful flowers. In the video, she also gathers carrots, tomatoes, and peppers, which is a timely reminder to check what's ready to come inside before colder weather sets in.

If you've been growing vegetables this year, fall is a good opportunity to make the most of your hard work. Carrots can often remain in the ground until you're ready to harvest them, provided the soil conditions are suitable and it isn't at risk of freezing. Tomatoes and peppers, meanwhile, should be picked as they ripen, with any remaining fruit monitored as temperatures fall.

Regular harvesting also gives you a chance to assess which plants have finished producing and which might continue for a little longer. Once your vegetable plants are spent, you can remove them and clear away any diseased material, helping prepare your beds for the next growing season.

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Just remember that the best timing depends on your local climate and USDA zone, the varieties you're growing, and the forecast. If a frost is on the way, you may need to harvest tender crops sooner rather than later.

Still, there's something especially satisfying about bringing a basket of homegrown vegetables into the kitchen on a crisp fall morning. It's a lovely reward for all those hours spent watering, weeding, and tending your plants through the summer.

Let Pamela Anderson Show You The Way

What I love about Pamela Anderson's video is that she makes gardening look less like a checklist of chores and more like an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the season. Between the soft light, the whimsical music, and her gentle reminders to pay attention to the world around her, it's a welcome change of pace from the usual rush to get everything ready for winter.

Of course, not every garden needs the same jobs at the same time. Your climate, the plants you're growing, and the weather ahead will all influence what needs doing. But checking on your roses, harvesting ready vegetables, and clearing away diseased plant material? Why, they're all very useful places to start.

So, if your fall garden to-do list has been sitting untouched for a little too long, perhaps Pamela's latest video is the nudge you need. Grab your gloves, find your pruners, and head outside for a little while. You might even find that, with a bit of sunshine and a slower pace, those garden chores feel rather magical after all.

One of the best things about The Celebrity Traitors right now? Jerry Hall, who is proving to be almost as delightfully kooky as her neighbor, Richard E. Grant.

Between the unexpected personalities and the wonderfully eccentric energy, many of us have found ourselves wanting to know more about the supermodel beyond the castle walls. Naturally, that led us down a little Instagram rabbit hole, and straight into her rather spectacular garden.

Now, I have to admit, I’m a little jealous of Jerry’s garden. Not only does the supermodel and actress have an enviable collection of plants, but she appears to have landed on one of the most effective garden color planting palettes without making it look overly designed: purple, purple, and a little more purple.

Jerry Hall's All-Purple Garden

That's right; Jerry Hall’s garden, which features wisteria and lilacs among its purple blooms, is a lovely example of what happens when you commit to one color family rather than trying to squeeze every shade of the rainbow into a border.

And while purple might seem like a purely aesthetic choice, there’s actually some very good garden-design thinking behind it. Before we get into that, though, check it out for yourself:

If you’re looking at Jerry Hall’s garden and wondering why all that purple flowers work so well, take a closer look at what’s surrounding them: green.

Now, green and purple are a favorite combination among professional gardeners, and it’s easy to see why; the contrast is strong enough to give a planting scheme some definition, but it isn’t so dramatic that it becomes overwhelming. Purple also has a slightly receding quality in the landscape, which can help garden beds feel deeper and more spacious.

That makes purple flowers particularly useful when you want a garden to feel abundant and interesting without looking chaotic. Rather than competing with every other color, a purple-and-green scheme gives the eye a clear thread to follow. And there’s another benefit: purple flowers can be particularly attractive to bees and butterflies, making them a valuable food for pollinators.

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Tempted to try it for yourself? Of course you are, and I have good news for you on that front: you don’t need acres of garden – or a supermodel’s landscaping budget – to borrow the idea. Because... well, because you don't have to go full Jerry Hall

The easiest way to try the look at home is to think of purple as a thread running through your planting rather than a rule you have to follow religiously. Lavender (like this Grosso Lavender from Nature Hills) is an obvious starting point, while salvias, catmint, alliums, geraniums, pansies, purple-leaved heucheras, hellebores, and aquilegias can all bring different versions of the shade into a border.

Soft pinks can make the scheme feel romantic, blues can deepen the cool tones, and even brighter shades can work when they're anchored by plenty of green. All of which means that, no, you don't need to turn your entire garden into a purple paradise.

But after seeing Jerry Hall's? Well, I can certainly understand why you might want to.

What I wouldn't give to be like Gisele Bündchen, meditating in a tropical garden full of climbing bougainvillea, towering palms, and lush greenery. Her expression was so peaceful that I went out to my patio and felt (gently) judged for my single pot of basil.

The supermodel has created a space where you can actually slow down, breathe, and hopefully take in the sweet fragrance of your flowers. Fortunately for me, and you readers, these meditation garden ideas are entirely replicable, and I talked to some experts who gave me some tips. Now I'm sharing that information with you, like I’m Yoda to your Luke Skywalker.

Start With Feeling, Not Aesthetics

The first mistake most people make when creating a "relaxing" garden is designing for the photograph rather than the experience. Dhriti, founder of mindful décor brand Root & Still, puts it well: "A mindful garden is one you feel before you analyze it. It isn't so much a style as an intention. A wellness-focused garden is designed around how you want to feel in it – calmer, slower, a little more present – rather than how it might look in a photograph."

That reframe of going from “How can I make this look nice on Instagram?” thinking to, "What do I actually want to feel out here?" is key.

Edit Before You Add

The path to a more restful garden usually involves taking things away, not adding them. Dhriti tells me, "A space full of competing features rarely feels restful, however lovely each element is on its own. I always encourage people to give the eye somewhere to rest: a single quiet focal point, softer planting, a sense of enclosure."

At nearly two feet tall, the Kante slender weathered concrete planter, available on Amazon, has the kind of quiet presence Dhriti describes. Plant lavender or rosemary in it beside a doorway or seating area, and it will look like it's always been there.

Thery Jean Christophe, founder of Musa Art Gallery, agrees: "One common mistake is designing a 'relaxing' garden that becomes too difficult to maintain. If the space creates constant work, it stops feeling peaceful. Low-maintenance planting, comfortable seating, shade, and a few repeated materials usually matter more than having a perfect layout." In other words, resist the urge to fill every corner because the space between things is actually doing a lot of the work.

Choose Plants That Earn Their Place All Year

The plants recommended by all three experts have one thing in common: they look considered even when left somewhat untended. Lavender, rosemary, jasmine, ornamental grasses, and ferns are the names that come up consistently.

Cameron Figgins, owner and president of Absolute Maintenance & Consulting, notes, "Plants with slow, consistent movements and low amounts of debris tend to promote a greater sense of calm. The right variety of plant should require little to no correction and remain healthy during its life cycle."

Structural, forgiving planting is important. Evergreens, grasses that catch the breeze, and fragrant herbs along a path are the backbone of Gisele's garden aesthetic. These are the kind of plants that do their job year-round but never expect much in return.

Plant Hidcote lavender (available from Plant Addicts) along a path or around seating, and you'll have the fragrant, low-maintenance anchor plant all three experts recommend. It smells incredible and gently tells your nervous system to take a breath.

Mindful Garden Essentials

Engage the Senses You Often Forget

In a garden, the visual element is obvious, but people often miss everything else our senses can offer. Dhriti points out that "...sound and movement matter too. The gentle trickle of a tabletop water feature, leaves shifting in the breeze, the scent of herbs – these are the things that quietly tell your nervous system it's safe to slow down. A mindful garden engages all the senses gently, never all at once."

A small water feature is probably the single highest-impact addition you can make to a garden that currently has none. The sound of moving water masks city noise, anchors the space, and does more for the atmosphere than many planting decisions. Pure Garden Store's weatherproof four-tier fountain delivers that gentle trickle Dhriti describes, and it works just as well on a balcony as it does in a full garden.

Small Spaces Count Too

If a Mediterranean garden with climbing bougainvillea feels like a stretch (and it really can for many people), Dhriti wants you to know that a balcony or courtyard is actually easier to work with: "A compact space already has a natural sense of enclosure, which is exactly what we try to create in larger gardens. You don't need more; you need the right one or two things, given room to breathe."

Jean Christophe echoes this: "Even a balcony can support this idea with planters, herbs, warm lighting, and one quiet corner to sit. Mindful design is less about size and more about atmosphere."

Hydroponic gardening is having a moment. The clever growing method is popping up in homes as people look for new ways to grow fresh produce in small spaces, and Zooey Deschanel is firmly on board.

The New Girl actor recently shared a glimpse of her own hydroponic setup on on Instagram, and honestly? It's a pretty compelling demonstration of why hydroponics has captured the attention of so many home growers.

The idea is simple: just like Zooey, you can grow plants (including vegetables!) without soil, using nutrient-rich water instead. Better still, many systems are compact enough to sit inside your home, which means you don't necessarily need a garden, a huge amount of outdoor space or even particularly green fingers to give it a go.

Let's Talk Hydroponics

The world of hydroponics is packed full of benefits, although there's no getting away from the fact that some of the sleekest hydroponic systems can come with a decidedly un-sleek price tag.

The good news? You don't need a celebrity budget like Zooey Deschanel to try the trend for yourself. In fact, there are now plenty of smaller and more affordable hydroponic kits like this one available on Amazon, making it possible to experiment with growing your own herbs and vegetables without immediately spending hundreds.

Keen to learn more about them and why they're a great choice for hands-off gardening? I spoke to a plant pro all about them to expand on why they are a great choice, as well as to learn about some of their potential drawbacks. Here's what they had to say.

What Are Hydropnic Systems?

Put simply, hydroponics is a way of growing plants without soil. Instead, plants are grown in a contained system where their roots have access to water infused with the nutrients they need to thrive.

The water is circulated around the system, often with the help of an air pump. This helps ensure the roots receive enough oxygen and prevents the water from becoming stagnant. Many hydroponic systems are also paired with grow lights to ensure any outdoor sunlight that the plants would otherwise be obtaining is supplemented.

It sounds futuristic, but the principle is actually pretty straightforward: rather than relying on soil to deliver nutrients and water to a plant's roots, a hydroponic system delivers them directly (which is incredibly appealing).

What system was Zooey advertising?

The system on Zooey's Instagram page is the Farmstand Nook model, created by the hydroponic company Lettuce Grow which she co-founded.

It's designed to be space-saving, standing vertically to tuck into even the smallest home corner, and it features numerous tiers to care for and display your plants simultaneously.

Zooey sat her hydroponic system in her breakfast nook, which is an ideal place to put one if you're hoping to make the most out of bringing the outdoors indoors. It'll greet you in the morning and you can just sit back and enjoy co-existing with the plants in your space while the hydroponic system does most of the work.

Why Is Everyone Suddenly Talking About Hydroponics?

One of the biggest advantages of hydroponics is how efficiently it can use space and resources. "Hydroponic systems typically use far less water than traditional growing methods because water is recirculated in a contained system rather than lost into the surrounding soil," says Elizabeth Waddington of First Tunnels.

A major pro point Elizabeth shared with me is how well hydroponic systems and their contained nature optimize the impact of what you're giving to your greenery.

That could make hydroponics particularly appealing to anyone who wants to grow their own food but doesn't have a traditional garden. Especially as, per Elizabeth's thoughts, hydroponic systems are a great space-saving choice, with tall-slim models being perfect for even the smallest of apartments. They also serve as an amazing alternative "where access to garden soil is limited or non-existent."

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The Farmstand Nook featured on Zooey Deschanel's Instagram is made by Lettuce Grow, the company she co-founded, and is designed to grow vertically rather than taking up a large footprint horizontally.

Zooey has placed hers in her breakfast nook, making it as much a part of her home as it is a growing system. It's a particularly appealing idea if you're interested in bringing more greenery indoors, because instead of hiding your plants away in a garden, you get to see them every day.

And while the Nook is an impressive example of what hydroponic growing can look like, you certainly don't need to replicate Zooey's setup to join the trend, as the kits above all prove.

What Are The Drawbacks?

As appealing as hydroponics sounds, it isn't completely maintenance-free, and it's worth knowing that before investing. The main issue is that your plants are entirely reliant on the system continuing to work properly.

"Because plants rely entirely on the system, equipment failures can become serious quickly," Elizabeth explains. "A failed pump or prolonged power outage can stress or damage crops in a relatively short time."

That's something you don't necessarily have to worry about when growing a plant in a pot of soil. If you forget about a tomato plant for a while, it's still sitting there in its soil. A hydroponic plant is much more dependent on its growing environment continuing to function as it should.

For that reason, Elizabeth recommends keeping a backup air pump on hand, as well as plenty of nutrient solution so you can top up your system when needed. So, while hydroponics can certainly make growing more efficient, it isn't quite a case of setting up your system and forgetting about it.

What's Best Suited To Growing In A Hydroponic System?

Here's Elizabeth's breakdown of some of the best crops to grow in a hydroponic system. You'll be surprised by how versatile the list is!

• Leafy greens are among the easiest and most productive crops. Lettuce, spinach, kale, rocket, and Asian greens generally thrive in hydroponic systems and can produce abundant harvests throughout the year.
• Herbs are another excellent choice. Basil, parsley, coriander, mint, chives, and dill all perform particularly well, making hydroponics ideal for kitchen gardeners seeking a steady supply of fresh flavour.
• Fruit-bearing crops can also be successful. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries are commonly grown hydroponically, especially in greenhouse environments. However, these crops usually require more support, careful nutrient management, and greater attention to pollination.

If Zooey Deschanel's setup has left you wondering whether hydroponics could work in your own home, the answer may be yes... particularly if you don't have much outdoor space. Yes, a large and beautifully designed system might be the celebrity-approved dream, but a small hydroponic kit?

Why, that can give you a chance to see whether you actually enjoy growing this way before making a bigger investment. Maybe dip your toes into the trend for considerably less than the cost of a full-size system, and see how it works for you.

There is something rather beautiful about a garden at the end of the season. Flowers that were once bright and full are beginning to fade, petals have fallen away and seed heads have taken their place, but rather than looking finished, many plants take on an entirely different character.

Don't believe me? Just ask Martha Stewart, who has made a point of turning the slightly weathered and faded beauty of late-season flowers into an atmospheric Halloween display.

Honestly, if you love the season of the witch, it's a brilliant way to add your own unique twist to your Halloween decorations. Because, sure, pumpkins might be traditional, but there are more fall décor options to be found around your garden (and no, we're not just talking about your spooky porch plants).

Martha Stewart's Halloween Flower Trick

A long way from the usual pumpkins, plastic spiders and orange decorations, Martha Stewart's Halloween display uses the things a garden naturally gives us at this time of year: think dried flowers, dark seed heads, wispy grasses and stems that have been allowed to age in place.

Set against deep, muted colors and a few carefully chosen spooky details, the result feels more like an autumn still life than traditional Halloween décor. Or, you know, something that Morticia Addams would proudly display on her dining room table.

Check it out:

If you want to recreate Martha Stewart's Halloween display for yourself, then you may already have much of what you need growing in your garden. (Although if you want that skeletal effect, you can get a very similar Halloween Skull Planter from Amazon).

Scabiosa, for example, develops delicate seed heads, while coneflowers (true to their name!) leave behind sturdy cones that can remain attractive well into fall. Alliums somehow become even more magnificent once their flowers have dried, and ornamental grasses take on an airy quality that works particularly well in an autumn arrangement.

Even flowers that might look a little past their prime can have their place; faded hydrangeas develop wonderfully muted shades of green, mauve and brown, while spent dahlias and roses can add the darker texture that makes a Halloween display feel atmospheric rather than overly polished.

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Martha Stewart has long embraced this kind of seasonal material in her Halloween decorating, recommending everything from dried pods to rose hips for arrangements. The idea is less about finding a perfect black flower and more about bringing together unusual shapes and textures.

It's particularly appealing as it doesn't require you to grow anything specifically for Halloween; if you've been growing flowers throughout summer, take another look at them before you clear the garden for winter, choose a handful of the most interesting shapes and bring them indoors.

For a more Halloween-inspired look, work with deep reds, burgundies, browns and muted greens rather than relying entirely on orange and black. A black taper candle (available as a pack of four from Leor & Lair)can provide the final touch without overwhelming the plants themselves. And there's nothing stopping you from adding a skull or a pair of skeletal hands, as Martha's display does.

While some plants benefit from being deadheaded, there are good reasons to leave other seed heads standing for a little longer. They can provide food and shelter for wildlife, add winter structure to borders and, as this display demonstrates, provide beautiful material for seasonal decorating.

So before you cut everything back and tidy away the last remains of summer, take a leaf from Martha Stewart’s book. After all, those faded flowers may not be finished just yet; they might simply be waiting to give their best performance as particularly pretty members of the undead!

Every October, I expect my husband to be outside tackling a huge list of autumn jobs. Instead, he starts with something much less exciting – and apparently much more important.

As I believe I have mentioned at least 1,000 times by this point, my husband is a professional gardener with over 20 years experience under his belt, so I've learned that when he says something needs doing in the garden, I probably shouldn't argue. I may occasionally question his methods, but experience has taught me that there's usually a very good reason behind them.

Still, I used to find it slightly (read: very) strange that one of his first jobs every October isn't raking leaves, cutting back perennials, or giving the garden the sort of dramatic autumn tidy-up that makes everything look instantly neat.

Start October With This One Job

If you're anything like me, the first few leaves on the lawn can trigger a sudden urge to find a rake, but my husband isn't interested in making the garden look completely leaf-free the moment autumn arrives. (He firmly believes that leaf litter can provide shelter for overwintering insects and other wildlife, while gradually breaking down and adding organic matter to the soil).

He doesn't cut everything down, either, as he says some perennials can be left standing through winter, particularly plants with useful seedheads or hollow stems. Those stems can provide shelter for insects, while seedheads can provide food for birds and add some much-needed structure to the winter garden.

The one job he does do, though? He cleans his garden tools, and then he sharpens them.

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It's a job that doesn't come hand-in-hand with a satisfying pile of leaves, or a dramatically shorter hedge. There isn't usually a reason to snap a before-and-after photograph, either. Still, a well-maintained pair of pruners is considerably more useful when you're about to spend the next few months pruning, cutting back and maintaining the garden.

That's why my husband recommends cleaning and disinfecting garden tools in fall before putting them away for winter, and really take the time to make sure the tools you're going to rely on are actually ready for the work ahead.

It doesn't have to be a long and complicated process, either; he starts by removing dirt, dried plant material and sap from the tools, and anything particularly grubby gets a proper wash before the tool is dried thoroughly.

Then he looks at the blades. Are they dull? Rusty? Damaged? Is anything loose? Do the blades open and close properly?

If anything needs sharpening, he'll do that next (this is not a man who is ready to accept that something might just be getting a little blunt). Finally, he makes sure that metal parts are lightly lubricated to help protect against rust, particularly if any of his tools are going into storage.

Sure, it's not exactly glamorous work, but it's the sort of boring maintenance that means you're less likely to discover a rusty and blunt pair of pruners when you urgently need them.

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I think the biggest lesson I've taken from watching my husband garden for two decades is that, sure, there are leaves to deal with. Yes, there are plants that need cutting back, bulbs to plant, tender plants to protect and plenty of other jobs that depend on your climate and garden.

But do you know what? You really don't have to attack the whole garden at once, because sometimes the smartest first job is simply making sure your tools are clean, sharp and ready for action.

Honestly, once they are, then all those October jobs suddenly become a little easier. And if my husband is right (which, annoyingly, he usually is – although I'll never tell him so), that's a much better place to start than grabbing a rake and trying to make the entire garden look tidy before Halloween.

Nicole Kidman rarely sets a foot wrong in whatever she does, whether it's an onscreen performance or a red carpet appearance. it stands to reason, then, that her brightly-colored garden borders are making waves on social media, too.

Honestly, posing with an exceptionally photogenic black cat on the set of Practical Magic 2, the actor's wonderfully abundant flower border makes for a pretty perfect backdrop – and it's full of ideas I want to steal for my own garden.

Better still? It's all pretty achievable and low maintenance, not to mention brimming with whimsical cottage garden vibes, making it wholly fitting for the return of the Owens sisters... and for my own personal approach to gardening, too.

Nicole Kidman’s Bewitching Border Plants

As seen in Nicole Kidman's photo, the borders flanking the Owens house in Practical Magic 2 are filled with billowing mophead hydrangeas in shades of green, blue and violet, tall pink foxgloves and blue delphiniums, while darker purple foliage fills the gaps underneath.

Garden phlox adds another splash of pink, creating a border that feels almost overflowing with flowers without looking messy. And, for anyone who wants that same wonderfully full, slightly magical cottage-garden look, I think this scene provides a surprisingly useful planting lesson.

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Are you ready for this? The trick is to think vertically rather than simply choosing lots of different flowers. As you can see in Nicole Kidman's photo, the delphiniums and foxgloves provide height, while the hydrangeas occupy the middle of the border with their large flowerheads.

Lower down, the purple coral bells provides foliage interest and helps prevent the planting from becoming a wall of flowers. Basically, then, rather than planting everything at roughly the same height, combine tall, medium and low-growing plants so that the eye moves through the garden.

Shop Your Practical Magic 2 Border Plants List:

• Hydrangeas: try something like the Endless Summer® BloomStruck® Bigleaf Hydrangea from Nature Hills
• Foxgloves: give the Giant Shirley Foxglove from Spring Hill Nurseries a go.
• Delphiniums: we rate these bright Blue Delphinium Flower Seeds from CZ GRain Store.
• Garden Phlox: something like the Flame® Pro Baby Doll Garden Phlox.
• Coral Bells: go for the Amethyst Myst Heuchera from the Daylily Nursery for that same effect.

Opting for a layered border planting scheme like the one in Nicole Kidman's photo means that there's something to enjoy even when one plant isn't flowering. The hydrangeas may provide the biggest blooms, but the delphinium stems, foxglove spires and heuchera foliage all contribute to the overall effect.

And this isn't simply movie-set magic; the production team went to considerable lengths to make the Owens' garden feel genuinely established. In fact, Architectural Digest's behind-the-scenes tour of the set reveals that much of the greenery is real, with the greens department bringing in mature plants and trees and maintaining real vegetables through what was described as a very hot summer. The wider set reportedly incorporated thousands of real plants.

You don't need to copy the planting exactly; you don't even need to reproduce every plant in the film set if you borrow the formula. Just choose a few taller plants – such as delphiniums and foxgloves – and position them towards the back or middle of the border. Then, add fuller plants such as hydrangeas beneath them, and use lower-growing foliage plants such as heuchera towards the front.

You can also repeat colors throughout the border rather than assigning each colour to a separate section. Pink foxgloves alongside pink phlox, for example, help make the planting feel cohesive, while blue flowers echo the cooler shades of the hydrangeas. And remember, the magic of this style comes from allowing plants to knit together over time; you want to avoid perfection, instead aiming for a border where the plants appear to overlap and mingle.

Think about it; the Practical Magic garden has been designed to feel as though it has existed for generations rather than being freshly planted for a film, and it has been created with that sense of history in mind, using mature greenery and real plants to make the set feel lived-in.

So while Nicole Kidman's Instagram photo might initially catch your attention because of the actor – and, admittedly, that extremely handsome cat – it's the border behind her that deserves a closer look.

It proves that you don't need rare or unusual plants to create a garden with real atmosphere; with a mixture of tall flower spikes, generous blooms and dramatic foliage, even familiar garden favorites can combine to create something that feels truly whimsical and enchanting.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Zooey Deschanel has had something of an iron-grip on our hearts ever since she starred in (500) Days of Summer. So, when she shared a recent snapshot into her home, it's little wonder that many of us sat up and paid attention.

I know, I know; at first glance, it's Zooey's cat (and rather fabulous cat tree) that steal the show in the Instagram photo. But look beyond the window? Why, then you'll find that there's another detail worth noticing: a tall black trellis, partly hidden by greenery, that adds a lovely vertical element to the terrace.

It's the sort of garden feature that's easy to overlook, but I think it's a particularly clever addition to a space that's viewed from indoors. Rather than simply providing support for a climbing plant, this particular type of trellis creates a focal point outside the window, giving the eye something interesting to land on beyond the glass.

Zooey Deschanel's Black Trellis

The benefits to Zooey Deschanel's black trellis (very similar in style to this trellis obelisk from Amazon) aren't purely aesthetic, either; as the climber grows, it creates a little more privacy, softens the view from the window, and provides some welcome shade from strong summer sunshine.

Better still? For those of us with distinctly smaller gardens or terraces than a celebrity, a well-placed trellis can make an outdoor space feel greener and more enclosed... all without taking up the floor space that a hedge would require.

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It's an approach that seems particularly fitting for Zooey Deschanel. When she and Jonathan Scott opened up about their home to Architectural Digest, the New Girl star explained that they wanted their terraces to capture the cottage garden feel they love about their Los Angeles garden, and noted that they incorporated “a lot of trellis” into the design.

Now, a trellis is often treated as a purely practical garden accessory: put it against a wall, give a climber something to cling to and let nature take over, right? Wrong! Because positioning one where it can be seen from a window changes its role, allowing it to become part of the garden's architecture. The dark framework provides structure, while foliage and flowers gradually soften its lines.

Viewed from inside, that can create the impression of a much greener outlook (without requiring any major landscaping!). And this could be particularly useful on a terrace or small patio, where there may not be room for mature trees or a traditional hedge.

You don't need to find an exact match for Zooey Deschanel's trellis. Instead, look for a tall black metal obelisk (like this 100% Metal Garden Obelisk Trellis from LeJoy Garden) or open-frame trellis with enough height to create a noticeable feature from the window. (Honestly, using something like Amazon's Spiral Frame Trellis for Climbing Plants in a pot would do the trick).

The key is positioning. If your main reason for installing one is to improve the view from inside, don't automatically put it at the back of the border. Think about where you'll see it most often, and consider placing it where the framework and foliage will sit naturally within the sightline of a window.

Then, choose a climber suited to the conditions; clematis, climbing roses, honeysuckle and jasmine can all provide an attractive leafy screen, while sweet peas offer a faster-growing seasonal option.

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Sometimes the best garden ideas are the ones that improve what you see from inside the house, and Zooey Deschanel's trellis is a brilliant reminder that a climbing plant doesn't just need something to grow on – the support itself can become part of the view.

And just like that, I'm off to buy myself a trellis. Race you to the checkouts!

I have a bit of a weakness for celebrity gardens that look impossibly expensive but turn out to have one surprisingly simple idea hiding behind all that glamor, and Jennifer Aniston's yard more than fits the bill.

Whether you know her from Friends (of course you know her from Friends!) or The Morning Show, Jennifer is one of those stars who has long-held on a grip on us, inspiring everything from our hairstyles to our lunches (green goddess salad, anyone?). It stands to reason, then, that her gardening efforts would have just as much of an impact.

The actress has worked with designer Stephen Shadley to create an outdoor space that looks beautiful, both by day and night; however, it's the garden lighting that has really caught my attention.

Jennifer Aniston's Cozy Garden Lighting Trick

That's right, folks; Jennifer Aniston has gifted us one of those cozy backyard ideas that just makes so much sense for fall, and it's all hinged on her lighting.

How? Well, her trees are wrapped in warm white lights, with the strands winding around the trunks and into the lower branches, creating a soft glow that makes the whole garden feel rather magical.

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Now, while I can't promise that a few strings of lights will transform anyone's backyard into Jennifer Aniston's Bel Air estate, I can promise that this particular idea is much easier to steal than it looks. You don't even need a huge garden, a Hollywood-sized budget or an entire team of designers! In fact, all it requires is a tree, some warm white lights and roughly $50.

The trick is to make the trees (or plants) themselves part of the lighting design. In this instance, LED Tree Trunk Wrap Lights like these from Wintergreen are wrapped around the trunks and carried into the lower branches, tracing the natural shape of the trees once the sun goes down. Elsewhere, smaller lights pick out areas closer to the ground.

So, if you're tempted to recreate it, take a long hard look at your own yard, pick one tree (or any other particularly lovely feature), and get ready to help it become the star of the show.

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The good news is that you don't need to commission Stephen Shadley to get started; these LED Tree Trunk Wrap Lights from Wintergreen are currently around $46 and are designed specifically for wrapping around tree trunks.

They have 100 warm-white lights on brown wire, which means the wire should blend more naturally into the bark than something bright green or black. Just start at the base of a tree and work your way upwards, keeping the spacing relatively consistent as you wrap around the trunk. Once you've reached the lower branches, you can carry the lights out slightly to emphasise the tree's natural shape.

There's one temptation I'm going to urge you to resist here, and that's buying approximately 47 boxes of garden lights and attempting to illuminate every available surface. Say it with me, people: you don't need to cover every branch. In fact, I think leaving plenty of the tree in darkness is part of what makes Jennifer Aniston's cozy garden lighting trick look so appealing.

No tree? No problem! You can use exactly the same principle on a smaller ornamental tree, a multi-stemmed shrub or even a pot in a large container. In fact, the same warm glow can be created by winding lights around a sturdy garden structure, pergola post or other feature you want to highlight.

The trick is to make the most of the darkness and create a warming glow, so, honestly, just choose the feature you most enjoy looking at from your patio or from inside the house. Then, make like Jennifer Aniston, wrap it with warm white lights and see what happens after dark.

You might just find that you don't need anything else at all...

Kat Von D isn't necessarily a name you might associate with gardening; the iconic tattooist is far more likely to be found in a pair of leather fingerless gloves than pruning mitts.

Still, it seems the real world's answer to Morticia Addams has a surprisingly green thumb – albeit one with a distinctly gothic twist – and her most iconic gardening project is more than glamorous enough to make even the most devoted cottage garden enthusiast consider switching sides.

When you consider the fact that our appetites for gothic romance have been well and truly heightened by the dark drama and sweeping silhouettes of Wuthering Heights, no wonder more and more of us are sitting up and paying attention to Kat Von D's horticultural efforts, eh?

Kat Von D's Gothic Garden

Yes, Kat Von D has been busy; on top of her day job as a tattooist, recording artist, and beauty entrepreneur, she has also created a spectacular display of thousands of near-black tulips outside her Indiana home.

Unsurprisingly, when you consider who you're dealing with, they're about as far removed from the usual pastel spring border as you can get. Better still, we know exactly which variety she's planted, which means you can take full advantage of the fall (aka prime tulip planting season) and recreate a little of Kat's wonderfully dark garden at home.

Check it out:

Kat Von D's famous display is made up of 'Queen of Night' tulip bulbs, one of the deepest, darkest tulip varieties you can grow. Sure, the flowers aren't technically black (if you want to split hairs, they're actually a wonderfully moody maroon-purple) but, when planted en masse, they come pretty close.

What makes the tulip garden so striking isn't just the unusual flower color, however; it's the sheer number of them. Kat originally planted around 10,000 'Queen of Night' bulbs, and the display has since grown to around 15,000, creating an incredible wall of dark blooms.

Shop Kat Von D-Inspired Tulips:

Now, you don't necessarily need thousands of bulbs (although, if you have the space, go for it!) to get the Kat Von D look. Instead, plant in big drifts of one color, rather than a little bit of everything.

The idea is simple; a smaller planting of the same variety offers a much more dramatic effect than scattering a few different tulips around a border. And, if you stick to dark flowers, then you will find that they provide an instant contrast to everything around them, whether that's green foliage, pretty pastel blooms, gravel, brickwork or an old house.

In other words, you don't need to turn your entire garden into a gothic fantasy to get the look.

The best thing about all of this is that Kat Von D hasn't used some impossibly rare variety of tulip that you'll have to hunt down from a specialist collector.; 'Queen of Night' is classic late-flowering tulip that's sold far and wide.

That means you can steal Kat's idea for yourself very easily, and now is the perfect time to do it! After all, tulips are planted in fall so that bulbs have time to develop their roots before winter; the exact planting window depends on which USDA planting zone you're based in, but gardeners in colder regions generally plant once the soil has cooled, while warmer areas can plant later in the fall.

Essentially, you're looking for a window several weeks before the ground freezes.

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If you're tempted to create a whole Kat Von D-inspired border, you don't even have to stop at tulips. Look for other flowers and foliage in deep burgundy, plum, wine and near-black shades, then use green or pale flowers to stop the planting from becoming too heavy.

Think dark dahlias, purple-black scabiosa, burgundy foliage, deep purple irises, chocolate cosmos, and near-black petunias. And remember: you don't need to copy Kat Von D's garden exactly. Instead, choose one dramatic element – in this case, a mass of almost-black tulips – and let it dictate the rest of your planting scheme.

The result can be every bit as glamorous, mysterious, and wonderfully over-the-top, even if your garden is considerably smaller than a celebrity's.

For many of us, pets are so much more than animals we share our homes with. They're family members, companions, confidants and, in the case of this writer, the reason there's dog hair on every piece of furniture.

Whether you're a devoted dog person, a lifelong cat lover or happiest watching your fish glide around their tank, our pets can become a surprisingly big part of our personalities and everyday lives. And if you've ever wondered whether there's a pet that perfectly matches your personality, you're in luck!

Birth month traditions have long given us different ways to discover the things we're supposedly most like, from birth month flowers and birth month trees, right on down to the weird and wonderful likes of birth month birds, birth month bugs and even birth month animals. And birth month pets? Well, there’s something satisfying about discovering a furry friend with exactly the same characteristics as you.

All 12 Birth Month Pets

When it comes to finding your special fit, why stop at flowers and gemstones? Especially when your very own birth month pet might be a better fit in terms of its particular energy?

Whether you already have a beloved pet at home or you're simply curious to see which animal best represents you, read on to discover your birth month pet. And don't be surprised if your match seems uncannily accurate – or if you suddenly find yourself Googling what it takes to keep a parrot, rabbit or (ahem) snake feeling good and happy.

January – Horse

January babies aren't afraid to do a Fleetwood Mac and go their own way, which makes the horse their ideal birth month pet. Think about it; horses are intelligent, powerful and independent, but they can also form incredibly strong bonds with the people they trust.

A thoroughbred, with its athleticism and competitive spirit, could be particularly fitting for someone who is always striving towards their next goal. There are no rules, though; just like you, all horses (even grade horses) aren't particularly interested in being held back.

If you love the fit, then why not pay homage to your inner horse with something like this Horse Stained Glass Suncatcher?

February – Parrot

If you were born in February, your birth month pet is the parrot. These intelligent, social birds are full of personality and can be remarkably expressive, making them a great match for creative and imaginative types.

A Macaw, as seen above, is perhaps the most famous parrot out there. A cockatiel or budgerigar are considered ideal in terms of 'starter' parrots. And an African grey, beloved for its intelligence and ability to mimic sounds, might be your perfect counterpart – although its clever nature means it will probably keep you on your toes.

Maybe a simpler solution is... well, is a Parrots Calendar 2027: A Colorful Year of Exotic Birds & Tropical Beauty, right?

March – Rabbit

Gentle and sensitive March personalities have plenty in common with the rabbit. After all, these quiet animals can be affectionate and social once they feel comfortable, but they also appreciate having a safe space of their own.

A Holland Lop, with its small size and famously floppy ears, suits March's softer side particularly well. You may not be the loudest person in the room, but there's more going on beneath the surface than people realize.

Of course, if you want to show that same love to wild rabbits, be sure to plant a mix of grasses and low-growing plants to create soft cover and feeding areas for small wildlife (and opt for some rabbit-proof plants, too; something like this Serendipity Allium from Nature Hills would be ideal).

April – Dog

April is all about energy, confidence and a certain magnetic quality – so what better match than a dog?

Yes, April babies; you've won birth month pet bingo! But, to be fair, that's because dogs, with their loyalty, enthusiasm and eagerness to be involved in whatever is happening, have the kind of larger-than-life personality that April babies can relate to.

A Labrador Retriever is an especially good fit: outgoing, friendly and always ready for the next adventure. And, if you already have a pooch of your own, opting for some raised beds is a great way to keep them from digging up your precious plants. (Hey, it can't just be mine who does this, right?).

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May – Turtle

Steady, dependable and perfectly happy taking life at their own pace, May personalities are well matched with the turtle (or tortoise, if you're British... although all tortoises are land-based turtles).

There's something reassuring about a turtle's calm approach to life, while its long lifespan has made it a symbol of longevity and good fortune in various cultures. A Hermann's or a red-eared slider could be your ideal alter ego – so long as you don't expect it to rush anywhere.

Just be sure to grow something like these Heatwave Blend Lettuce Seeds from Burpee so you have plenty of tasty greens on offer for your new shelled friend.

June – Canary

June's sensitive and communicative nature makes the canary an obvious match. These small songbirds are known for their distinctive vocalisations, giving them plenty to say even when they're tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

A Gloster canary, with its distinctive rounded appearance, is a particularly charming match for June's romantic streak. If you can't add a feathered friend to your home, though, don't despair; there are plenty of ways to turn your outdoor space into a welcoming bird sanctuary all year round.

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July – Guinea Pig

July personalities tend to put the people they love first, making the guinea pig a fitting birth month pet. These social little animals generally enjoy companionship and can form strong bonds with their owners.

A pair of American guinea pigs could be particularly appropriate – because if there's one thing a July personality understands, it's that life is better when you're surrounded by family and friends.

August – Cat

August babies have no trouble making an impression, which is why their birth month pet is the cat. Independent yet affectionate, confident yet capable of demanding plenty of attention, cats have a charisma all of their own.

A Maine Coon may be the ultimate August match: confident, sociable and impossible to ignore. Naturally, they'll expect to be treated like royalty, so make sure you plant some catnip seeds!

September – Hamster

Analytical, hardworking and detail-oriented? Of course September's organised, practical personality has a lot in common with the humble hamster!

These tiny animals can spend hours running, exploring, storing food and generally keeping themselves busy, and a Syrian hamster is a particularly fitting match for September, as they are independent, active and seemingly always working on their next project.

Just don't rearrange its carefully organised stash...

October – Fish

Calm and (somewhat surprisingly, given Scorpio's reputation!) harmonious October personalities are well suited to the fish. Watching fish swim can be wonderfully peaceful, while maintaining an aquarium requires a careful balance of different conditions – much like the October personality's knack for keeping the peace.

A graceful betta fish could be the perfect match, combining beauty and personality with an unmistakable sense of presence. And why not go the whole hog and grow plants on top of your fish tank for good measure?

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November – Snake

November's intense and mysterious personality makes the snake an intriguing match. Often misunderstood, snakes can be fascinating, intelligent animals that require patience and confidence from their keepers.

A ball python fits the bill particularly well: relatively calm, striking to look at and capable of quietly commanding attention. Like a November personality, it may take a little time to get to know – but there's plenty beneath the surface.

December – Lizard

December personalities finish the year with plenty of energy, curiosity and enthusiasm, making the lizard their perfect pet match. These fascinating reptiles spend their days exploring, basking and investigating their surroundings.

A bearded dragon is especially fitting for December: curious, expressive and surprisingly sociable, with plenty of personality packed into one scaly little body? Just like December babies everywhere, these little cuties are certainly not afraid of a little adventure!

They also adore insects... to eat, true, but if you want to show some love to pollinators, there are a few ways to do it.

Shop Pollinator-Friendly Plant Kits:

Whether it’s the a cat, a dog, a fish, or something completely different, each companion animal reflects a different way of moving through the world. So if your birth month pet feels strangely accurate, lean into it! It might just lead to the greatest friendship you'll ever know...

There are some celebrity homes that make me want to redecorate. Kate Hudson's latest Instagram post, however, had me reaching for my pruners instead.

At first glance, I was distracted by her beautiful blue marble kitchen (understandably; it is magnificent). In the end, though, it wasn't the interiors that stuck with me, but the flowers she had displayed in it – because they definitely didn't look like the sort of blooms most of us instinctively reach for when we're cutting flowers for the house.

Like a lot of gardeners, I've always assumed that if I'm filling a vase, I should head straight for the roses, dahlias, hydrangeas, or whatever perennial happens to be putting on the biggest show that week. Kate's arrangements , though? They reminded me that some of the most beautiful cut flower displays come from the plants we'd never normally think to cut.

How Kate Hudson Turned Garden Cuttings Into A Chic Display

First things first, you need to see the magic of Kate Hudson's kitchen (a place she refers to as her 'favorite place') for yourself.

Be sure to pay particular attention to the third slide in the carousel:

Instead of tightly packed bouquets, the How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days star's kitchen is dotted with simple glass vases filled with what appear to be purple clematis and elegant orchid sprays.

The result feels relaxed, organic, and somehow far more sophisticated than a traditional bunch of flowers... and it's especially great because it's incredibly easy to recreate with cuttings from your own garden.

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The thing I love most about Kate Hudson's displays is that they don't rely on obvious cut flowers. Instead, they've been built around plants that create movement, using long arching stems that naturally spill from the vase and make it feel as though it's still growing, almost.

It's a trick florists use all the time, but one that's surprisingly easy to replicate at homes, so try looking beyond your biggest blooms. It doesn't have to be an orchid (although if it is, make it your birth month orchid for extra panache!); a single sunflower or dahlia will do the trick. In fact, any flowering vines, airy perennials, ornamental grasses, interesting foliage, seedheads, and even small leafy branches can all bring texture and shape to an arrangement.

Once you've picked those out, take care not to cram dozens of flowers into one container; make like Kate and let each cutting take centerstage. The negative space is just as important as the flowers themselves, creating an arrangement that feels light, modern, and effortless.

Perhaps the biggest lesson to take from Kate Hudson's arrangements is to stop thinking in terms of "flowers" and start thinking in terms of "stems", because some of the most interesting things growing in our gardens aren't necessarily the biggest or brightest blooms.

I've started looking around my own borders differently because of it. And, instead of asking myself which flowers are looking their best, I'm asking which plants have the most interesting shape, movement, or texture, because more often than not, they're the ones I would have walked straight past before.

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That's the beauty of a garden-gathered arrangement; it doesn't have to be perfect, symmetrical, or packed with expensive blooms.

Sometimes, all it takes is a few unusual cuttings, a simple vase, and the confidence to go full Kate Hudson and let the flower speak for itself. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be outside with my pruners having a snip at my passionflower vine...

When I heard that the legendary Tim Curry had died, I did what I suspect an awful lot of people did: I immediately started thinking about all of his performances I loved.

Front and center, of course, was Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the role that made him an icon. But for me, Curry was also Wadsworth in Clue, Rooster in Annie, Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, the unforgettable concierge in Home Alone 2, and (ahem) Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys.

Whichever role you love the most, I think we can all agree that he had that rare quality of seeming completely himself in every role – oozing confidence, wit and just the right amount of mischief. No wonder, then, he seemed like a real gem of a man off-screen, too – and a keen gardener to boot.

All Hail Tim Curry's Favorite Garden Feature

Yes, it may surprise you to learn that Tim Curry wasn't simply someone who enjoyed pottering around with plants; he was a genuinely passionate horticulturist who designed, developed, and restored gardens, and he had a wonderfully thoughtful way of talking about what a garden could actually be.

Asked where his love of gardening came from, he joked that "if you're English, a trowel appears in your hand when you're 30 like a prosthetic device". British or not, though, most of us don't have the opportunity to create a garden for the likes of Freddie Mercury (yes, Tim Curry really did do just that!).

Naturally, though, the true intrigue comes from Curry's own garden. Because, when he bought a dilapidated 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival house in Los Feliz and painstakingly restored it, he spent ages tracking down the property's original plans and bringing his own ideas to the home and garden.

And the best feature,? Well, it wasn't what you'd expect.

In his garden, Tim Curry favored colorful planting – but, as per his biography, his favorite part of the plot was actually the clever garden seating he set out. "I made two patios with benches. From one you can see the sun rise and from one you can watch the sun set," he explained. "Often I just sit up there and see what I imagine for the next project."

It's a timely reminder that a garden isn't really finished when you've planted it; you need somewhere to sit and enjoy it. And it is so easy to recreate in your own yard, as all you have to do is find the place in your garden where the morning or evening light is particularly beautiful, then pop a chair or bench there.

If you have space, Curry's idea can be taken one step further. Find an east-facing spot for morning coffee and an area with a good western view for the evening. Notice where the light falls at different times of year, and position accordingly. And, if you want to pay homage to a man who was always effortlessly himself, be sure to find a seat with its own style and panache, too!

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What I particularly love about Curry's approach to gardening is that he didn't seem to view it as simply an exercise in making things look pretty. Indeed, in The Great Private Gardens of the World, he described his approach to be a case of "organizing nature not just into pleasing shapes, but also as a kind of spiritual resource."

It makes sense, then, that his two patios became places to pause, look, think and dream up the next project. Perhaps that's the real gardening lesson here, actually: don't design your garden solely around what you want to – instead, grow part of it around how you want to feel.

Of course, the beloved actor's own love of gardening might have something to do with the fact that his father had created a garden from scratch during years of illness. "The 20th century has been very much about getting what you want now," he said famously. "Gardens are about making something terrific for those who come after."

He's not wrong; every time you plant something, it's an act of optimism. You grow a tree whose shade you might enjoy long before it reaches its eventual size. You improve the soil for plants you haven't even chosen yet. And, slowly, you build a better world for local wildlife and the people who come after you, too.

In the meantime, though, there is a way to get instant gratification from your own backyard, and it all comes down to Tim Curry's theory on benches. So, if you need me, I'm going to find my own patch of morning or evening light, put a chair there, and sit down. Join me, why don't you?

Is there anything more magical, more whimsical, than the concept of a birth month moon?

Yes, birth month flowers, birth month trees, birth month animals, and birth month birds might get all the attention, but the moon itself offers yet another way to connect your birthday with the natural world. Which makes sense, right? After all, long before printed calendars became commonplace, people looked to the moon to mark the passing of the seasons.

For centuries, communities across North America and Europe have given each full moon a name inspired by what they observed happening around them, whether that be flowers bursting into bloom, strawberries ripening, deer growing new antlers, or the arrival of winter snow. And, while today's most familiar moon names draw from a blend of traditions across the globe, they all share one thing in common: they celebrate nature's seasonal rhythms..

All 12 Birth Month Moons

For gardeners, the name of each full moon is especially meaningful, as they offer a snapshot of what is happening outdoors at that particular time of year, reminding us that the garden has always been closely tied to the changing seasons.

Better still? Well, birth month moons are rooted in folklore and observation, making them a fun, and surprisingly meaningful, way to celebrate yourself.

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So, which full moon belongs to your birth month? Let's dive on in...

January – Wolf Moon

The Wolf Moon is perhaps the best-known of all the full moon names. Although many people assume it refers to hungry wolves roaming through deep winter, historians believe the name likely has European origins and reflects the sound of wolves howling during the coldest months of the year.

For gardeners, this birth month moon is perfectly synonymous with January, a month of quiet planning. Beds may be dormant, but seed catalogs are arriving, gardening journals are filling up with ideas, and the coming growing season begins to take shape.

If you were born under the Wolf Moon, its quiet resilience and strong sense of community likely feels a fitting reflection of your personality.

February – Snow Moon

February's full moon earned its name because this was traditionally one of the snowiest months across much of North America. In some traditions it's also known as the Hunger Moon, reflecting how difficult hunting and foraging could be during late winter.

Although the garden may still feel asleep, signs of spring are beginning to emerge beneath the soil, from snowdrops to early crocuses. Naturally, then, those with the Snow Moon as their birth month moon are often associated with patience, quiet strength, and the promise that brighter days are ahead.

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March – Worm Moon

The Worm Moon signals one of the year's biggest seasonal shifts, leaning into that time when temperatures rise, the ground softens and earthworms begin returning to the surface, helping improve soil structure and fertility. (Anyone else suddenly keen tor read up on their birth month bug?).

For gardeners, this is when the growing season truly begins; in fact, it's the perfect time to enrich your soil with compost before spring planting gets underway. As a birth month moon, though, the Worm Moon symbolizes growth, renewal, and embracing fresh starts... which tallies up perfectly with the idea of getting back into things after a period of rest.

April – Pink Moon

Despite its name, the April full moon doesn't actually appear pink. Instead, it's named after creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), a vibrant pink wildflower that carpets the ground across eastern North America each spring.

It's a reminder that gardens are coming alive with fresh color after the long winter, and it's the ideal time to plant creeping phlox or other early spring bloomers. No wonder people born beneath the Pink Moon are often linked with optimism, creativity, and an appreciation for life's simple beauty, right?

May – Flower Moon

By May, the landscape is bursting with blossoms, making Flower Moon one of the easiest names to understand. Wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and ornamental trees are all reaching their peak, creating one of the most colorful months in the gardening calendar.

It's easy to see, then, why the Flower Moon has become associated with warmth and abundance. If this is your birth month moon, then, you are beloved for your nurturing spirit.

June – Strawberry Moon

Named for the short but sweet strawberry harvest, the Strawberry Moon marks one of early summer's most anticipated seasonal treats. Several Indigenous communities used this moon to signal that wild strawberries were ready for picking.

As a birth month moon, the Strawberry Moon represents sweetness, gratitude, and making the most of life's fleeting moments. How lovely!

July – Buck Moon

During July, male deer begin growing fresh antlers covered in soft velvet, giving this full moon its memorable name. Other traditions refer to it as the Thunder Moon because of frequent summer storms.

When this moon rises, it means that the garden is now producing in abundance, but regular watering? Well, that is increasingly important (try to mulch around vegetables and flowering plants to help conserve moisture during the hottest weeks).

The Buck Moon is often seen as a symbol of confidence, personal growth, and stepping into your own strength. Ideal birth month moon, then, for those who give as good as they get!

August – Sturgeon Moon

The Sturgeon Moon is named after the large freshwater fish that were traditionally caught in abundance during late summer across the Great Lakes and other waterways, making it yet another example of how closely moon names reflect the foods our ancestors enjoyed each season.

Those born under this birth month moon are associated with resilience, resourcefulness, and appreciating the rewards of patience. So, while you're harvesting tomatoes, beans, squash, and other late-summer crops, make sure you lean into the planning for fall planting, too.

September – Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon is unique because it isn't tied to a calendar month; instead, it's the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox (which means it very occasionally occurs in October instead).

Traditionally, though, it's associated with September, as its bright light once helped farmers continue harvesting crops long after sunset. And, as such, its appearance in the sky means it's time to gather apples, pumpkins, squash, and late vegetables while preparing beds for cooler weather.

If the Harvest Moon is your birth month moon, it signifies your capacity for gratitude and generosity, and serves as a reminder to celebrate the rewards of your hard work.

October – Hunter's Moon

Following the Harvest Moon comes the Hunter's Moon, traditionally associated with preparing for winter by hunting game once fields had been cleared. Without crops standing in the fields, wildlife was easier to spot.

For gardeners, it's a month of tidying borders, dividing perennials, and planting spring-flowering bulbs. Naturally, then, this birth month moon symbolizes focus, determination, and preparing thoughtfully for whatever comes next.

November – Beaver Moon

The Beaver Moon refers to the time when beavers were busy reinforcing their lodges before winter, making it a cute one to watch for if you are a wildlife lover. It appears in the sky just as the gardening year is winding down, reminding us that there's still time to protect tender plants before freezing temperatures arrive (you just need to apply mulch around vulnerable perennials before the colder temperatures hit).

People born beneath the Beaver Moon are often linked with practicality, perseverance, and creating strong foundations for the future. Which means they'll also likely be fond of this very handy mulching quiz...

December – Cold Moon

The year's final full moon reflects exactly what most people were experiencing: long nights, dropping temperatures, and the arrival of winter. (no surprises, then, that it's also sometimes known as the oddly melancholic-sounding Long Night Moon).

Although the garden appears quiet, it's an opportunity to add winter interest with evergreen shrubs, ornamental grasses, and berry-producing plants that support wildlife, including this one native tree if you want to see more cardinals.

Naturally, this birth month moon is often associated with reflection and wisdom, making it ideal for those who have a knack for finding beauty in quieter moments.

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If your birth month moon has inspired you to look up more often, there are plenty of simple ways to celebrate it throughout the year; a moon phase calendar or gardening journal can help you keep track of each full moon while recording what's happening in your own backyard. And, of course, consider planting night-scented flowers like moonflower, evening primrose, white nicotiana, and lamb's ear, all of which seem to glow beneath the light of a full moon.

Whether you were born under the Flower Moon, the Harvest Moon, or the Wolf Moon, just remember that each full moon name tells the story of a season. Use it to connect with the natural world around you, and try to take a deep breath on the night of the full moon, get yourself outside or to a window, and gaze at it for a while.

You may find you feel differently about it now you know it's yours.

My husband has worked as a professional gardener for years, and during that time he's tried a lot of tools. Like, a lot of tools.

From expensive gear to the latest must-have gadgets, he's seen plenty of products promise to make gardening easier. But after countless hours spent maintaining gardens of all shapes and sizes, he's learned that the tools he relies on most? Well, they aren't necessarily the flashiest ones.

Case in point? When I asked him which tools every home gardener should own, he didn't list off loads of specialist equipment; instead, he immediately picked out three simple tools that earn a place in his van every single day.

The Tools A Pro Gardener Never Starts a Job Without

Now, his reasoning for picking out these tools makes a lot of sense, because he's made a point of picking the ones that aren't just good at one job; instead, they're versatile enough to tackle multiple tasks, durable enough to withstand years of regular use, and reliable enough that you don't have to think twice about reaching for them.

Whether he's pruning overgrown shrubs, digging out stubborn weeds, or tidying up flower beds, my pro gardener husband says that these are the tools that consistently save him time. So much so that, whenever he arrives at a new job, these are the first three tools he unloads from the van because he knows they'll be useful, no matter what's on the day's to-do list.

If you already have these in your gardening kit, you're well on your way. If you don't, they're where he'd suggest starting...

1. A Hori Hori Knife

“If I could only take one hand tool with me, it’d probably be my hori hori knife.”

Yes, according to my husband, a hori hori knife is one of the most versatile gardening tools you can own. While it looks like a large knife, it doubles as a trowel, making it ideal for digging, planting, dividing perennials, and cutting through roots.

According to my husband, it's also the best tool for removing stubborn weeds because the sturdy blade lets you get underneath deep taproots without fighting with the soil. “I probably use it more than anything else I own,” he says. “Whether I’m planting, digging out weeds, or working in compacted ground, it’s almost always in my hand.”

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2. Felco No. 2 Pruners

Every professional gardener needs a reliable pair of pruners, and my husband's choice is the Felco No. 2. “They’re built to last,” he says. “Mine are always on my tool belt because I’m constantly reaching for them.”

Unlike cheaper pruners that often end up in the trash once they wear out, Felco’s tools are designed so that many individual parts can be replaced if they become damaged or worn. That means a quality pair can last for many years with proper care.

It makes sense, then, that, whether he’s pruning shrubs, deadheading flowers, trimming small branches, or tidying up plants, these are the pruners he trusts every day.

3. A Retractable Leaf Rake

Most people think of a leaf rake as one of those tools you only use in the fall, but my husband says a retractable model earns its place year-round.

Oh sure, it’s excellent for clearing leaves and lawn debris, but that’s only part of its job; my husband also uses it as a mini scarifier to loosen small patches of moss in the lawn, and the adjustable width makes it much easier to work in flower beds and borders. By narrowing the head, he can reach between plants to level the soil and pull out fallen leaves or other debris without damaging surrounding plants.

“The adjustable width is what makes it so useful,” he says. “You can open it up for larger areas or narrow it down when you’re working in tighter spaces.”

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And there we have it; the must-have tools that every gardener needs in their arsenal. Still, if you're looking to build out your gardening kit even further, my husband says these are the next investments he'd make:

• A quality digging fork and spade for heavier landscaping work.
• A battery-powered STIHL KombiSystem, which lets you swap between multiple attachments using one power head.
• A dependable lawn mower if you're maintaining larger lawns and want professional-quality results.

Personally, I would consider splashing out on something like this nifty little All-In-One Raised 2x2 Garden Bundle, too, especially if you want to take a lot of the legwork out of watering.

Still, it makes sense to follow my husband's advice and to start with the three everyday essentials first as, in his experience, buying fewer (but better-quality) tools usually pays off in the long run. And, as these are the three he reaches for time and again, they make a pretty good starting point for building your own gardening arsenal.

I have been obsessed with Goldie Hawn since I first saw The First Wives Club, and my love for her has never once ebbed. So when her latest TikTok landed on my feed, showing the actor dancing through her home, it was always going to get my attention. (That You Don’t Own Me sequence lives rent-free in my head, after all).

However, it wasn't Goldie's joyful dancing that made me stop scrolling this time; it was the chic patio behind her.

Now, there's no denying that the pale stone terrace and crisp white balustrade played a big part in this. The lush green palms planted in tall black containers, though? Well, they made for a remarkably simple combination... and they got me thinking about what I now refer to as Goldie Hawn's One-Plant Rule.

Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule

The clue is in the name when it comes to Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule: there is no complicated planting scheme, no kaleidoscope of flowers competing for attention. Instead, the actor has essentially repeated one plant across her patio – and the result is surprisingly sophisticated.

In fact, it might just be one of the simplest ways to make a patio feel more considered, cohesive and, yes, expensive.

Check it out:

There is something inherently elegant about repetition in garden design. Designers do it all the time, actually (how many times have you heard someone telling you to plant in drifts of three?), because using the same plant throughout a space creates a sense of rhythm and cohesion.

Goldie Hawn's palms are particularly effective because they introduce a lovely pop of emerald green and some much-needed height, all without making the terrace feel crowded.

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It is a trick that works particularly well around hard landscaping, where greenery is being used to soften walls, paving, terraces or outdoor dining areas. And the beauty of this idea is that you don't need to recreate Goldie Hawn's patio (or have access to Goldie's bank account) to use the same design principle.

In fact, I think the one-plant rule is particularly useful if you're working with a smaller budget. Rather than buying one of everything that catches your eye at the garden center, choose a single plant that you love and buy several of the same variety. Three matching containers can create a much stronger visual impact than a collection of unrelated pots.

You can also vary the scale. If your budget doesn't stretch to larger, more mature plants, start with smaller specimens and allow them to establish over time. Or try something like lavender, salvia or rosemary, even! Any one plant that thrives on neglect should do the trick nicely; just make sure you're choosing something that suits your personal taste and your conditions, then repeat it consistently.

Positioning them in simple containers will help create the same sense of structure, and they can establish themselves over time if you make sure you give the plants room to grow.

And remember, Goldie's black planters work because they provide a consistent frame for the greenery. Still, black isn't essential; charcoal, dark brown or terracotta can all work – but keeping the pot color restrained is the easiest way to let the plant become the star of the show.

Goldie Hawn's One-Plant Rule is a particularly effective approach for patios because you don't need to fill every available space; a handful of well-positioned containers and plants is all it takes to make it feel as if a designer nipped in to plot it all out for you. Which, hey, is never a bad thing, right?

Boxwood has long been the go-to choice for creating evergreen privacy around a home, but it definitely has its problems. Thankfully, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's Los Angeles garden proves there's a much better alternative.

Oh yes! Instead of relying on clipped hedging that's prone to blight and ravaging by box tree moth, the couple have embraced a layered planting scheme that delivers all of that wonderful privacy, texture and year-round interest you get from an evergreen boxwood.

Better still? Why, the fact that it does it all in exchange for far less water, too! No small thing, considering how hot and dry our summers have been of late.

Kevin Bacon's Privacy Planting Is Better Than Boxwood

From the street, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's front garden is framed by a loose and natural-looking arrangement of drought-tolerant plants rather than a formal hedge. Towering California pepper trees create a high canopy, while bold agaves, birds of paradise and fragrant rosemary (aka the 'it' plant of the future) fill the space beneath.

The result? A living screen that feels lush and secluded without the rigid appearance and dramatic goings on of traditional boxwood.

Check it out:

Rather than depending on a single evergreen hedge (or putting all of those metaphorical eggs into one box tree moth-addled basket), several plants have been used here to soften views into the property.

The taller trees filter sightlines from above, mid-height birds of paradise provide dense evergreen foliage, and lower-growing agaves and rosemary add volume at ground level. It feels softer and more contemporary than a wall of box, and it is also 100% made for a warming climate.

Think about it: agaves store water in their thick leaves, rosemary thrives in hot and dry conditions once established, and California pepper trees are well adapted to drought. Together they require significantly less irrigation than thirsty hedging plants, making them an attractive option for gardeners looking to reduce maintenance and water use.

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None of this means boxwood has become obsolete, of course. Once a go-to for formal gardens and neatly clipped borders, though, there's no getting away from the fact that it is increasingly falling out of favor. And, in areas where drought is becoming a concern, or where homeowners want a more relaxed Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic, Kevin Bacon’s planting scheme offers a compelling alternative (especially if you don't want your heart broken by box caterpillar drama later down the line).

A single hedge might be the obvious choice, but, as Kevin Bacon might put it, there are degrees of separation. Combine drought-tolerant trees, evergreen shrubs and architectural planting, and you can create privacy in a far more interesting way... and all with more texture, less water and a garden that feels distinctly of the moment.

Welcome to the big time.

Kourtney Kardashian has shared plenty of enviable glimpses into her impeccably curated world over the years (plenty, in fact, is something of an understatement!), but her latest Instagram snap had me looking beyond the pool itself and straight to the planting surrounding it.

That's right; embedded in the middle of one of her Instagram albums, Kourtney's latest Instagram post showcases a beautifully planted poolside setting that's packed to the brim with gardening ideas worth stealing.

A masterclass in understated luxury, it shows climbing vines blanketing the dark walls, clouds of white roses softening the edges of the pool, and an immaculate lawn that stretches between the planting and the water, creating the sort of spa-like atmosphere that's impossible not to want to recreate.

Kourtney Kardashian's Perfectly Planted Poolside Picture

Yes, it's 100% the planting that really steals the show in Kourtney Kardashian's latest Instagram post.

Check it out (it's the fifth image in the album):

I know, I know; whether this is Kourtney's own home or somewhere she's staying, this looks like the kind of garden that would require a celebrity budget (or an army of gardeners) to recreate in your own yard.

Once you break it down, though, the look actually relies on just a handful of timeless planting ideas repeated really well.

With that in mind, then, here's what to focus on if you want to get the look...

1. The Evergreen Climbers

The first thing I noticed in Kourtney Kardashian's picture wasn't the pool, but the walls behind it, which are almost completely cloaked in climbers, instantly making the architecture feel warmer, softer, and far more established.

It's a clever reminder that even the sleekest contemporary homes benefit from a little greenery climbing across their walls. If you'd like to recreate the look, consider evergreen climbers like confederate jasmine in warmer regions, or climbing hydrangea for cooler climates, or something like your birth month vine if you want something different.

The aim here is to soften hard architecture without overwhelming the space.

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2. Keep Your Flower Palette Simple

One of the reasons this garden feels so calming is that it isn't bursting with color; instead, the poolside garden in Kourtney Kardashian's Instagram post has let her white roses do almost all of the talking.

Their crisp blooms pop against the dark backdrop of the house while blending beautifully with the surrounding greenery, creating a timeless look that never feels overwhelming.

Rather than filling borders with dozens of different plants, then, try repeating one white-flowering shrub (like this stunning Endless Summer® Blushing Bride Bigleaf Hydrangea from Nature Hills) or a White Rugosa Rose throughout your planting. It's an easy designer trick that makes a garden feel cohesive, elegant, and far more expensive than it really is.

3. Let Green Space Be Part of the Design

It's easy to focus on the flowers in Kourtney Kardashian's poolside planting scheme, but the immaculate lawn might actually be doing the hardest work of all here.

Instead of cramming every inch with planting, the generous stretch of green grass creates breathing room between the borders and the pool, making the entire space feel calmer and more luxurious.

And, while the lawn may look high-maintenance, it doesn't have to be; choosing a drought-tolerant turf like buffalo grass, zoysia, or fine fescue can recreate the same effect while using significantly less water than traditional lawns.

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The biggest takeaway from Kourtney Kardashian's poolside picture isn't that we all need to rush about buying rare plants or spending a fortune on landscaping to create a peaceful retreat. Instead, it's about keeping the palette restrained, repeating just a few key elements, and letting foliage do as much of the work as flowers.

The result is a garden that feels peaceful, elegant, and quietly luxurious – and thankfully, that's a look anyone can recreate. No Kardashian-sized budget required... although, of course, it does require a swimming pool for the full effect.

Hopefully a humble paddling pool will do the trick for the rest of us.

Matthew McConaughey usually keeps his private life just that, but he recently gave us a glimpse of the relaxed outdoor space at his Lake Austin estate, and one detail immediately caught my eye: a beautiful rope porch swing... albeit one with a twist.

Yes, while most porch swings tick all the usual boxes, it seems the Interstellar star prefers to keep things a little more chilled and a lot more comfortable: his is less of a classic seat, more of a rope-suspended daybed that looks like the ultimate place to spend a lazy afternoon.

With its simple wooden frame, thick ropes and layers of soft cushions, it has that effortlessly luxurious look that elevates a porch or patio immediately. And the good news? You don’t necessarily need a celebrity-sized property – or a celebrity-sized budget – to get the look, as it is very simple to DIY!

Matthew McConaughey's Rope Porch Swing Is So Easy To DIY

Spotted by eagle-eyed fans in a recent post by Matthew McConaughey's wife, Camila, the setup essentially proves that an outdoor daybed doesn’t need to be complicated. At its simplest, it’s a sturdy wooden platform suspended from four points, with a mattress or oversized outdoor cushion on top.

Add a few pillows, and you have a swinging lounge bed that looks considerably more expensive than it needs to. And there’s even a clever DIY shortcut if you don’t want to build the entire frame from scratch: wooden pallets.

Check it out:

Dreamy, right?

How to Make a Pallet Swing Bed

If you want to recreate Matthew McConaughey's rope daybed, one of the easiest starting points is a pair of sturdy wooden pallets. Joined together, they create a generously sized platform that can be sanded smooth and finished with an exterior-rated stain or paint before being transformed with a thick outdoor mattress and plenty of weather-resistant cushions.

It's a surprisingly simple way to achieve the same laidback look without building a frame from scratch.

The one thing I wouldn't cut corners on is the hanging system. A swing bed needs to be suspended from structural beams using properly load-rated hardware – not decorative hooks or lightweight fixings. (If you're unsure whether your porch or pergola is designed to support that kind of weight, it's worth asking a qualified contractor before you start).

Once the hard work is done, the styling is the easy part. Layer up oversized outdoor cushions like these, add a couple of throw pillows and a lightweight blanket (you want to stick to coastal vibes: think stripes and faded blues, like this stylish herringbone throw from Amazon), and suddenly those humble pallets feel less like a DIY project and more like the kind of luxurious outdoor retreat you'd expect to find at Matthew McConaughey's Lake Austin home.

Of course, if the DIY route still sounds like more work than you'd like, there's an even easier option: buy yourself a ready-made rope porch swing.

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To lounge the Matthew McConaughey way, all you really need is a wooden bed, a few lengths of rope and some very good cushions so you can swing away to your heart's content.

Frankly, I can't think of many better ways to spend a summer afternoon than gently swinging in the shade with nowhere else to be.

The evening winding down into nightfall is by far my favorite part of the day, especially during the summer months. After a busy day I love watching the world wind down as sunsets take over the sky and I switch on my cozy lighting instead of the harsh overheads.

It seems like gardeners have been feeling the same way this year, preferring to opt for solar-powered lanterns that offer a soothing, subtle ambience instead of the harsher bulbs of floodlights.

I decided to chat to an assortment of yard pros to try to understand why this shift has happened and what the pros and cons of switching out floodlighting in your yard for solar lighting are. Here's what I found out.

Why Are Solar Lights Popular Right Now?

Solar-powered lights are super popular right now because the weather for them is ideal! When you're out enjoying a peaceful moment in the yard alone or entertaining company, the day's worth of sunlight will have likely already charged up your solar lamps to max capacity.

As Mirela Bajic, Senior Garden Designer at House Designer, explains, "Summer is when people live in their gardens, eating out, entertaining, sitting out late, so their garden lighting creates a nice atmosphere. Solar lights are great because long days mean they charge properly and perform at their best."

Moreover, as people are often out late in their yards making the most out of the lovely weather before fall rolls in they may find themselves still outdoors when the sky begins to darken. Solar-powered lighting offers the perfect level of ambient lighting to bridge this gap at dusk, giving a soft amount of light to a yard so a person can see better when a huge level of extra lighting isn't needed.

What Are the Pros and Cons?

There are a number of pros and cons that come with using solar-powered lighting, but there seem to be notably more positives to negatives.

Mirela notes that solar-powered lights having "no running cost or cables" are major selling points, especially as the world only seems to be becoming more expensive to live in. Mirela also added that solar lamps are "easy to rearrange and move around" in comparison to other outdoor lighting like floodlighting, which is often larger or anchored down.

Many gardeners adore solar lamps over floodlighting because it adds a warm glow to a yard instead of a harsh glare. You can also find solar lamps in various different styles, shapes, and colors to suit your vision.

However, a major con for solar lamps is their dependency on good, unblocked sunlight to run and the fact that cheaper models often only last a couple of seasons.

Angelika Zaber, a lawn care specialist and gardening expert at Online Turf, shares, "When it comes to disadvantages, solar lights may not change enough to keep your garden well-lit all night, especially if they are placed in a shady area during the day. They also tend to provide subtle light, so if you want your space to be well-lit, you may need to buy a lot of them or invest in some additional light sources.

"The batteries also tend to only last a few years. After that time, you may need to either swap the batteries or invest in new solar lights."

Overall solar lamps are still a great addition to a yard. But if you're hoping to solely rely on solar lighting in your space, it's best to invest in quality lighting systems and place them in areas where they will receive as much sunlight as possible throughout the day.

Where Can You Put Solar Lamps?

The pros have already established the importance of placing your solar lamps in areas with good natural levels of sunlight, so if any of the below suggestions also happen to be somewhere where your lamps would receive enough sun they would make a great choice!

• Along a pathway: Mirela suggests, "I like solar lights placed along a path or steps, low and repeated. They're practical and they draw the eye through the garden."
• In spaces between foliage where sunlight still charges your lamps from above: Mirela says, "I also like them clustered at ground level among planting, so the light comes up through the leaves."
• In areas of your yard you may need to access during a powercut, such as a shed: Angelika says, "Solar lamps are great in case of power outages since you do not have to rely on the main power supply."

Shop Stunning Solar Lighting

Gardening is usually associated with escape: a quiet corner of calm, a chance to slow down, or a way to create something beautiful in an increasingly hectic world. But in Netflix's survival thriller The Last House, growing things takes on a far more urgent meaning.

When a family of four wakes to find themselves mysteriously sealed inside their home, everyday comforts quickly become necessities. And, when food supplies begin to dwindle and panic sets in, survival becomes the priority – which means that cultivating plants becomes less about aesthetics and more about resilience and resistance.

For Greta Lee, who stars in the film, that idea feels surprisingly close to home. Gardening isn't simply something she explored for The Last House; it's already an important part of her own life, both personally and with her children.

Gardening is Key To Survival in Netflix's The Last House

The film taps into something increasingly familiar: the idea that gardens are not just places of beauty, but sources of nourishment, patience, and hope (there's a reason preppers and their survival gardens are always such a beacon of planting inspiration on Reddit). At their most fundamental, they remind us that life continues even when circumstances become uncertain.

When I ask Greta what she'd grow if she were creating her own survival garden, her answer is refreshingly practical. "Lemon, kale, and potatoes," she tells me. And, while it's a simple list, it's one that says plenty. Reliable crops, nutritional staples, and something capable of lifting the spirits? Why, that's exactly what you'd hope for if the world outside suddenly became unpredictable.

Even imagining being trapped inside one house indefinitely, Greta's dream garden isn't pristine or overly designed. Quite the opposite, actually. "Definitely something a little on the wilder side and not so manicured," she says. "Flowering plants that attract bees and birds, maybe a fruit tree, long grasses being blown around in the wind."

Shop Greta Lee's Survival Crop Picks:

Her reasoning feels particularly poignant given the premise of The Last House. "You would want a view of a garden that feels very alive and has a lot going on, not only because you would be desperate for any means of entertainment, but I think it would give you hope. The world keeps going, things keep growing, even when you feel trapped."

For anyone who's ever found comfort in stepping outside after a difficult day, that sentiment will feel familiar. Gardens offer more than beauty, after all; they offer a sense of continuity, a reminder that change and renewal are always happening around us. And, away from the cameras, Greta says gardening has become one of the ways she reconnects with the natural world after the intensity of filming.

"Gardening is incredibly grounding. And humbling," she says. "The plants are in charge. Nature is in charge. You can't manipulate the weather or tell a seedling it needs to grow faster. You have to be patient, slow down and take things as they come. I find gardening to be really restorative. There's a lot to learn from nature."

Of course, nature isn't always gentle; every gardener knows that behind every beautiful border lies something capable of surprising us, whether it's invasive plants, toxic flowers, or species that seem almost otherworldly. With that in mind, then, I ask Greta whether there's a plant that genuinely unnerves her.

"Not necessarily creeped out," she says. "More like profound respect and fear."

Her answer is sacred datura (Datura wrightii), a striking flowering perennial that grows throughout her neighborhood. "It's used for traditional Indigenous ceremonies, spiritual visions, and historical localized medicines," she explains, "though it is extremely toxic and potentially fatal."

The plant contains powerful tropane alkaloids, and accidental ingestion can cause severe delirium, hallucinations, confusion, blurred vision, coma, and, in some cases, death. It's beautiful, fascinating, and a reminder that nature often commands as much respect as admiration.

Then again, not every memorable garden plant is dangerous; sometimes it's simply unstoppable – a fact Greta underlines when I ask her about the most resilient plant she's ever grown. "Mint! Mint is crazy!" she laughs. "You cannot plant mint willy-nilly. It spreads super aggressively through rhizomes. You must plant with purpose!"

Somewhat unexpectedly, she forges a connection between mint and The Last House. "Mint is like the love that spreads amongst the Delgado family. Strong and unbeatable," she points out. "See what I did there?"

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Considering the slew of headlines we keep being treated to on a daily basis, it's unsurprising that the idea that gardening can represent resilience is also appearing far beyond The Last House. Indeed, Zach Galifianakis' unexpectedly funny and endlessly curious series This Is A Gardening Show recently showcased our changing relationship with the land, using comedy to deliver a more serious message: “the future is agrarian.”

Together, these stories point towards a broader shift in how we think about growing things. Gardening is no longer being portrayed simply as a peaceful hobby or a way to make outdoor spaces look beautiful. Increasingly, it is being framed as a skill tied to self-sufficiency, connection, and survival.

Yes, there is still joy in growing roses and arranging cut flowers, but there is also a growing recognition that understanding plants, cultivating food, and working with nature may be some of the most valuable skills we can develop. I guess it all goes to show that, if gardening is getting a rebrand, survival might just be its most compelling new look.

Greta Lee's The Last House is now streaming on Netflix.

Pamela Anderson has given us plenty of garden inspiration over the years, but her latest Instagram video might just be her most enviable yet.

Yes, the talented actor recently shared a glimpse inside her sprawling kitchen garden, and it feels like stepping into a storybook. Rustic raised beds stretch across the landscape, rustic willow obelisks twist skywards between overflowing vegetables and flowers, and a squash-covered archway leads visitors deeper into the space.

Towering sunflowers sway alongside fluffy pink roses (a Pamela staple), while a charming tabletop greenhouse anchors a seating area tucked into the middle of it all. And it is... well, it is all impossibly beautiful, quite honestly. Not that I'm jealous or anything.

Pamela Anderson's Raised Beds Set-Up

At first glance, Pamela Anderson's garden looks impossibly luxurious, and impossibly expensive. But once you look beyond the mature planting, it's surprisingly clear that much of the magic comes from repeating a handful of simple design ideas. Check it out:

You see what I mean? And so, whether you're starting with a single raised bed or planning an entire kitchen garden, these are the ideas worth borrowing from the screen icon turned gardener extraordinaire:

1. Layer Raised Beds for a Lush Look

The first thing you'll notice in Pamela Anderson's garden is the sheer number of raised beds (why have one when you can have, say, twenty or so?). Pamela mixes beds of different sizes and heights, creating a garden that feels layered, established, and full of movement.

Better still, each bed blends vegetables and ornamentals together. Lavender grows alongside onions, nasturtiums spill over the edges, and flowering plants soften every hard line, making the vegetable garden feel every bit as beautiful as a flower border.

If you're recreating the look, choose simple wooden raised beds in a light, natural finish and repeat the same style throughout your space. Even adding two or three beds instead of one instantly creates a more intentional, cottage-inspired layout.

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2. Grow Squash Over a DIY Archway

One of the most eye-catching features of Pamela Anderson's garden is the squash-covered archway winding through the beds.

While it looks like something from a grand estate, the structure itself is surprisingly easy to recreate, especially if you follow our how-to guide for building a cattle panel trellis, which uses inexpensive cattle panels bent into an arch and secured with T-posts to create a sturdy trellis for climbing crops.

Once squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, or pole beans begin scrambling overhead, the metal all but disappears beneath the foliage, creating a living tunnel that's as practical as it is beautiful. Win!

3. Add Sculptural Trellises Throughout the Garden

Okay, fine; Pamela Anderson's beautiful spiral obelisks appear to be handcrafted from willow, but you don't need to shell out for bespoke garden structures to achieve the same effect.

Sculptural trellises instantly add height and visual interest, even before climbing plants begin to grow (and you'd best believe that sweet peas, pole beans, clematis, and flowering vines all create the same whimsical cottage garden feel over time).

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Repeating several of the same trellis designs throughout your raised beds also helps unify the space while drawing the eye upward., in true Pamela Anderson style!

4. Plant Roses Among Your Vegetables

Pamela Anderson's love of roses is well documented, and they're a big part of what makes her garden feel so romantic.

Instead of keeping roses in a dedicated border, she allows them to mingle with vegetables and other flowering plants, blurring the line between ornamental and edible gardening.

Bare-root roses are one of the most affordable ways to establish new plants, and they'll reward you with years of blooms. If you're hoping to channel Pamela's style, a lush, old-fashioned variety like the Yves Piaget rose (available at Grace Rose) is a beautiful place to start. Mind you, the Reminiscent® Pink Rose from Nature Hills also boasts abundant lush pink blooms with powerful old-fashioned fragrance from late spring through early fall, so the choice is yours!

5. Use a Mini Greenhouse as a Garden Focal Point

One detail that's easy to overlook is the mini greenhouse nestled in the seating area at the center of Pamela Anderson's garden.

Rather than ending with rows of vegetables, Pamela creates a place to pause with a simple table and chairs, but she makes it even more inviting with a glass mini greenhouse, which doubles as a decorative focal point and a practical place to display seedlings, houseplants, or treasured cuttings.

Adding one to a seating area is a great way to make the space feel collected, cozy, and lived in. You can make it yourself easily enough, or treat yourself to one of our favorites below...

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6. Mix Flowers and Vegetables with Abandon

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Pamela Anderson's garden isn't something you can buy at all.

Sunflowers tower over vegetables, nasturtiums tumble across pathways, herbs soften the edges of raised beds, and roses bloom alongside crops. Nothing feels rigid or overly planned, yet the entire garden feels cohesive, and I guess that's the real secret behind the cottage garden aesthetic. Instead of separating flowers from vegetables, let them grow together.

Not only will your garden look fuller and more romantic, but many flowering plants (hey there, marigolds) also attract pollinators and beneficial insects, making them just as useful as they are beautiful.

It is my suspicion that the real reason Pamela Anderson's garden is so captivating isn because she has spent as much time thinking about the atmosphere as she has planting schemes and the rest of it.

Think about it: from the overflowing raised beds, to the winding structures, to the feeling that every corner has something new to discover, it all combines to create a space that feels both productive and magical.

The good news is that none of those ideas require a celebrity-sized budget. Start with a couple of raised beds, add vertical interest with arches and trellises, weave flowers between your vegetables, and create a quiet spot to sit back and enjoy it all. Before long, you'll have a garden that captures the same storybook charm as Pamela Anderson's. No sprawling estate required.

Homespun water features made with a floating solar fountain and a container are a huge trend this summer – but add some plants and you'll create a garden highlight that’s even more of a showstopper. It’s quick and easy to do and, by getting clever with the containers you use, budget-friendly, too. The water spray naturally cools the air, and the gentle splashing makes for a soothing soundscape in your outside space. And when there's no telling how long this heatwave summer will last for, that's just what your too-hot garden needs right now.

Solar fountains have taken water features out of the realm of expensive, professionally landscaped gardens and put them firmly within reach of us everyday gardeners. DIY microponds are fast replacing trad water features as the must-have garden feature for 2026, and there are so many creative ways you can use a floating solar fountain to make one. There are even solar fountains with colored LEDs so you can DIY a stunning water feature to light summer evenings in your garden.

A water feature with plants, however, tops them all and, as quick and clever container gardening ideas you can DIY on a budget go, you can’t beat it! Here’s exactly what to do so you can make one this weekend.

1. Choose Your Containers

You’re going to need two containers, one larger than the other.

The central water bowl needs to be at least 12 inches wide to contain most of the fountain splashes, though obviously the wider and deeper it is, the less frequently you’ll have to top it up. You don’t need to buy an expensive purpose-made water bowl, as planters intended for succulents don’t usually have a drainage hole and make a stylish alternative at a fraction of the price. It’s easy to seal the drainage hole of other planters with a marine silicone sealant like this from Amazon. Just don’t use terracotta pots as the clay is porous.

The outer planter needs to be at least six inches wider than the water bowl that will stand inside it, to leave enough space for plants to flourish. That means you need a pretty big outer container – but that needn't come at a cost. Resin (also called polyresin) or composite plastic planters commonly mimic the look of stone, metal or wood and are far cheaper than the real thing. This material is lightweight, too, so it’s often used to make big, wide planters.

Have a hunt around your local hardware store in your search for a suitable container as well. Animal drinking troughs and utility tubs are typically robust and relatively inexpensive, and it’s a quick task to drill drainage holes.

Container Pairings At Sensible Prices

Budget Combo

Designer Look For Less

Rustic Charm

2. Pick a Suitable Floating Solar Fountain

The amount of energy the solar panels of a floating fountain are capable of generating is measured in watts, which you’ll typically find in product descriptions as ‘W’. Many 1W fountains are designed for use in birdbaths so only produce a gentle water spray when the sun is shining directly on the solar panels. If you're using a similarly small, shallow container, that's fine. However, for a fountain that’s powerful enough to provide a decent-height fountain and a good flow of water in a larger container, look for a product that’s at least 2W.

If you want a fountain with LEDs, then the lights will use more power, so 3-4W is better. Don’t be tempted by more powerful 5-6W solar fountains when you're installing a water feature yourself, though, as these are more suited to bigger bodies of water. Too powerful, and the spray pattern will fall outside the container and you'll be forever topping up water levels.

A design with stabilising arms that prevent the fountain floating close to the container rim also helps minimize water loss.

If you want the fountain to operate on cloudy days and after dark, or if you want to position your water feature in partial shade, you’ll need a product that has a battery. A fountain with a 2000mAh battery will typically run for 3-4 hours without sun on a full charge.

For increased longevity, look for a fountain with run-dry protection so it automatically shuts down when there’s insufficient water, and a filter to prevent debris from entering the pump.

Our Pick of Floating Solar Fountains

3. Position Your Planter

Position your water feature before you begin planting. Any small body of water will heat up and evaporate more quickly than a larger area, so while you need sunlight to charge the solar panels and fuel plants, a little shade is a good idea. Around 6 hours of sunshine a day is the ideal compromise.

Consider what plants will be around and above your water bowl planter too, because you don’t want to be fishing out fallen leaves. Work out where your water feature will bring you the most enjoyment, too, to listen to as well as look at.

4. Plant Up The Outer Container

Because the plants are likely to get splashed, use a moisture-control potting mix such as Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix, available from Walmart. If you’ve already got some potting mix, simply add some water-storing crystals such as these from Amazon or coconut coir, also available from Amazon, to enhance its ability to regulate moisture levels.

Position the water container as you’re filling the outer planter, making sure its rim is at least an inch higher than that of the outer vessel. It’s a smart move to put at least a thin layer of the potting mix beneath the base of the inner container, to give roots maximum growing room.

Then plant up the outer container, being careful to finish with the water bowl level. Any bedding plants suitable for hanging baskets are perfect for this project as they’re typically heat-tolerant low growers that bloom abundantly and enjoy sunny conditions. See what your local garden center has in stock, or you can plant pansies and violas in July that will last all through fall, and some are hardy enough to keep blooming in winter, too. Burpee currently has an excellent selection of pansy and viola varieties as young, ready-to-flower plants for a fast result.

A few easy-grow plants with trailing stems will add to the display.

Whatever you choose to plant, water them well, until it dribbles from the drainage holes, to settle the soil around the roots.

5. Fill With Water and Enjoy!

Now all that’s left to do is fill up the inner container with water, pop in the floating fountain, and enjoy your dazzling new water feature.

To enhance ripples and reflections, add a drop of pool colorant like this black pond dye from Amazon to the water.

I'll never be the person who tells you raised beds are going out of style. They've earned their place as a gardening staple, making it easier to grow everything from tomatoes to tulips while keeping beds neat, organized, and easier to tend.

But every now and then, a simple twist on a classic comes along that makes me wonder why I don't see it more often. Something that takes everything gardeners already love about traditional raised beds and add something they're often missing.

This latest upgrade (raised beds with built-in trellises) does exactly that, offering the allure of height to savvy gardeners. Instead of stopping at soil level, they encourage climbers to scramble skyward, transforming a practical planting space into a living feature that's every bit as beautiful as it is productive. Think a wall of fragrant jasmine, a cascade of clematis, or a curtain of climbing beans, all from the same footprint you'd use for an ordinary raised bed. Win!

The Ultimate Raised Beds Upgrade

Essentially, this raised beds upgrade offers a growing area with a built-in trellis, giving you the best of both worlds: the practicality of elevated planting space combined with the beauty and vertical impact of climbing plants. Instead of letting your garden only spread outwards, this clever design encourages you to grow upwards too.

And honestly? No small thing. After all, one of the biggest challenges in modern gardens is space. Whether you have a compact backyard, a small patio, or simply want to make better use of every corner, vertical gardening offers a smart solution.

A trellis planter allows you to grow more without taking up extra ground space. Your climbing plants can climb, creating layers of greenery, flowers, and even edible crops while leaving valuable room underneath for other plants.

Check it out:

Traditional gardening tends to keep our focus firmly at ground level, but one of the easiest ways to make a garden feel bigger and more like it was designed by an actual professional is to start thinking vertically.

That's exactly what I love about raised beds with built-in trellises. They take one of gardening's most practical features and give it another dimension. Suddenly, your vegetables aren't simply growing; they're climbing. Your flowers aren't just filling a bed; they're framing it. Even a compact backyard feels more layered when your eye is drawn upward by a curtain of blooms or lush green foliage.

It's a simple tweak, but it has a surprisingly big impact. A raised beds upgrade like this can soften a plain fence, create a little privacy around a seating area, or subtly divide one part of the garden from another without feeling heavy or enclosed. And because the planting starts at waist height before continuing skyward, the whole feature feels fuller and more immersive than a standard raised bed alone.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think raised beds are going anywhere (honestly, I hope they don't). They've earned their reputation as one of the hardest-working features in the garden, and make growing everything from herbs to tomatoes that little bit easier.

Instead of creating a neat rectangle of planting, though, these clever multitasking twists on the format give you height, movement, fragrance, and color all in one. And for me, that's the real appeal; I think we are, all of us, big enough to admit that the best garden features aren't just practical, but that tempt you to sit outside with a cup of coffee (or tea, if you're me) just to admire how everything has grown.

So no, I won't be giving up on raised beds anytime soon. But if I were buying a new one today, I'd be very tempted to choose the version that lets me garden upwards as well as outwards.

If there's one person I always look to for effortlessly outdoorsy style, it's Kate Middleton. Whether she's visiting a garden, walking the countryside or taking on a charity challenge, the Princess of Wales has a knack for dressing for the elements without ever looking like she's trying too hard.

Another reason I keep an eye on her wardrobe? Well, I find it oddly refreshing to see how often she rewears her favourite pieces. Rather than chasing trends, Kate has built a wardrobe around high-quality outdoor essentials that work season after season – a philosophy that's just as sensible for gardeners in the market for protective clothing as it is for princesses.

That all came to a head for me during Kate Middleton's recent Three Peaks Challenge, which saw her raise some serious money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Spending long days outdoors in the height of summer demands clothing that's lightweight, breathable and practical, and every piece of hot-weather gear that Kate chose ticked those boxes and then some.

I Love Kate Middleton's Hot-Weather Gear

The more I looked at Kate Middleton's outfit for this challenge, the more I realised it would make for some pretty stunning gardening clothes, too (at least, it definitely would for me!).

Think about it; whether you're deadheading roses, weeding borders or hauling compost around on a hot afternoon, the same features that make clothing comfortable on a mountain – moisture-wicking fabrics, sun protection and freedom of movement – are just as valuable in the garden.

So, if you're wondering what to wear while gardening during a heatwave (especially as a dress made of ice cubes isn't an option), I'd happily suggest you make like me and take inspiration from Kate Middleton's outfit. Especially as most of the key pieces are available on Amazon, making it surprisingly easy to recreate her timeless outdoorsy vibe.

1. Fjällräven Abisko Wool Top

If there's one piece I'd beg, borrow, and steal from Kate Middleton's outfit first, it's her Fjällräven Abisko top.

Made from a lightweight merino wool blend, it's naturally breathable, moisture-wicking and odor-resistant – all qualities that make a real difference when you're gardening in warm weather.

The golden goose, though? Why, the fact that it also regulates body temperature surprisingly well, helping you stay comfortable whether you're working in full sun or desperately trying to stick to pruning into the shade.

2. HydraPak Polar Sport Insulated Water Bottle

It's easy to lose track of how much water you're drinking when you're immersed in the garden, especially during a heatwave. Don't be that person, and be sure to keep a bottle to hand.

Kate Middleton's insulated Polar Sport bottle helps keep water cooler for longer, making it much easier to stay hydrated through an afternoon of pruning, planting or watering.

3. The North Face Summit Series Pacesetter Shorts

Gardening involves more bending, stretching and kneeling than most workouts, so comfortable shorts are a must.

Kate Middleton's lightweight running shorts are on the pricier side, sure, but they are designed to move with you while drying quickly if you work up a sweat, making them an unexpectedly practical choice for summer gardening.

4. Fjällräven Logo Cap

No summer gardening outfit feels complete without a good cap; it keeps you from squinting into the sun, for starters, and it helps keep the sensitive skin of your face shaded, too.

Naturally, Kate Middleton doesn't just do the classic baseball cap; she wore a stylish Fjällräven version during the challenge. Which means, yes, you can ooze understated Scandinavian vibes while helping shade your face from the strongest midday sun.

5. SCARPA Terra GTX Hiking Boots

These are probably the one item I'd reserve for heavier jobs rather than everyday gardening. If you're clearing brambles, moving paving slabs or tackling uneven ground, supportive hiking boots offer excellent grip and protection.

Oh sure, Kate Middleton favors a stylish pair of hiking boots from Scarpa. Still, I'd be tempted to swap them for a pair of breathable garden clogs for lighter summer jobs.

Look, as I've said already, what I like most about Kate's outdoor wardrobe isn't that it's fashionable, but that it's functional. Instead of buying separate outfits for every activity, she invests in well-made pieces that can be worn again and again, whether she's walking, hiking or spending time outdoors.

That's an approach more gardeners could embrace. A breathable merino top, comfortable shorts, a reliable cap and a reusable water bottle aren't just useful for summer hikes or trips to the gym; they'll serve you just as well when you're spending a sunny weekend in the garden.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some hot-weather gear to add to basket. I'll see you on the other side...

I'm a sucker for a full moon. Whether it's the Wolf Moon, the Strawberry Moon, or the Harvest Moon, I always find myself looking up and wondering how on earth our ancestors came up with such wonderfully evocative names.

The July full moon, however, has one of my favorites: the Thunder Moon. Thankfully, it isn't named as such because the moon itself summons dramatic thunderstorms (that would be very Greek mythos of it!).

Instead, the name comes from the fact that July has historically been one of the stormiest months of the year across much of North America, with spectacular thunder and lightning displays often accompanying the height of summer.

Preparing for The Thunder Moon

Considering it usually heralds the beginning of the stormy season, then, the Thunder Moon feels like the perfect reminder to give your garden a quick once-over before the next summer tempest rolls through.

Here are five simple jobs that could save you a lot of heartache later.

1. Secure Tall Plants

Summer storms can flatten a season's worth of hard work in a matter of minutes. Ahead of the Thunder Moon, then, take a few moments to check that tomatoes, climbing beans, dahlias, sunflowers, and other tall plants are properly supported.

Be sure to tighten loose ties, replace any that are digging into stems, and make sure stakes, cages, and trellises are firmly anchored in the ground. I promise it's much easier to prevent a plant from falling over than it is to rescue one after it's snapped.

Personally, I like to make life easy with myself and use something like these VELCRO Brand Adjustable Plant Ties.

2. Give Containers Some Shelter

Potted plants and container gardens are often the first casualties of strong summer winds.

If severe weather is in the forecast, be sure, then, to move lightweight containers closer to the house, group smaller pots together for stability, and take down hanging baskets if particularly strong gusts are expected.

Honestly, even a few feet of extra shelter can make a surprising difference.

Shop Container Garden Essentials:

3. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

Mulch is often associated with drought, but it's just as valuable before heavy rain, making it an ideal Thunder Moon-themed garden task to crack on with.

A two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch is enough to help cushion the soil against torrential downpours, reducing erosion and preventing water from splashing soil-borne diseases onto plant leaves. It also helps retain moisture once the storm has passed and temperatures climb again.

Just remember to keep mulch a couple of inches away from plant stems and tree trunks.

4. Harvest Anything That's Ready

If you've got ripe tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, or summer squash, don't wait! Take the Thunder Moon at its dramatic word, as heavy rain can cause tomatoes to split, while strong winds can knock ripe fruit from the plant altogether.

Harvesting veggies before a storm means you'll get to enjoy it rather than finding it bruised or cracked on the ground the next day.

5. Check Your Drainage

One of the biggest risks during intense summer storms isn't the rain itself, but rather where that water ends up.

Clear leaves and debris from drains, gutters, and downspouts, and make sure water has somewhere to escape. If you know parts of your garden are prone to pooling after heavy rain, consider digging shallow channels to direct excess water away from vulnerable plants.

Make The Most Of Summer Storms:

Look, I get it; the Thunder Moon may be steeped in folklore, but its name is a timely reminder that summer weather can change in an instant. So, while none of us can stop a thunderstorm from rolling in (although wouldn't that be a nifty superpower?), spending just half an hour preparing your garden beforehand can make all the difference.

Secure your plants, harvest what's ready, check your drainage, and let the Thunder Moon be your annual cue to get your garden storm-ready... before nature puts it to the test. And, as an extra bonus, get into that 'when God gives you lemons' mindset and set up a rain barrel or two.

Hey, there's no point wasting free water, right?

Confession time: I have spent the past week desperately trying to keep both myself and my garden alive, and my efforts have made me realize that heatwaves have a funny way of making us panic. .. often in a way that does more harm than good.

During periods of extreme heat, plants go into survival mode. Instead of focusing on producing new growth, they're conserving water and protecting themselves from stress. That means the way you care for your garden during a heatwave should look a little different than it does the rest of the summer.

I get it, obviously; the moment temperatures climb, it's tempting to reach for the hose, trim away anything that looks dead, and give struggling plants a dose of fertilizer in the hope of helping them bounce back. All of those well-intentioned efforts, though, can and will make matters worse.

Gardening Mistakes That Can Kill Plants During a Heatwave

When temperatures soared recently, I set to work, And, when my husband (a professional gardener) got home, I proudly told him all of the wonderful things I had done to keep our plants alive and thriving in the heat.

Cue him lovingly, albeit very wearily, branding me a menace. Because, as it turns out, I had committed three cardinal sins when it comes to gardening in a heatwave...

1. Watering Incorrectly

When your plants start looking droopy in the afternoon sun, it's only natural to want to grab the hose immediately. But watering in the middle of the day really isn't the most effective approach.

In the heat of the afternoon, more water is lost to evaporation before it has a chance to soak into the soil and reach plant roots. Instead, the best time to water plants is early in the morning, when temperatures are cooler and plants have time to absorb moisture before the day's heat sets in.

Rather than watering little and often, give plants a deep soak that encourages roots to grow further into the soil, where moisture lasts longer. Water at the base of the plant instead of wetting the foliage, and remember that containers and hanging baskets may still need an additional watering later in the day during prolonged heat.

Shop Garden Watering Essentials:

2. Fertilizing Stressed Plants

It's easy to assume that a struggling plant needs feeding, but in very hot weather, fertilizer can actually add to its stress. In fact, many experts say that this is one of those common garden mistakes that can kill plants during a heatwave.

When temperatures are extremely high, plants naturally slow their growth to conserve energy. Fertilizer encourages fresh, tender growth, which requires even more water and is particularly vulnerable to scorching in hot weather. Applying fertilizer to dry soil can also increase the risk of root burn.

If your plants are looking stressed by the heat, focus on keeping them properly watered instead. Once temperatures return to normal and plants begin actively growing again, you can resume your regular feeding schedule.

3. Pruning away scorched leaves

I have a habit of picking at things (woe betide any split ends that appear in my hair; they will never be able to survive my obsessive snapping fingers). Still, while brown, crispy leaves aren't exactly attractive, we should resist the urge to prune them off straight away.

Although damaged foliage may no longer look healthy, it can still provide valuable shade for stems, fruit, and developing leaves underneath. Removing any plant sunburn during a heatwave can actually expose the rest of the plant to even more intense sunlight, increasing the risk of sunscald and further stress.

Unless a branch is dead, diseased, or creating a safety hazard, it's usually best to wait until cooler weather arrives before doing any significant pruning. Once the heatwave has passed, you can remove damaged growth and allow fresh new shoots to take over.

Try Slow Watering During Heatwaves:

Instead of trying to fix heat-stressed plants, focus on reducing the stress they're under. My husband swears by a thick layer of mulch can help keep soil cooler and reduce moisture loss, and delaying planting or transplanting until temperatures drop is the best way to give new plants a much better chance of establishing successfully.

Basically, heatwaves can be tough on gardens, but they don't have to spell disaster. Sometimes the best thing you can do is resist the urge to overcare for your plants. Be more chill. Do less!

Honestly, if you water wisely, avoid unnecessary pruning and fertilizing, and let your garden ride out the heat, your plants will often recover far better than you might expect once things cool down. Probably better than you if you forget that all-important suncream!

Look, I’m a gardening writer. I know the theory. I can tell you when to prune, when to feed, and when to leave well alone. And yet, when it comes to deadheading in my own garden, I’m embarrassed to admit that I turn into someone who is, frankly, a bit timid with the snips.

Enter my husband: a professional gardener with two decades of experience under his belt, who is both infuriatingly knowledgeable and completely fearless with a pair of pruners. He also, I should add, thinks I’m almost painfully cautious when deadheading.

Yes, whenever he spots me deadheading roses or salvias, he'll quietly take the secateurs from my hands before proceeding to cut what feels like an alarming amount off the plant. I stand there internally wondering whether I should be calling the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Plants.

Stop Being So Timid When Deadheading

In the interests of settling our long-running deadheading debate once and for all, I cornered him after work while he was trying to cook dinner and asked him exactly what I was getting wrong.

As ever, he was calm, kind…and entirely convinced I needed to be much braver.

Forever patient, he endured my barrage of deadheading questions as he attempted to pull together a bolognese our picky children might actually eat for once. "I know you hate cutting them back because it feels like you're ruining the plant," he told me, "but you've got to be braver with those shears.

"If you just nip off the faded flower, you're wasting your time. On most repeat-flowering plants, you want to follow the flower stem down to the first strong pair of healthy leaves or a side shoot, then make your cut just above that. That's where the plant can produce strong new growth."

In other words, don't just remove the dead flower itself; by following the spent flower stem down to a healthy leaf joint instead of leaving behind a short stub, you're encouraging the plant to direct its energy into producing fresh shoots and, ultimately, another flush of flowers.

Shop Deadheading Essentials:

It isn’t just me who fears deadheading too far; my husband reassured me that the majority of his gardening clients get nervous whenever he whips the pruning scissors out. But it is important to remember, he added, just how resilient most garden plants actually are.

"We treat them like they're fragile," he laughed. "But they're not. As long as you're following the flower stem back to a healthy point on the plant, most repeat-flowering plants absolutely thrive on a bit of tough love."

That being said, confidence is only half the battle. "Keep your shears sharp," he advised me, barely looking up from the pan. "You don't want to crush the stem; you want one clean, quick slice. Think of it like a surgical procedure, not a massacre."

A clean cut heals more quickly and is less likely to leave the plant vulnerable to disease than a ragged stem. And my husband also stressed that while most repeat-flowering plants benefit from confident deadheading, there are exceptions.

"Think about once-blooming roses," he says. "If you've got an old-fashioned climbing rose that only flowers once a year, don't start cutting long stems back in midsummer. You could be removing next year's flowers before they've even formed. Just tidy up the spent blooms and leave the framework alone."

Spring-flowering bulbs also need a gentler approach. "You can remove the faded flower heads from daffodils and tulips if you want them to look tidier," he explained, "but leave the leaves alone until they've yellowed naturally. That foliage is feeding the bulb for next year's flowers."

Lavender is another plant that deserves a little caution. "Snip off the faded flower spikes and trim the soft green growth if it needs tidying, but don't cut into the old woody stems," he suggested. "Lavender often won't grow back from old wood."

And finally, don't assume every faded flower needs removing immediately. "Some late-season plants, like sedum, are often worth leaving alone. Their seedheads look fantastic through fall and provide food for birds and insects long after the flowers have finished."

All excellent advice, as I'm sure you'll agree. And, while I'm still nowhere near as fearless as my husband with a pair of pruners, the next time I'm hovering nervously over a faded bloom, wondering whether I've gone too far, I'll remember his advice: don't just snip the flower – follow the stem.

Hey, I might even get it embroidered on a T-shirt!