Gardening tips: for stunning bonsai, go back to its roots | James Wong

Some of the most beautiful parts of plants usually remain buried, but there is a school of gardening that celebrates what we often never see

It is forever fascinating to me that human cultures tend to interpret nature in such dramatically different ways. Here in the UK, much of our gardening aesthetic is firmly fixated on flowers (the greater the number of petals and the more dazzling their colour the better). But in some east Asian societies, the focus is all about the amazing architecture of the parts of plants we usually don’t see: the roots.

One of the most revered schools of bonsai is the 'root over rock' style

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Gardening in lockdown: sow seeds of comfort at home | Allan Jenkins

In this age of anxiety, it’s reassuring to spot newly sprouted signs of life in the vegetable trays on the roof terrace

I have never been much of a one for seed trays. I don’t have a greenhouse and only narrow windowsills. Plus, I am married to a minimalist architect who has a near-fear of ‘clutter’. Pretty much, the first early potatoes are the only ‘seed’ stuff I start at home.

I prefer the slightly anxious scan along a row of string on soil as I wait to spot newly sprouted signs of life. Though, then, I am of course a bit loath to thin them out. The idea of Darwinist selection doesn’t sit well. It is probably why I’ll never be a proper gardener, this aversion to throwing the weakest baby away. Though I admire neat rows of properly spaced plants as much as the next person, I have come to the conclusion it just isn’t for me.

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Gardening in lockdown: sow seeds of comfort at home | Allan Jenkins

In this age of anxiety, it’s reassuring to spot newly sprouted signs of life in the vegetable trays on the roof terrace

I have never been much of a one for seed trays. I don’t have a greenhouse and only narrow windowsills. Plus, I am married to a minimalist architect who has a near-fear of ‘clutter’. Pretty much, the first early potatoes are the only ‘seed’ stuff I start at home.

I prefer the slightly anxious scan along a row of string on soil as I wait to spot newly sprouted signs of life. Though, then, I am of course a bit loath to thin them out. The idea of Darwinist selection doesn’t sit well. It is probably why I’ll never be a proper gardener, this aversion to throwing the weakest baby away. Though I admire neat rows of properly spaced plants as much as the next person, I have come to the conclusion it just isn’t for me.

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Why you should check your credit score before searching for a new home Nottingham Estate Agents

Buying or renting a new house can be stressful enough without nasty surprises such as a poor credit rating slowing things down, especially when it may be easy to improve if you know about it in advance. When choosing to rent, letting agents and landlords want to know you are credible and can pay your […]

The post Why you should check your credit score before searching for a new home appeared first on OnTheMarket.com blog.

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'I can see a bird. What is it?': a beginners' guide to backyard birding

Spending time at home naturally leads to curiosity about one’s immediate surroundings, including local birdlife – here’s how to sate your interest

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Essential equipment: guide (book, app, website, or household member) to help identify birds, sense of humour.

Non-essential equipment: binoculars, notebook, sense of adventure.

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'I can see a bird. What is it?': a beginners' guide to backyard birding

Spending time at home naturally leads to curiosity about one’s immediate surroundings, including local birdlife – here’s how to sate your interest

See all our coronavirus coverage

Read more in the Good Place series

Sign up for Coronavirus: Australia at a glance, our daily email newsletter

Essential equipment: guide (book, app, website, or household member) to help identify birds, sense of humour.

Non-essential equipment: binoculars, notebook, sense of adventure.

Continue reading...

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Wonder walls: how to transform your home with colour

Are you finding it impossible to ignore tired paint? Revive your house with colours that will bring cheer and relaxation

It’s hard, stuck inside for weeks on end, not to notice how much your four walls could do with some paint – if, like me, you haven’t had them done for a while. To be honest, it’s been troubling me for ages – lockdown has just made it worse. As long ago as February I’d wandered into a Farrow & Ball shop wanting advice for my daughter’s small bedroom. It was still decorated for a young child, but she’s 16 now and she yearned for something more grown-up – a calming escape where she could study and relax with friends. And I spied on a Farrow & Ball noticeboard an advertisement for their colour consultancy service.

Colour curator Joa Studholme has worked at Farrow & Ball for 24 years, inventing colours that have become legendary among decorators, including the charming Nancy’s Blushes, named after her daughter’s pink cheeks.

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