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The joy of sheds

National Shed Week puts the spotlight on a national obsession, says Kate Muir

Joe Swift: miniature gardens

It will require effort and money but stairwells and side passages can be made to bloom

Roll out the turf carpet and wildlife will star in your garden again

James and Claire Hewetson-Brown cultivate and sell wildflower turf to gardeners who want to bring the insects back

Weeder’s digest: jobs for the weekend

Prune mock orange; pinch out pinks

The best blooms for bees and butterflies

Gardeners can boost dwindling numbers of insects — and increase the pleasure of watching them at work — by choosing plants with care

Hot summer brings bright show

With temperatures reaching 30C last week, the build-up at this year’s Hampton Court Show involved twice-daily watering

Floral and other medal winners

Exhibitor awards at the 2009 flower show

Show garden medal winners

Where the golds went at this year's flower show

Avant gardens: Growing new ideas

Is it a flowerbed, or art? We ponder the far-out creations of a new generation of intelligent designers

Wormald's week

Temperatures may have dropped in the past couple of days, but it is best to be prepared for the next wave of warmth

Garden cuttings

Lure of the lilies

What would a summer garden be without lilies, so luscious and at the same time so delicate? Cannas, which we think of as flamboyant, look perfectly...

Plant of the week: Melianthus major

This plant has a fabulous leaf; all that jagged, pleated blue-grey architecture; but what about its smell?

Weeder’s digest

It’s the season of dead-heading, snipping back spent clusters of rose flowers to a decent bud

How to make your front garden look great

Don’t allow your front garden to become a clutter of wheelie bins and litter. A good design will boost the whole street

How to grow great vegetables in your garden

The salad plot is already producing a bumper crop and some clever planting now will keep the harvest going for months

Artistic marvels at Bonnington House

Nicky and Robert Wilson have created Jupiter Artland, a magical sculpture park in the garden of Bonnington House

Here’s a feast for the eyes

Berry Smoothie, Peach Flambé, Crème Brûlée . . . many varieties of Heuchera have an enticing foodie ring

‘How I transformed concrete tubs into a flourishing garden'

There’s now a beautiful flower-bed at the top of the square, largely planted by residents