Beth Chatto Archives

Advice on Pruning Willows

by Beth Chatto ‘How often do you prune your willows?’ you may ask. It varies. We have to consider the vigor of different varieties and also, of course, the amount of time we have to spare. We do not always do what is ideal. If you can manage it, I think it is probably best…

Tracks in the Winter Garden

by Beth Chatto The first thing I noticed as I watched my own boots sink below the blue-shadowed surface were the footprints of many other occupants of the garden. The mallard duck had left their heavy, plodding trails before flying off, hopefully, to someplace where the water is not totally frozen over – probably to…

Holly and Ivy

by Beth Chatto Holly and ivy are the primary images of many Christmas cards, symbols of life carrying on when much else appears dead or has vanished beneath the frozen surface. I would almost go so far as to say they should be in every garden, but perhaps I should substitute “something evergreen” instead of…

January 13, 2021 Gardening Trends for 2021, John Gilbert Baker, Joseph Francis Rock, Holly, and Ivy with Beth Chatto, A Small Porch by Wendell Berry, and Helen Morgenthau Fox on Garden Cinderellas

Today we celebrate a man who was regarded as the most revered British field-botanist of his time. We’ll also learn about the botanist who considered China to be his real home. We’ll hear thoughts on holly and ivy from one of my favorite gardeners. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book of Sunday poems…

Writing a Garden Catalog

by Beth Chatto Since before Christmas, I have been nibbling, in odd moments, at my new catalog. I try to write word pictures of plants, which might make them irresistible. When I began the nursery twenty years ago, I issued a very small list with descriptions of plants, as I saw them, in place of…

January 7, 2021 Beautiful Bark on Deciduous Trees, Louise Imogen Guiney, Vivi Laurent-Täckholm, Enticing Plant Descriptions in Garden Catalogs, A Passion for Detail by Charlotte Moss, and Frank Lebby Stanton on Rosy Living

Today we celebrate an American poet, essayist, and editor who is often remembered in a photograph where she is dressed as Saint Barbara with a laurel wreath around her head. We’ll also learn about the woman who started a flower club that offered rare and exotic plants to Swedish homemakers during World War II. We’ll…

May 13, 2019 Class on Herbs, Enid Annenberg Haupt, Allison Hargraeves, the Corpse Flower, National Public Gardens Week, John Burroughs Journals, Vassar College, Beth Chatto, Growing Herbs in Shade, and Enid Haupt’s 1971 New York Apartment

Have you ever taken a class on gardening? If you’re in the Calgary area, there’s an excellent class taking place tonight from 7 to 9 PM It’s part of the “Garden On” Lecture series. Tonight’s focus is on herbs. If you’re new to gardening, herbs make for wonderful starter plants. They are easy to grow,…