ONLINE INSPIRATION FOR GARDENERS
My gardening adventure didn’t progress in isolation and beyond my growing pile of purchased books I have some favourite spots online that I find myself wandering to - likely in procrastination!
I respect that most of these places are free-to-access, a format that I used as an independent design blogger for 10 years and then in sharing my own garden writing freely up until June this year!
Blogs/websites are often a side practice to another mainstream income, but as I have chosen to pursue my writing in a larger format beyond my (minimally paid) column for Stuff, the need to attach an affordable fee to it is now very common practice. Something I am very relieved about and a system that affords me to continue to grow Unearthed into something bigger and better for my readers.
So I thank you SO very much for supporting my work and spreading the word among your garden curious friends!
WEBSITES + YOUTUBE
A summery image from Dig Delve.
DIG DELVE
A beautiful online magazine with a modern flavour produced by world-renowned garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson and his partner Huw Morgan. If you sign up for the newsletter, you are alerted to the update of bite-sized articles on the site. The subject matter is always interesting and the photography always stunning.
Michael McCoy
THE GARDENIST
Michael McCoy is easily one of my favourite garden identities, designers and commentators. He hosts his own show ABC Dream Gardens in Australia and regularly hosts indepth garden tours around the world. His website The Gardenist is a massive, generous resource of his shared knowledge where his engaging personality and passion shines through.
Take a moment to explore his filmed episodes and interviews.
Image from Wonderground article ‘Garden radicalised’ by the editor Georgina Reid.
WONDERGROUND
An expansive website (and published journal) that takes a modern and wide stance in its curation of articles - with a focus on stories that grow from the soil and a spotlight on regeneration within nature, ecology, design, architecture and beyond.
If you are looking for some fresh global perspectives, there are hundreds of articles to read under their Garden category.
Some articles are behind a paywall.
Noel Kingsbury and Annie Guilfoyle
GARDEN MASTERCLASS
A place to really geek out on planting, approaches and design. Led by award-winning garden designer and director of KLC School of Design Annie Guilfoyle and well-known garden writer Noel Kingsbury, this site can be mined for a lot of free information as well as options to enrol in garden courses and Zoom conferences. The connections and respect they garner in the industry allow them to engage some of the most interesting designers in the world and share their information widely.
Their on-demand category is full of fascinating interviews and features - I enjoy exploring them on their YouTube channel.
*Noel Kingsbury also maintains an interesting blog!
Monty Don
BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD
Led by Monty Don, this iconic UK-based TV series fills the gardening cup. I’m most attracted by the real diversity of gardens they visit, from expansive and design led to humble home spaces created by passionate growers. For us here down under, the easiest way to access episodes of BBC Gardener’s World is unfortunately only by searching on YouTube. But the website is equally packed with helpful information inspired by the TV show.
Knepp Garden as featured in Gardens Illustrated.
GARDENS ILLUSTRATED
Easily my favourite physical gardening magazine, Gardens Illustrated also has a packed website of digitally published articles. Their YouTube channel is full of interesting gardening insights and interviews.
Image and accompanied article by Elly Keen for Sage Journal
SAGE JOURNAL
A New Zealand-based online magazine that also offers a practical, seasonally-based newsletter series for paid subscribers. Beautifully curated, edited and written by Emma Sage, you can explore local and international garden features, advice, and recipes.
A garden in the Sierra de Gredos region, featured on La Tabla
EL BLOG DE LA TABLA (The Table)
I really enjoy following this this spanish based, online garden magazine on instagram, and I’ve recently discovered that the wonders of Google Translate allows me to read it too!
Created and edited by María José Holguín, from her home in Valencia she shares inspiring garden features from far afield which thoroughly pique my interest.
Great Dixter
GREAT DIXTER
If you delve deeply into the Great Dixter website you will find a brilliant collection of rentable lectures by Fergus Garret, opening the garden gate on their athos and approach to gardening through the seasons at this forward thinking garden.
Charles Dowding
CHARLES DOWDING
One of the most prominent voices in the ‘No Dig’ movement Charles Dowding’s generous website/newsletter/YouTube straddles the broader public interest information like the sites above as much as the more intimate sharing of the blogs and newsletters in the section below. There is a wealth of extremely helpful knowledge to access !
FROM THE GARDEN
I find it a real treat when I discover newsletters and blogs quietly issued and maintained by gardeners direct to anyone interested. Speaking from experience, it takes a lot of effort to sit down and articulate your planty thoughts, supporting with imagery for readers at no cost - and I respect the dedication!
There is so much value to be found - here are some of my favourites.
Abbie Jury of Tikorangi garden near New Plymouth.
TIKORANGI - THE JURY GARDEN
Abbie Jury is an extremely knowledgeable gardener who issues the most interesting articles observing her own planting and her thoughts on approaches and angles on gardening. I truly get glee when I see an email update as I have found her whole blog a valuable and refreshing resource on aspects of gardening and plant types that aren’t widely talked about in New Zealand.
Most recently she gave her own thoughts on the ‘wild’ gardening debate that is bubbling away in the UK. An insightful and wise response to what this concept means when set in our local environment.
A moody moment photographed by Mel Adams in her garden.
THE POLLINATION GARDEN
This is a lovely blog and newsletter from Dunedin-based storyteller, photographer, gardener and beekeeper Mel Adams. Her writing strays between lovely descriptive conversations about her seasonal garden to interviews (here is my one!) and sharing of inspiration. What is extra special is the absolute visual feast you receive with her beautiful and emotive photography.
One view at Federal Twist
FEDERAL TWIST
While this blog is sporadically updated, it provides a fascinating insight into this award-winning garden by James Golden in Pennsylvania, USA. Largely planted in a woodland environment, Federal Twist and this blog provide an insight into creating a personal sense of place, led by the landscape you already have.
Kath Irvine
EDIBLE BACKYARD
New Zealand garden coach and author Kath Irvine shares an enormous amount of vegetable gardening information on her blog. You can read intimate insights into her own garden, recipes seasonal to-do lists and brilliant practical advice.