Why Northumberland inspires Rosy Hardy to garden

Rosy Hardy next to geum

@RosyHardyGardening

Rosy Hardy, aka @RosyHardyGardening on YouTube, is an award-winning gardener who has accumulated 24 gold medals from Chelsea Flower Show. A vice president of the Royal Horticultural Society since 2020, she is an expert plantswoman and the owner of a specialist cottage garden plants business in Hampshire.

Recently shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023, Rosy’s popular YouTube channel features engaging videos and helpful ‘shorts’ that are filled with practical advice to help you get the best from your plants. As sponsors of the GMG award, we caught up with Rosy to learn a bit about her journey on social media and the highlights of her career so far. Here’s what she told us…

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How Anya Lautenbach’s garden helped to heal grief

Anya Lautenbach flowers

Anya Lautenbach says that gardening helped her through difficult times
Image: anya_thegarden_fairy

Anya Lautenbach, aka @anya_thegarden_fairy, has created a magical garden on a shoestring by propagating almost 90% of the plants herself. Turning to nature during a period of grief, she found that propagating her own plants helped her to cope with some of the most challenging times in her life. The result is a magnificent collection of herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and lavender hedges that are regularly shared with her loyal followers.

Anya’s hugely popular social media accounts are followed by hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, so it’s no surprise that she has been shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023. We caught up with Anya to learn a bit about her journey as a gardener and social media influencer. Here’s what she had to say…

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Why Simon Akeroyd thinks TikTok is the future for gardeners

Tiktok gardener Simon Akeroyd holding mug

Image: Simon Akeroyd is a popular TikToker

Simon Akeroyd, aka @simonakeroydgardener, runs a hugely popular TikTok account filled with bite-sized gardening tips and clever money-saving hacks. He has been the Head Gardener or Manager at many beautiful gardens including Sheffield Park, Polesden Lacey, Harlow Carr, Wisley, Coleton Fishacre and Agatha Christie’s Greenway. When he’s not gardening, he’s writing gardening books and has published about 30 so far. 

Recently shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023, we caught up with Simon to learn a bit about his journey as a gardener and the highlights of his career so far. Here’s what he told us…

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Currant plants masterclass: best expert content

Whitecurrants on wooden table

Super sweet currant ‘White Versailles’ is the earliest white currant to crop in July
Image: White Currant ‘White Versailles’ (Organic) from T&M

Fruiting currants thrive in the UK’s cooler climate. Blackcurrants are delicious in pies and jam, white varieties are sweet enough to devour straight from the bush while redcurrants are the perfect addition to rich gravies and jewel-coloured jellies. Here, some of our favourite bloggers, Instagrammers, and vloggers share tips on how to grow your own bountiful buckets of delicious, colourful currants. 

Browse our full range of currant plants for delicious red, white and black varieties.

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Spicy butternut squash soup recipe

 

Collection of butternut squash on ground

Spicy butternut squash soup recipe

Ken Stockley
Why not grow your own butternut squash to use in this delicious soup recipe from Ken Stockley?
Ken says: "A lovely, creamy soup. All of the veg came from my garden and I only used ONE Apache chilli, but it still made my mouth tingle! Don't forget to wash your hands after clearing out the chilli seeds."
Course Soup
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g butternut squash
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 onion
  • tbsp oil
  • ½ tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp mixed herbs
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • ½ red pepper
  • 500 ml water
  • 125 ml milk
  • 1 small chilli or half tsp chilli powder (optional)
  • Ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cut the butternut or squash into one inch chunks, removing the peel and seeds and any ‘stringy bits’. Peel and chop the garlic, onion, red pepper and fresh chilli.
  • Put the oil into a saucepan on a medium heat and fry off the garlic, onions and red pepper (and fresh chilli if using) for a couple of minutes until the onion is soft but not coloured. Stir frequently to stop it sticking.
  • Add the butternut squash and continue to cook for another 3 minutes. Keep stirring throughout.
  • Dissolve the stock cubes in the water and then add to the pan together with the milk, herbs, chilli (if using) and lemon juice. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat until it is simmering. Put the lid on the saucepan and continue to cook for another 20 minutes until the butternut is soft.
  • Remove from the heat and blend with a stick blender until smooth. If you prefer, you can leave it lumpy.
  • Reheat the soup again gently but don't allow it to boil. Season to taste with black pepper.

Notes

Find out how to grow your own squashes from seed through to harvest at our pumpkin and squash hub page.
Lead image: Squash Winter Butternut 'Hunter' F1 - Kew Vegetable Seed Collection from Thompson & Morgan
Keyword butternut squash, pumpkin, soup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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