Thompson & Morgan Gardening Blog

Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’ is so free-flowering it can be hard to keep up with the dead heading – but doing so will keep it blooming throughout summer
Image: Annelise Brilli

Salvias are amongst the most rewarding plants I grow and some the easiest to propagate. Having amassed a collection over the years, I’ve been busy taking cuttings of my half hardy species as an insurance against any winter losses and to rejunvenate old plants. They root very easily – so do have a go and build up your own collection of these fabulous, long-flowering perennials.

Browse our full range of Salvia plants for more inspiration.

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Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

Image courtesy of Gina Mellard

When Gina from @ginas_flower_garden moved to the countryside with newborn twins and a toddler, gardening quickly became more than just a way to fill time at home. It developed into a full-blown love affair with flowers and a desire to create a fairy tale sanctuary for herself and her children. Read on to learn more…

How did you get into gardening?

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

I started gardening after relocating to the countryside. I had baby twins and a toddler, so I spent a lot of time at home. In the first year, I started off simple, just growing wildflowers and sunflowers. Since then, I’ve completely fallen in love with growing flowers and try to grow as much as I can! I always dreamt of creating my own rose garden – like the ones you see in stately homes – and being able to do so has been a dream come true. My garden has always been my sanctuary and I love it!

What inspires you in the garden?

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

I want to create the most beautiful garden for my children to grow up in, something you’d find in a fairy tale, where a Disney princess would go. I appreciate every single flower in each season and always have a really special flower or plant that I focus on each month.

Cherry blossom season is my favourite, but I enjoy different seasons for different reasons. June is when I get to enjoy my roses, and then later in the summer is all about my beautiful hydrangeas and dahlias.

I adore being able to walk around my own garden and cut a fresh, eco-friendly bouquet of blooms; there’s something so therapeutic about arranging your own flowers.

What’s your favourite gardening style?

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

I love cottage gardens, but with a modern twist! My garden is full of cottage garden classics, but I also welcome other beautiful varieties. So while I have many roses, foxgloves, and other traditional cottage garden flowers, I also love growing plants like lilies and fatsias!

Each year I discover new gardening styles and plants, and I’ve recently discovered pond plants. One thing that is never likely to change is that I want as much pink as possible!

What are you most proud of?

Image courtesy of Gina Mellard

My rose collection is my pride and joy; I now have over 60 roses in beautiful shades of pink, white and blue. I planted most of them 3 years ago as bare roots, and watching them develop has been so special.

Each year, I like to add to the perennial planting; my peonies are absolutely thriving, which makes June incredible. I remember walking up and down the garden with my double pram, digging up bits of the border and planting new varieties. The fact that I was able to start and grow my own beautiful rose garden while taking care of my babies is something I’m so proud of. Without them I wouldn’t have started it!

What are your future plans?

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

A lot of the garden still needs work. Gardens take time, and I’m at the stage where I’m happy to wait for things to mature. The plan is to keep adding more perennials and also some nice shrubs. I also have an allotment, which is a big focus for me now, too. I’ve started adding fruit – raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes and much more!

What’s your top gardening tip for beginners?

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

My top tip for beginner gardeners is to start with one border at a time and try to enjoy the journey! Think about screening and structure first, too. It’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself, as plants can always be moved. Gardens are always changing and I know that my garden will never be finished. Also, remember that there are no ‘rules’; it’s your garden, so what matters most is making sure you like it. Concentrate on making a garden that brings you joy and makes your heart feel happy.

Grow like Gina

Image: Rose ‘Mum in a Million’ (Hybrid Tea Rose) from Thompson & Morgan

If you’d like to grow the plants and flowers Gina showcases on her Instagram page, here are some of her favourites:

• Roses
• Hydrangeas
• Dahlias
• Foxgloves
• Fatsia

Follow Gina at @ginas_flower_garden to see how she continues to grow, inspire, and make the most of every inch of her garden. For more inspiration, our full series of Featured Gardeners contains a wealth of hugely knowledgeable growers who are also worth a follow.

Thompson & Morgan

The Thompson & Morgan horticultural team produces a wealth of content around gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalogue was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest Mail Order Seed and Plant companies. Through the publication of our catalogues and the operation of our award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the very best quality products money can buy.

www.thompson-morgan.com