5 #StayHome Gardening Ideas for the Weekend
This Easter bank holiday weekend you're staying home to help protect the NHS and all the wonderful NHS staff. Many of you will be enjoying your own gardens, window boxes or fabulous indoor plants. For those who may not have access to real life gardens this weekend, here are a few ideas for some virtual gardening enjoyment.
1) Travel The World in 80 Gardens with Monty Don. Find this series on BBC iPlayer and be an armchair traveller for one glorious hour. Drink in the beauty and interest of some of the most inspiring gardens across the world, through the eyes and voice of the much-loved Monty Don.
2) Take a Sissinghurst Virtual Garden Tour. You can view both the famous Hidcote and Sissinghurst gardens on the National Trust website. It may not be the real thing but press the sound effect button for spring birds and even a summer cuckoo. Hit the auto rotate button, drink in a 360-degree view and imagine you are there. A very soothing thing to do.
3) Dip into the Royal Horticultural Society website (and gem up on seed sowing). The RHS website is our go-to source for all things horticulture. We're loving the Grow at Home section, which gives you helpful how-to guides on lots of gardening tasks. From preparing your pots for planting to sowing seeds indoors. There're container planting tips and even advice on the best way to mow your lawn. Enter the RHS website and find yourself immersed for hours.
4) Try the Candide gardening app (and get posting your plant photos). Download the free Candide app to your smartphone and share your own plant and flower snaps, inspiration and ideas with the gardening community. You also can watch how to videos and follow step by steps for tasks in the garden. There is a plant ID feature, which helps you identify forgotten or unknown plants in seconds. Before downloading, why not check out the Candide website here.
5) Treat Yourself to a Gardening Magazine Subscription. For the sheer beauty of its pages and the fascinating array of features on well-known gardeners, gardens, seasonal plants and more, we highly recommend Gardens Illustrated. Often with a free packet of seeds, and offers for discounts on plants from well known suppliers. Right now, Gardens Illustrated is offering a beautiful book by Great Dixter's Aaron Bertelsen, Grow Fruit and Vegetables in Pots to new subscribers while stocks last.
Why not treat yourself to a gardening hand cream too. Our hands are drier than ever with all this hand washing. But for gardeners, hands always need extra TLC. As you know we do a wide range of skin-loving hand creams. For now, may we suggest our In The Garden Barrier Cream, which was featured in Gardens Illustrated?
In The Garden Barrier Cream, £7 This super rich cream contains shea butter, vitamin E and thyme oil, all the better to help leave your hands feeling soft and comfortable.
