I've decided to ditch the card this Valentine's day and get something a little more permanenet. No, not a dog but this Spring flowering magnolia from Market Net It can represent the blossoming of our love and hopefully provide a screen from the neighbours for £58.50. This site is worth looking at for examples of great mushy cheesiness with the odd good idea thrown in.

Posted by Carole

If you're looking for some in and outdoor inspiration then take yourself off to the Grand Designs show this Friday until Sunday at ExCel in London. It's got lots of exciting floral ideas, contemporary garden products, a green garden sponsored by Christian Aid and tons of advice from gardening and architectural experts. Kids under 16 are free, you'll have to pay £14 in advance or £18 on the day -a perfect way to spend a Sunday.

Posted by Carole

Now the sun has finally come out I feel it's safe to discuss tents again. This botanical Eurohike tent is perfect for the weekends away or festivals - not a hardcore mountain effort. It provides plenty of room for two and can sleep up to four, with a porch for gear storage. For £69.99 you can boast about it's waterproof polyester flysheet with a hydrostatic head of 1500mm with taped seams to keep the weather at bay! If this is double dutch to you , then log onto Millets and check out where their next camping show is. I love the hard core outdoor feel of this site -well it feels that way no a non-camper.

Posted by Carole

It's officially a heat wave, so grab your hat and sun cream and head off to the RHS Garden Show at Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire from tomorrow until Sunday. Special rates for RHS members or £21 for adults, £5 for 5-15 year olds, under 5's are free. - tickets are discounted if booked in advance. This show's a big favourite among garden lovers as it's relaxed, spacious and has a good range of plants, advice and displays. Why not make it really special and order their ticket and lunch pack which looks delicious. Even better go on Sunday and buy the display plants at a discounted rate from 4pm. Not a bad way to spend a sunny day.

Posted by Carole

Hurry, hurry. new designers starts at the Business Design Centre in Islington on Thursday 29 June. Visiting this showcase for Britain's design graduates gives you the chance to say 'I saw it first'.
29 June – 2 July is jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles and fashion.
6 – 9 July is product design, furniture and interiors.
Tickets £9 in advance, £11 at the door.

The sun has finally come out and you've noticed you need a bit of colour in your garden. Then Head for the Fulham Palace Garden Centre near Putney Bridge. Not only can you purchase a great selection of plants, from African Violets to 10 ft palms, but all the profits will go to the Fairbridge. charity, which helps disaffected inner city youths. While you're at it why not join the garden centre society for £20 per year and attend a series of garden events to inform you about what's new and happening in the plant world. Alternatively roll up with your empty planters or window boxes and they'll plant them up for you. Not bad for a days trip to a garden centre.

Posted by Carole

The first UK ILVA store opens in Thurrock, Essex in July – exact date yet to be announced. The Danish answer to IKEA aims to offer speedy delivery of stylish stuff you don't have to spend all weekend assembling. A peek at their Danish site (they've been going strong there since 1974) shows a lot of very ordinary, if solid, furniture alongside some lovely things like these Mambo sun loungers. The Danes have a great tradition of top class furniture design and CEO Martin Toogood, formerly of Habitat aims to bring it to us at a reasonable price. Can't wait.

Posted by Ros

At the end of this month Wiggly Wigglers launch their first book about how they renovated a tired old garden at Blakemere into a fantastic haven for wildlfe. Bringing a Garden to Life reflects the ethos and materials which are sold on their site, composters, bug boxes and wild flower plants to name a few. You can meet the creators on June 1st at the forthcoming Hay Festival and see their theories in practice in the wiggly garden they are building on site.

Posted by Carole

I have to confess to being yet another member of the fantasy house building brigade, so therefore addicted to Grand Designs. So this Live Show is the ultimate in house porn as far as I am concerned. If building your own house is a future project, then you always inject a little reality by looking at Grand interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, build (of course) and gardens.

They promise lots of inspirational outdoor ideas and Diarmuid Gavin is creating his own garden market and lecturing on how to design your garden. It takes place on June 4-6th at the Excel in London, tickets costs £12 in advance or £16 on the door. Go on grab a drink, relax in the Grand Gardens tapas bar and dream a little ...

Posted by Carole

Sarah Raven's Cutting Garden offers a really clean, simple and informed choice of plant and herbs to purchase. I suppose not surprising given that she lectures, appears on the telly, runs food & garden courses and when she has five minutes actually grows things too! These Alpine strawberries are large and very fruity, plus have the added delight of providing a huge amount of fruit in their first year. They cost £1.95 for 300 seeds.

If you fancy a day out combined with some plant, herb or seed gift shopping, then they are holding an 'Open Day & Food Fair' for £4 on June £17th at Perch Hill Farm (one hour from London). If that's too much of a faff then they are having an online clearance sale right now, with a lot of items reduced by 50%. Worth logging on if only to gaze at all the wonderful shrubs.

Posted by Carole,

Having a border dispute? I am. My husband dug up all the perennials I'd haphazardly planted thinking they were weeds, and chucked them out. As punishment I'm going to make him trudge round the Daily Telegraph House and Garden Fair at Olympia, 29 June – 2 July, where he can check out Helen and James Dooley of Crocus.co.uk's contemporary border displays for inspiration.

Posted by Ros

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry - there are only tickets left for 3 of the 5 days of the Cheslea flower feast at the Royal Hospital, in Chelsea. It's organised by the Royal Horticultural Society which is a club only you serious gardeners out there will be aware or a member of. Don't let me put you off, this is a great opportunity to get a fantastic garden fix and be inspired with lots of ideas of things to make and grow. The grounds are magically transformed into a plant paradise with thousands of spectacular blooms, show gardens and some serious shrubs. Take a deep breath, inhale and enjoy.

Posted by Carole