Jonathan Wild Gardens

30/05/2026

We have a long wall on one of our garden boundaries which runs alongside a popular little gennel. A few years ago I planted a couple of David Austin's excellent rose 'The Generous Gardener' against this wall which is looking (and smelling!) amazing.

Even better, it has now spilled out over the top of the wall - regalling passers-by with a lovely display and living up to its 'generous' description!

Of all the David Austin roses I think if you are looking for a robust and not too rampant rose then this one is up there amongst the best.

11/05/2026

Named after a legendary tank, Sherman the tortoise buldozing through the Aubretia....

18/04/2026

I found this little stone carving at a street market in Bridport last year - makes a nice change from a gnome!

There's always room for a bit of added interest in any garden, as long as you don't overdo it....

14/04/2026

My garden this morning - full of flowers, scent and wildlife. This is now in its fifth year since we moved in and began its transformation from a concrete jungle. It now has 2 ponds, a small vegetable plot, paths created from the original slabs, 4 sitting areas giving morning sunshine and afternoon shade, and a multitude of plants.
We have also converted the old garage (the building in the photo) into a studio where I can do all my design work. Hopefully this year I will also be using it to hold presentations and talks where I can share some of the lessons that I've amassed over a lifetime of being involved in the horticulture industry.
Watch this space....!

08/04/2026

Ripley and little Skipper on frog watch duties!

08/04/2026

No brainer...

A or B?

If green infrastructure isn't designed into the initial masterplan, it rarely happens later. Once "high-sided boxes" and utilities are set in stone, retrofitting communal gardens or structural hedging becomes physically and financially impossible.
Building communities rather than isolated units is a mental health necessity. Shared greenspaces act as "social glue," reducing cortisol and combating loneliness through incidental interaction and biophilic relief. True well-being requires a landscape-led approach where nature is treated as a primary utility, not an afterthought.

Thanks Chole Powell for image A which is an edit of image B which a genuine photo I took.

06/04/2026

I've had the pleasure of dealing with Hollybeck on a professional basis for many years now and without fail they have supplied the very best plants I ( and my customers) could have wished for.

If only every town had such a friendly and trustworthy garden centre - which has the added bonus of an amazing café! Highly recommended....

03/04/2026

I hope you're all enjoying a well-earned Easter break and finding time for a spot of gardening. As I spend so much time in other people's plots I always value catching up on what's happening in my own. It might not be rolling acres but I've managed to squeeze in a lovely eclectic mix of plants, giving interest for people and wildlife 12 months of the year.

As you can see from the photos, spring has really kicked off....

If you would like any help adding some zing to your own garden then just get in touch!

13/11/2025

Just a quick update on how my home garden has fared the past few months. It's been a true labour of love, sneaking away and spending a few hours here and there - when I should have been slaving away in front of a computer screen working on plans and designs for my lovely customers. (Don't panic - they did get done!)

Even the stress caused by the worst drought I can remember didn't stop the garden looking amazingly lush, and apart from a few casualties along the way, we enjoyed a fantastic few months of pottering, BBQs and encouraging the wildlife.

The photos are in no particular order and were taken by yours truly on my old Samsung phone - so please don't criticise me for using the wrong F Stop!

23/06/2022

A friend asked me for some ideas to make his swimming pool look a bit more like it belonged in the garden. I sketched some ideas which basically showed that by simplifying the arrangement and removing some redundant walling the pool would look much more inviting.

Using a good quality deck material and some lighting has really transformed this area of the garden - proving the old adage that 'less is more' when you are planning garden layouts.