Jasmine

It has been used as an aphrodisiac in India for centuries. Newly wed couples used it to decorate their bedrooms. It works because it balances the feminine energy in the body, giving a woman peace and serenity. For a romantic, sensual gift buy a bunch of at least 16 flowers or maybe a jasmine flower garland.  The most fragrant jasmine blossoms come from the second flowering in late autumn – they must be cut before dawn or up to 20 per cent of their essence is lost.

Blue Lotus

Its botanical name is Nymphaea Nauchali. Used by the people of ancient Egypt to arouse their women. The scent is said to promote blood flow and is also used as an anti-ageing agent.

Drum Stick Flower

All parts of this Indian plant are used as an aphrodisiac. The flower is most effective when drank as a potion after being boiled in cow’s milk and is known to help with erectile dysfunction.

Rose

Used the world over as the flower of attraction. Its sweet fragrance is highly romantic. The petals can be eaten and taste delicious when served with strawberries and champagne.

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Banana Tree flowers

The flowers from the banana tree has been used for centuries to increase semen count. Most effective when cooked with lentils.

Hisbiscus

This gorgeous red flower, native to India but easy to buy in Britain, can keep the body cool and help with relaxation.

Cloves

Their sweet aroma has many aphrodisiac qualities and is most effective for stimulating sex if eaten in powdered form with honey.

Kumari

Better known as Aloe Vera – keeps the body young by restoring the natural cycles of desire.

Lotus flower

Found in lakes and ponds and known to enhance sexual health.

Vanilla

Vanilla has a sweet and powerful scent and was used in ancient America as an aphrodisiac.

Although in today’s world of constant hype the day has become yet another reason for a social evening or now even a full weekend, but its origins are much simpler and make for a fascinating story.

Flowers, in particular red roses, are a traditional gift embellished with a passionate message. No doubt every message will carry those three words, mine will.

Buy Your Valentine Red Roses

When the subject of Valentine’s Day cropped up in the office, I asked a colleague of mine to research the history and I hope you find the story as interesting as I did.

The origins of St. Valentine’s Day are a little obscure, but one of the legends tells of the Emperor Claudius in Ancient Rome, who banned young men from marrying, in the belief that they would make better soldiers. A Christian called Valentine of Rome believed this was unfair and secretly carried out weddings.  When the Emperor found out, Valentine was arrested and put to death – it is said that he died on 14^th February.

The Victorians attributed flowers and plants with various sentiments and emotions and these can be used today to convey messages to loved ones.  For instance, the archetypal St. Valentine’s Day symbol of the red rose means ‘I Love You’.  History shows that ancient cultures used red roses to decorate marriage ceremonies and this is a tradition which has endured through the ages to ensure the rose is forever associated with love and romance.

But there are other equally meaningful plants and flowers to consider for St. Valentine’s Day.

Myrtle has long been associated with ‘Love and Joy’ in marriage and traditionally, bridal bouquets always included a sprig of Myrtle.  Queen Victoria’s wedding bouquet contained myrtle, and a sprig was subsequently planted at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight and all royal wedding bouquets since then have includes sprig from this plant. Myrtle is an evergreen herb, originating in the Mediterranean, with fragrant white flowers from spring to mid-summer.

Winter Honeysuckle represents ‘Devotion’ and is a perfect plant for the garden in winter.  With its clusters of white, tubular flowers and heady fragrance in the depths of winter, it’s a romantic symbol of enduring love and devotion.  Plant this shrub near a path or patio where you can appreciate the delicious fragrance when out in the garden.

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The blue Hyacinth represents ‘Consistency in Love’ and is an ideal gift for this time of the year.  Fragrant and colourful, a pot of Hyacinths will fill a room with scent, and when flowering is finished you can plant the bulbs out for them to come up year after year, as a constant reminder of love.

The Victorian sentiment for Orchids is ‘Love and Beauty’ and there is no doubt they are exotic and mysterious plants. The Ancient Greeks believed that elixirs made from the root of the orchid had aphrodisiac qualities.  With dozens of varieties, colours and size of flowers, an orchid would make an elegant and unusual gift on St. Valentine’s Day.

‘Marital Happiness’ is expressed by Stephanotis, a tender evergreen climber with sweet smelling white, star shaped flowers.  Stephanotis makes a lovely houseplant and as a climber it needs to grown a trellis or wire support, but make sure you find one with a heart shaped support for February 14th!

Red roses may be the traditional symbolic gift for Valentine’s Day, but as you can see, there are many equally romantic plants which will last much longer, reminding the one you love of your enduring love and affection for years to come.

Go on –make 14^th February a memorable day for your loved one!

The ever popular Galanthus or Snowdrops will be out in force in February, heralding the end of winter and the promise of spring just around the corner.  Snowdrops are extremely hardy, despite their delicate appearance and will grow in most soils, preferring light shade to full sun.  You can transplant snowdrops whilst they are growing (in the green) and large drifts of naturalised snowdrops create a real impact, resembling a carpet of snow on the ground.

Camellia “Elegans”

A very popular later winter flowering shrub, this camellia has beautiful deep pink double flowers which look spectacular when the garden is still in the depths of winter.  All camellias need neutral or acid soil so use ericaceous compost when planting in a border or container.  Camellia Elegans will tolerate shade, but avoid an east facing position.  Emerging buds will need protecting from extreme weather conditions.

Daphne bholua “JaquelinePostill”

This is an upright evergreen shrub which produces delightful fragrant pink and white flowers during late winter and is a welcome addition in the winter garden.  A slow growing shrub, it thrives in any fertile, free draining soil and is also ideal for containers.  Very little pruning is necessary and Daphne’s don’t like to be transplanted, so choose your site carefully, somewhere where you can fully appreciate the intense fragrance.

No doubt the lawn has been a bit neglected over the winter, so now its time to do some preparation before the growing season starts.  On a dry day, clear leaves and debris off the lawn and rake over, removing any moss or thatch that has formed.

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Then using an aeration machine or simply a garden fork, spike holes every 15-20cm all over the lawn.  This will improve drainage of the lawn, and aerate down to the roots for improved health, giving the lawn a great start for spring.  Then apply a top dressing to the lawn, this adds nutrients and helps drainage.  Top dressing can be bought ready mixed and is usually a combination of horticultural sand and fertiliser.

Vegetables

If you’re growing vegetables, February is a great month for preparing the ground for your crops.  Thoroughly dig over the soil, remove roots of perennial weeds and any stones then add organic matter and fork well in to improve the soil.  Plan what vegetables to grow and where,and then you can buy your seeds.

Prune Clematis

Prune summer flowering clematis now.  It can withstand hard pruningnow as during spring it will grow rapidly before producing lots of flowers in summer.  After pruning, sprinkle a granular fertiliser around the base of the plant and rake in then mulch around the plant to add nutrients.

Body Warmer

A body warmer, also called a gilet, is essentially a sleeveless jacket which is designed to give extra protection and warmth to the core body area.  Body warmers are really versatile garments to wear when you’re busy outside with various gardening jobs. Worn as an extra layer over a jumper or shirt or underneath a jacket, it’s a much better option than wearing a bulky coat as your arms have freedom of movement, making it easier to work.  Suitable for a range of outdoor activities, body warmers often have a number of different sized pockets, making them ideal for gardeners to keep small tools and all the other bits and pieces needed for the garden to hand.

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Body warmers are available in various fabrics for different conditions and situations:

Fleece

A fleece body warmer will trap the warm air in between your other clothing, giving you an extra layer for warmth.  Fleeces are lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear, giving you full movement whilst tackling those garden tasks.

Quilted

For extra padding a cosy quilted body warmer will keep the cold out in the depths of winter, making sure you can get all those winter jobs completed in comfort.

Waterproof

A waterproof or waxed fabric body warmer with a hood will keep the rain off if you get caught in a shower.  For added warmth, buy one with a fleece lining.

Heated Clothing

Can you believe it, the latest innovation to keep warm in the garden is …………. heated clothing. You can now buy heated body warmers, heated fleeces, heated scarves and back warmers all using rechargeable batteries!

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Don’t let the cold weather put you off doing a few essential garden jobs – Keep your body warmer with a Body Warmer!

Types

There are many types of sprinkler systems available which perform different jobs depending on your requirements, but they all fulfil the important function of allowing you to get on with other jobs whilst keeping the garden irrigated.  Lawns and vegetable gardens are ideal for sprinkler systems.

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If you’re thinking of buying or installing a sprinkler for the garden, we’ll take a closer look at the different types, which might help you choose what is right for your needs.

Buy the best

A sprinkler needs to be sufficiently heavy so as not to flip over when the pressurised water runs through it.  Cheaper plastic sprinklers may not be as effective as one with a metal head.

Basic Sprinkler

The most basic type of static sprinkler is attached to a hose and sited on the lawn or in the border either on its spike or placed on the grass and will spray a fixed pattern of water, usually circular.  Depending on the size of your garden, you may need to move the sprinkler every so often to get even coverage all over the lawn and borders.

Rotating Sprinkler

Rotating sprinklers generally cover a larger area and can be adjusted to vary the area covered from a full circle to a narrow wedge shape.

Oscillating Sprinkler

An oscillating sprinkler will provide a water spray covering a much wider area as the sprinkler moves backwards and forwards, usually in a rectangular pattern, giving better coverage of the lawn.

Sprinkler Options

There are also sprinklers available which have multiple settings and water patterns depending on what you wish to water:  a very fine mist for seedlings or damping the greenhouse through to a more powerful spray for lawns and established plants.

A sprinkler can be attached to the timer, giving you peace of mind when away from home for any length of time, knowing that the lawn and garden will be watered during any dry spells.

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Have you ever thought about how much quicker you would get through your gardening tasks if you could keep small tools and gardening essentials that you frequently need with you whilst pottering around the garden?  How many times have you had to put the secateurs or trowel on the ground to use both hands and then forget where it is or lose it amongst the herbaceous border? To say nothing of all that time wasted going back and forth to the shed to collect another vital piece of equipment that you couldn’t carry the first time!

Solve this perennial gardening dilemma and keep your small tools, twine, scissors, labels, knife and even your phone about your person at all times with an all purpose, sturdy gardening apron. With this ‘must have ‘garden accessory you’ll be the height of fashion in the borders this year!

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Gardening aprons are made of hard wearing fabric such as leather, cotton canvas or sturdy waterproof material and come complete with different sized pockets to enable you to store all the bits and pieces you need about your person as you work around the garden.  Some aprons are also designed to be rolled up with the tools still inside when you’ve finished working, doubling up as a handy storage tool roll.

A massive choice of sizes, styles and colours are available to suit male and female gardeners alike.  From a useful mini apron with one big pocket, maybe a quarter length model with more storage pockets, or a larger knee length option complete with a bib top, you’ll never want to work in the garden without it! And of course, a longer, waterproof bibbed apron will provide extra protection for your clothes when working on bigger, messier jobs.

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Make your gardening life easier with a stylish, practical gardening apron today!

Climbers

Honeysuckle, Clematis and climbing roses are all ideal for sunny or partially shaded sites. Choose plants with smaller leaves as they will give the impression of more depth.

Dark Background

Painting the wall or fence a dark colour, green or black may sound a bit drastic in a small area, but once it is covered with plants, the darker colour actually makes the fence disappear into the shadows and enhances the plants growing in front of it.

Go Upwards

Also consider using any vertical space for small wall containers and hanging baskets to bring some colour and interest to a blank wall. There are plants to give colour and interest for every season and you can also grow certain fruits and vegetables in hanging baskets too – strawberries and the smaller varieties of tomatoes are easy to grow and also easy to pick when ripe!

Divide the Garden

Long narrow gardens can be given a new lease of life with a few simple ideas to give the impression of a larger space. You can create individual rooms by adding fencing or trellis screens to split the garden into three. You may also wish to use an arch or gateway to walk through each section.

Three Sections

Choose what mood you would like in each of your separate garden rooms. For example you can make the top section a patio area for dining and barbequing, the mid-section a lawn area with planted borders for a touch of tranquillity, and the bottom section for growing organic fruit & veg. These are just examples. You may wish to have one section as a Japanese section, a herb garden or a rose garden. The room sets make more of your narrow space and really add interest by their diversity.

Keep it Simple

The key to making a small garden look good is to keep the design simple. Be minimal with plant choices by having several of the same type of plant rather than a host of different ones which can look cluttered. Consider a circular shaped lawn for a softer look and use paving materials which blend with the home or interior flooring colours to give a feeling of extending the indoors to outside.

Use Mirrors

The use of outdoor mirrors in small spaces helps to reflect back to you the beauty of your plants and flowers, giving the illusion that your space is bigger than it actually is and you have more flowers than you planted as long as you take care that the sun’s reflection doesn’t hit any of your plants. Small paving spaces must be light in colour and can incorporate an integrate design.

Great for small size but BIG impact

Lawn care

For a convenient way to distribute water quickly and easily over your borders and the lawn, a hosepipe is the obvious answer.  And with any of a wide range of hose fittings and accessories and you’ll have full versatility for all garden watering needs.

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Length – get it right

Hosepipes are sold in varying lengths, so work out how far you will need the hose to reach before deciding which length to buy.

Connectors

For a large or very long garden you can connect lengths of hose togetherusing hose connectors to increase the length of a standard hose.  Using a T-shaped connector will enable you to add another length of hose so you can water two different areas at the same time.

Guns

You will find a great choice of nozzles and guns to choose from to regulate the water pattern for your needs. Multi-spray heads are very useful, giving you a range of settings from a fine mist for small or delicate plants through to a powerful jet for cleaning jobs.  Make sure you have a secure connection to the tap as a dripping tap can waste a considerable amount of valuable water.

Hose Reels

To make your hose more portable there are a range of hose reels to store the hose, make it more portable and keep it tidy and free of kinks.  A basic drum reel has a handle to wind the hose onto the drum and a carrying handle on top.  Many modern reel systems will automatically rewind the hose back after use and also prevent any kinks or bends in the hose as it retracts.  Wall mounted reels are a great space saving idea and for larger, heavier hoses a cart mounted reel will make watering easier.

Timers

During the hot weather, you can make sure your plants don’t miss out on regular watering by fitting a timer to the tap.  You can set the time, frequency and length of watering to suit.  Available in either digital or manual, a timer can be a great help if you’re away on holiday or want to water the garden during the night.

Hose guide

To avoid damaging your hosepipe as it trails around the house you can fit hose guides.Guides are fixed at the corner of a wall or building and the hose runs through the guide, thereby protecting it from sharp corners. The guide will also prevent kinks in the hose, ensuring a steady flow of water.

Remember – water is precious

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Overcome the Weather

Obviously the British weather isn’t always ideal for entertaining outdoors, but there are many solutions to overcome that problem.

Facilities

Gazeboes, awnings, patio heaters and fire pits can make a big difference, making sure the party can still go ahead.Heaters and shelters will also enable you to have more use of the garden for relaxing in earlier and later in the season.

You can’t beat a summer barbecue party – tasty food sizzling away on the barbecue with friends and family enjoying a drink while looking round your garden.  Or maybe something more formal such as an alfresco dinner party.

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See the Light

Whatever your style of entertaining, garden lighting will really add to the atmosphere of an outdoor get-together once the sun goes down – tree lights, solar lights among the plants, candles and lanterns will all bring a special mood and ambience to the evening.

Safe and Sound

Also,it’s a good idea to use unbreakable tableware and glasses to avoid accidents.  There are so many stylish glasses, plates and dishes in unbreakable materials that it’s difficult to tell them from the real thing.

Impromptu

You don’t always need to plan a party well in advance – if you have enough garden furniture, a barbecue, outdoor lighting, perhaps a gazebo and a heater, why not throw an impromptu party and ask friends, neighbours and family to come round, bringing a contribution to the food and drink.  Often an impromptu get-together can be more fun than a long awaited do.

Kids love it

The garden is an ideal place to hold children’s parties because we all know the sort of chaos that’s created when you’ve had a children’s birthday party in the house.  But with outdoor games, toys and activities on the lawn the kids can be entertained and make as much mess as they like – and you can tidy up at your leisure, knowing that the house is still intact.

Feature your Garden

And finally, if you’ve been working hard on the garden all year, don’t wait for a special birthday or celebration, why not have a ‘garden warming’ party to show off all the hard work that’s gone into your beautiful garden so all your friends can enjoy it too!

Let’s get the party started!

View some great Garden Party Lights