Hartley Magazine

All the latest news, hints, tips and advice from our experts

No lawn other than clover and mostly native grasses and a rock garden overcome by a variety of cacti and small plants exceeding expectations. June is busting out all over!

Simply Smart Gardening

Considering all of humanity’s endeavors for which clever workarounds have been invented…like “smart” phones, thermostats, search engines, algorithms, whatever we can open with the touch of fingertips on keyboards, I feel justified in thinking of gardening as the last hands-on enterprise left to us. Okay, I exaggerate, but just a tiny bit. Think about it: […]

Helping your Greenhouse Handle Heatwaves

It’s hot. Really hot! Forecasters say that temperatures here in Rhode Island could reach 100oF (38oC) with humidity to match even though summer is just beginning. Fortunately, I live on the coast, so high temperatures inland create a sea breeze that cools our local area outdoors. But inside my greenhouse is a different story. If […]

Written in United Kingdom

Which easy herbs can I grow for flavour?

Jean Vernon shares her favourite herbs for easy and tasty summer recipes. I often think herbs are underrated. Herbs are the top pick of the plants in so many ways. Infused with essential oils, these power plants are royalty in the garden plant hierarchy. And that’s because they have so many practical uses, from making […]

Written in United Kingdom

Eucomis, Pineapple Flower

An excellent greenhouse subject Eucomis comosa has lush green foliage (spotted with purple markings underneath) from which emerge long lasting spires of pretty blooms that grace us for many weeks from mid-summer through till autumn. Not hardy enough for most to risk outdoors this attractive bulb is a close relative of our Hyacinths and Ornithogalum […]

Written in United Kingdom

A Garden in Your Cup: Growing tisanes with the help of the greenhouse

Throughout winter my greenhouse played host to many miserable looking specimens, semi-hibernating through the coldest months, but there was one that I am always particularly delighted to see leap back into life come spring. Bright and citrusy, lemon verbena provides perhaps the best scent in the garden – rub the leaves and bring your fingers […]

Written in United Kingdom

Our 5 Star Award-Winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

  The 2025 stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show showcased the craftsmanship of Hartley Botanic’s Greenhouses, handmade in England to nurture flowers and plants. It highlighted the importance of these Glasshouses in promoting a sustainable lifestyle by reducing the need for imported flowers and food, allowing anyone to cultivate their own. ‘Your Space, Your Story’ […]