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  • Nicola Hope - Organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer.

  • Nicola Hope - Organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer.

  • Nicola Hope - Organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer.

  • Nicola Hope - Organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer.

  • Nicola Hope - Organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer.

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    Nicola Hope - Organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer.

Notes from a Head Gardener ~ Superb tomatoes start today!

  • by nikki
  • 9th February 20219th February 2021

Great tomatoes start today. Chillies, peppers and aubergines too, but it’s tomatoes that I love the most. Current lockdown circumstances mean that I am not yet able to get out to the big Cotswold garden that I help look after. If I was there I would have sown tomato and… Read More »Notes from a Head Gardener ~ Superb tomatoes start today!

Notes from a Head Gardener ~ If I was at work I…

  • by nikki
  • 2nd February 20212nd February 2021

It’s rather like that memory game. You know the one: “I went to the market and I bought… one apple, two bananas, three custard tarts…” except my version works by looking at the weather every day and working out what I would be doing if I was at work. Here… Read More »Notes from a Head Gardener ~ If I was at work I…

Notes from a Head Gardener ~ New horticultural challenges

  • by nikki
  • 30th November 2020

… How many times have I posted a photograph of myself on Instagram over the last few years? I have absolutely no idea but I bet it’s only once or twice. It’s a bit silly really when I use Instagram to, essentially, advertise myself and what I do in order… Read More »Notes from a Head Gardener ~ New horticultural challenges

Notes from a Head Gardener ~ My front garden working for me

  • by nikki
  • 8th April 20209th April 2020

Now seems like an opportune time to try to explain my front garden. Firstly, because I am spending a lot more time in it than I thought I would during this lockdown spring. Secondly, because it requires a certain amount of explanation. Thirdly, because my good friend Andrew, a former… Read More »Notes from a Head Gardener ~ My front garden working for me

Notes from a Head Gardener ~ Musings on Pleached Hornbeam

  • by nikki
  • 15th October 201916th October 2019

Pleaching is the art of entwining branches to form a hedge. A pleached hedge will usually be clipped above bare stems so that the hedge appears to be on stilts. It is a marvellous way of screening a view, adding grandeur and giving oneself an awful lot more to do… Read More »Notes from a Head Gardener ~ Musings on Pleached Hornbeam

Notes from a Head Gardener ~ Admonishments and ‘must try harder’s’

  • by nikki
  • 28th August 201928th August 2019

Read More »Notes from a Head Gardener ~ Admonishments and ‘must try harder’s’

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Hello, I’m Nicola Hope, a self-employed consultant organic horticulturalist, planting designer and writer. I am currently studying for the RHS MHort and I’m based in Malmesbury, in the Cotswolds. I’d love to be consulted about your project; no front or back garden is too small for me to help you cast some planting magic.

Notes from a Head Gardener – the archive

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Is there ever an off-season in a woodland garden? Is there ever an off-season in a woodland garden? I don’t think so. There are times when you have to look a little harder to find the gems. Cornus mas is one of the subtler offerings of spring. It is, however, ridiculously pretty and seamlessly takes over from the Witch Hazels. 
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#cotswolds #organicgardening #organic #gmgspring #allthingsbotanical #bloom #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flowers #flowerstagram #flowermagic #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #mystoryoflight #springflowers
Golden hour. Apparently it’s a selfie thing. My Golden hour. Apparently it’s a selfie thing. My 12 year old keeps me up to date on these important matters. I think it works pretty well with Crocus too .
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#goldenhour #botanicalpickmeup #thatwinterspringthing #allthingsbotanical #bloom #botanicalwomen #cotswolds #beautifulbritain #embracingtheseasons #flowers #flowerstagram #flowermagic #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #organic #organicgardening #plantsplantsplants #plantsofinstagram #petal_perfection #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #mystoryoflight #gmgspring
I was in the park last week with my girls and I ov I was in the park last week with my girls and I overheard another mum saying that this was probably the most she’d ever been outside in February. I thought that was interesting because this is probably the least I’ve ever been outside in February! I’ve been taking vitamin D supplements and talking to snowdrops as much as possible and that seems to be doing the trick. The end is in sight ☀️.
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#flashesofdelight #snowdrops
Tomatoes and dahlias because it’s cold and I’v Tomatoes and dahlias because it’s cold and I’ve got tomatoes on the brain (it’s a recognised condition, honest guv 😘) after writing a very tomatoey blog (link in my bio) ❤️🍅❤️.
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#organic #organicgardening #gyo #plantsplantsplants #gardengirl ##tomatotuesday #allthingsbotanical #bloom #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #cotswolds #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #flowers #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #ihavethisthingwithglasshouses #lovemyjob
The happy squish when you haven’t planted out al The happy squish when you haven’t planted out all of the dahlias and the tomatoes are starting to take up a lot of space. I’ve written a new blogpost (link in my bio) about growing tomatoes and how the prospect of *not* growing tomatoes this year threatened to send me slightly doolally a couple of weeks ago. All sorted now. I should have plenty of my no.1 food on the planet (closely followed by runner beans, chocolate and pasta) this summer if all goes to plan 🤞🏻.
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#organic #organicgardening #gyo #greenfingers #allthingsbotanical #bloom #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #cotswolds #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #flowers#flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #garden #gardeninspiration #gardengirl #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #dreamingofsummer #growingfood #gardenactivist
It’s rather like that memory game. You know the It’s rather like that memory game. You know the one: “I went to the market and I bought… one apple, two bananas, three custard tarts…” except my version works by looking at the weather every day and working out what I would be doing if I was at work. Homeschooling is great... well, spending precious time with the girls is the fun bit... but I’m missing this big garden like crazy. Hopefully back soon 🤞🏻. In the meantime, I’ve written a blogpost (link in my bio) about my little memory game. I’ve got to keep the horticultural cogs turning! 
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#thatwinterspringthing #bloom #botanicalpickmeup #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #bloom #botanicalwomen #cotswolds #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flowers #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #tostandandstare
It’s a snow centipede!! (Is lockdown plus homesc It’s a snow centipede!! (Is lockdown plus homeschooling sending anyone else a little loopy, or is it just me?!) My beautiful Witch Hazel twig ~ Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Feuerzauber’, which will be a glorious large shrub in time ~ in yesterday’s snow.
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#snowday !!! #mygarden #home #myrealgarden #allthingsbotanical #bloom #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #emabracingtheseasons #flowers #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardenersofinstagram #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #organic #organicgardening #petal_perfection #plantsplantsplants #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture
I’ve just found this!! Last year @rhinogreenhous I’ve just found this!! Last year @rhinogreenhouses were asking owners to make videos about what they love the most about their greenhouses. I don’t think I ever got around to sending it to them - sorry @rhinogreenhouses !!! Anyway, whilst taking five minutes to look through my camera roll for tomato inspiration (I’m planning my 2021 tomato takeover) I found this video of me getting properly excited about my greenhouse and tomatoes. I’m on the lookout for a really good heated propagator so please let me know if you have any recommendations ❤️🍅❤️
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#gyo #organic #organicgardening #vegetablegarden #gardenersofinstagram #botanicalwomen #horticulture #womeninhorticulture #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flashesofdelight #grow #gardeninspiration #myrealgarden #home #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #tomatotuesday #sustainableliving #gardenlove #imisssummer #redheadsofinstagram
It’s unusual for me to post an interior photogra It’s unusual for me to post an interior photograph that’s not in a large glasshouse somewhere rather lovely and Cotswoldy (that’s a proper word, right?!). This is a pretty orchid currently living in my bedroom. I’m not making it out to my gorgeous big work garden while my girls are homeschooling. I haven’t been out there since before Christmas and I’m missing it like crazy. Normally in January I would be sowing tomatoes and chillies in the heated propagator as well as coppicing willow and hazel to make structures for sweet peas, climbing beans and tall perennials in the long borders. I would be nursing the autumn sown annuals and cuttings of salvias, penstemon and all sorts of other little gems through the colder months... but I’m at home with my girls. And while I’m relishing the extra time at home with them and revelling in the opportunity to lavish more attention on my own little garden, it’s very strange and slightly anxiety inducing not to be sowing the tomatoes and chillies. In fact, I’m thinking of buying a heated propagator for home - any recommendations? 
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#gyo #organic #organicgardening #allthingsbotanical #home #myrealgarden #houseplantsofinstagram #bloom #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #embracingtheseasons #flowers #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection #gardenersofinstagram #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #tostandandstare #noticewonderconnect
At first I was surprised that the majority of my t At first I was surprised that the majority of my top nine photographs of 2020 are from midsummer into autumn. Then I remembered ~ I, like almost everyone else, was limited to my own little, not terribly instagrammable but much loved, highly colourful and productive plot in the spring. I am enormously grateful for my garden and it has never been as loved as it has been this year... but it seems that it’s the impressive structures of the delicious Cotswold gardens that I look after (plus a snapshot of Great Dixter) that get the ❤️’s. 

One photograph of my own garden snuck in on the middle row at the far left. A joyous floral cacophony, rich in floral rewards for the wildlife that I hope to encourage to flourish. 

From this I learn that my own garden needs a bit more structure... not that I’m going for ❤️’s, just a garden for all seasons that a spot of outsized topiary or a funky pleached hornbeam hedge can bring.

And those delicious Cotswold gardens? They benefit from the corners that I leave a bit wilder. It’s a balance that I hope I strike well. 

My resolution for 2021 is to incorporate increasingly sustainable gardening practices in all my gardens. If you are fortunate enough to have a plot of land in your care, I really hope you aim to do the same. Send me a message if you have any questions about increasing the sustainability of your garden and gardening practices. The balance between beauty and sustainability is not as hard to achieve as you might think.
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#topnine2020 #mygarden #myrealgarden #home #gardengirl #womeninhorticulture #botanicalwomen #organic #organichorticulture #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #bloom #cotswolds #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flowers #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #gardeninspiration #gardenersofinstagram #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection #underthefloralspelle
Befores and afters. Yesterday was dreamy ~ A sunny Befores and afters. Yesterday was dreamy ~ A sunny rose garden including some scrummy, tangly wall-trained roses to sort out. Rose ‘Mortimer Sackler’ is just gorgeous to work with because it’s virtually thornless and has lovely flexible growth. Rose ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ is one of my favourites but isn’t quite as flexible. I think I’ve got a photo of old Mortimer in flower from a couple of months ago. I’ll try to dig it out... 
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#organic #organicgardening #cotswolds #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #flashesofdelight #flowers #flowerstagram #gardeninspiration #grow #garden #gardenersofinstagram #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #momentsofmine #myeverydaymagic #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture #botanicalwomen #thebotanicalseries #wintergarden #beautyindecay #wintersbones #winterwhimsy
Second favourite garden in the whole entire univer Second favourite garden in the whole entire universe. I’ve been looking after this garden for 11 years. I put my everything into it and I’ve come to love it as if it were my own. I’ve been lucky enough to have creative control about 95% of the time. I remember planting this Eurybia divaricata. I’ve watched it establish happily and I’ve grown it’s offspring from its seed. Today I admired its tiny star flowers in the weak December sun as they slowly transform into seed heads. I cherish their delicate beauty. 
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#beautyindecay #botanicalpickmeup #thebotanicalseries #allthingsbotanical #bloom #botanicalwomen #cotswolds #embracingtheseasons #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #flowers #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gardeninspiration #gardenersofinstagram #gardening #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #organic #organicgardening #petal_perfection #plantsplantsplants #underthefloralspell #womeninhorticulture
I’ve been thinking about all of the beautiful an I’ve been thinking about all of the beautiful and inspirational gardens that I’ve visited this year. I’ve been thinking about my favourites. Those that I’ve learnt the most from - and there have been a few - perhaps not quite as many as I would usually visit. Spring was obviously out of the question. I couldn’t even visit the gardens that I look after to see the tulips that I had planted the previous Autumn (can you tell that I’m still not quite over that one?!?)🌷. There’s really only one garden that fits the criteria. The garden that I spent every day in from March 23rd until my elder daughter went back to school in early June. My very own small, experimental, purposefully scruffy in some places... accidentally in others, personal and much loved garden. I will have been here eight years at Christmas and I’m very aware of my privilege. I adore every square cm... even the annoying Lonicera nitida hedge that needs cutting several times a year 🙄. If I could flip a switch and change it to Taxus I would... but that’s not what gardening on a budget is about. Often it’s about accepting what you’ve got. Making it the best it can be (in the case of the hedge... magnificent!) and growing tons of Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes’ because it makes me very happy indeed 🌸. #mysanctuary .
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#mygarden #myrealgarden #home #flowers #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #bloom #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #garden #gyo #gardenersofinstagram #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #organic #organicgardening #plantsplantsplants #petal_perfection 
#womeninhorticulture
How many times have I posted a photograph of mysel How many times have I posted a photograph of myself on Instagram over the last few years? I have absolutely no idea but I bet it’s only once or twice. It’s a bit silly really when I use Instagram to, essentially, advertise myself and what I do in order to make a living. It’s not the only reason I use Instagram though - I hope that I demonstrate that anyone can garden using organic and sustainable methods to create beautiful, productive and wildlife friendly gardens. This year has been a weird one for everyone but 2020 has also been the year that I became a Master of Horticulture (@the_rhs) (I think that means that I can teach at Hogwarts now!). There has been no fanfare, no sudden change of lifestyle and certainly no party (hopefully next year 🤞🏻👩‍🎓 ) and I’ve been thinking about what it really means and what I want to achieve post MHort. I’d like to help. I’d like to continue to encourage gardeners to set off on their own path towards gardening with nature, not railing against it. If any of you have any ideas how I can better achieve this then I’d love to hear from you. I am so grateful that I managed to fall headlong into this extraordinary and supportive industry well over two decades ago. I’ve never once regretted it (well, maybe on the wettest, coldest days here and there... but even then I’d rather be outside or in the glasshouse than chained to a computer). I’m a horticultural lifer and I’m looking for my next gardening challenge. 
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#gardengirl #botanicalwomen #womeninhorticulture #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #bloom #thebotanicalseries #cotswolds #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flowers#flowerstagram #flashesofdelight #grow #gyo #greenfingers #garden #gardening #gardeninspiration #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #organic #organicgardening #MHort #petal_perfection #myeverydaymagic #gmgnewbies
I looked up from picking up leaves and saw hundred I looked up from picking up leaves and saw hundreds of tiny orbs of sunshine on this espalier crab apple. It made me feel happy despite the asymmetry - try as I might I just can’t seem to encourage a decent lateral on the right hand side, second branch down... it really doesn’t matter in the general scheme of life ☀️.
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#autumnvibes #organic #organicgardening #beeorganic #allthingsbotanical #botanicalpickmeup #botanicalwomen #cotswolds #englishgarden #englishgardenstyle #embracingtheseasons #flashesofdelight #garden #gardeninspiration #gardenersofinstagram #gardening #horticulture #inspiremyinstagram #instagardeners_feature #latergram #myeverydaymagic #momentsofmine #plantsplantsplants #skyporn #thebotanicalseries #cotswoldlife #tostandandstare #november #harvest #slowfood
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