Summer Converations 2025

Observe where the light falls, and plant leafy, textural and woodland-inspired species to create a lush oasisI’m at the point in my 30s when everyone seems to be moving house – or at least trying

This week: easy ways to refresh your outdoor space; colourful pick-me-ups; and the best espresso machines, tested• Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThe Earth’s orbit of

Now is the time to save seeds, give your perennials their autumn haircut and plant your winter veg. And why not try a green manure to nourish your soil?Change by degrees offers life hacks and sustaina

I envy people with strong opinions about this flower or that. They seem to know what they’re doing in life, what any of it meansGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailI’ve moved from the city

Forget whisky and golf balls: from a sleep mask to a pizza stone, a summer scent to a barbecue multi-tool, these considered gifts will make his dayDads can be tricky to buy for. They often have everyt

Foraging, harvesting and recipes

Hillier Garden Centres is thrilled to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a stunning Tangier Mosaic Garden Bistro Set, worth £199 each.This elegant set includes a stunning table and two chairs,

These days we're all more aware of the benefits of eating seasonally. Not only do fruit and vegetables taste better when grown in season, but they're also often cheaper to buy. Eating seasonally is be

Yuccas are drought-tolerant, so excess moisture can lead to stress or root rotWhat’s the problem? My daughter has a yucca plant on her landing, and while the lower side looks fine, the taller s

We gave you eco-friendly lawn tips, a seasonal fashion edit, the ultimate guide to eye creams and more. Here are the picks that inspired you most in May• Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inb

Shady areas of the garden can be one of the hardest places to get flowers to grow, so the species recommended for these spots are often foliage plants like heucheras and ivy. But it is possible to gro

When you're growing plants in containers, whether indoors or outside, knowing how much water a plant needs can be a challenge, but self-watering planters and pots take a lot of that pressure away. The

The series in which readers answer others’ questions on subjects ranging from flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts. This week, a neighbourly issueIt’s common these days for people to p

Orchids are popular house plants and make a beautiful addition to house plant displays. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are the most common type of orchid grown in the UK. Flowering over a long period, th

Tiverton, Devon: On days like this, there’s no finer place to be than in a walled garden, and this one is bursting with gooseberries, beans and buttercupsAny garden is a special thing, but a walled

I try to harbour small colonies of weeds in my plot, but growing vegetables is the priority and some wild plants are too energetic for the spaceI started my growing season late this year. Life got in

Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, and make an excellent substitute for meat, being high in protein, vitamins and minerals. Growing your own mushrooms at home is a great way to enjoy healthy

What is Himalayan balsam?Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a tall, annual weed that grows so vigorously it's classed as an invasive non-native plant species. Native to the Himalayas, it was