Book Extract: No Garden? No Problem with The House Gardener
Green-fingered Isabelle Palmer shares some clever tips on how to create a pretty indoor garden if you don’t have any outdoor space
In The House Gardener from CICO Books, Isabelle Palmer shows us ‘how to choose, grow and decorate with house plants, as well as guide you through the different techniques needed to care for your new “green guests”.’
The beautifully styled coffee table book is illustrated throughout with colour pictures and helpful commentary that guides you through how to create each leafy look in your own home – garden or no garden. There’s also a handy masterclass section at the back, perfect if this is your first foray into nurturing house plants.
We’ve picked out a few gems from the book to help you get your garden started.
The beautifully styled coffee table book is illustrated throughout with colour pictures and helpful commentary that guides you through how to create each leafy look in your own home – garden or no garden. There’s also a handy masterclass section at the back, perfect if this is your first foray into nurturing house plants.
We’ve picked out a few gems from the book to help you get your garden started.
Dress your fireplace
‘If you’re lucky enough to have an original fireplace, but don’t have time to light a fire, then this handsome selection of cacti is for you. Of course, you don’t need a fireplace to enjoy this display, since an empty corner, or perhaps an unnoticed spot by the stairs, would work equally well. This display sits in a selection of beautiful copper lanterns. Rather helpfully, the cacti and succulents are all easy to care for and very low maintenance: they live well regardless of being in the shade and receiving just a little water, making them perfect plants for the novice or occasionally lazy gardener!’
See 12 ways to decorate your mantelpiece
‘If you’re lucky enough to have an original fireplace, but don’t have time to light a fire, then this handsome selection of cacti is for you. Of course, you don’t need a fireplace to enjoy this display, since an empty corner, or perhaps an unnoticed spot by the stairs, would work equally well. This display sits in a selection of beautiful copper lanterns. Rather helpfully, the cacti and succulents are all easy to care for and very low maintenance: they live well regardless of being in the shade and receiving just a little water, making them perfect plants for the novice or occasionally lazy gardener!’
See 12 ways to decorate your mantelpiece
Choose plants that make an impact
‘The striking Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus) in the smaller black lantern is armed with stout, golden-yellow spines arranged carefully in rows on ribbed stems: it is quite the attention seeker. You may find it’s sometimes known as the golden ball or, rather cheekily, as mother-in-law’s cushion. I think it is one of the most distinctive of all cacti, and it’s often used in architectural gardening due to its spherical shape.’
‘The striking Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus) in the smaller black lantern is armed with stout, golden-yellow spines arranged carefully in rows on ribbed stems: it is quite the attention seeker. You may find it’s sometimes known as the golden ball or, rather cheekily, as mother-in-law’s cushion. I think it is one of the most distinctive of all cacti, and it’s often used in architectural gardening due to its spherical shape.’
Create a pretty window box
‘A blooming and bountiful window box will always brighten up an empty windowsill. Window boxes can be used to create an inviting approach to your property and they help turn a house into a home. They can be either characterful and busy or simple and streamlined, but all add a personal touch to your home’s exterior.
‘When choosing a window box, I think it’s important to bear in mind the external paintwork and windows of the property. Do you want the box to blend in or clash with the decorative scheme? The dark grey paint used here [just out of shot] is striking and such an evocative colour. Taking this into account, I decided to plant some lovely, pale pink Hydrangea macrophylla “Madame Emile Mouillere” to provide a gentle contrast with the dark colours of the house. The silver window box draws the whole look together.’
Check out more indoor plants
‘A blooming and bountiful window box will always brighten up an empty windowsill. Window boxes can be used to create an inviting approach to your property and they help turn a house into a home. They can be either characterful and busy or simple and streamlined, but all add a personal touch to your home’s exterior.
‘When choosing a window box, I think it’s important to bear in mind the external paintwork and windows of the property. Do you want the box to blend in or clash with the decorative scheme? The dark grey paint used here [just out of shot] is striking and such an evocative colour. Taking this into account, I decided to plant some lovely, pale pink Hydrangea macrophylla “Madame Emile Mouillere” to provide a gentle contrast with the dark colours of the house. The silver window box draws the whole look together.’
Check out more indoor plants
Keep it colourful
‘The deep grey of this pot creates such an attractive container for the startlingly vibrant flowers inside. To produce this effect, I painted a terracotta pot with my favourite shade of eggshell paint – a dark, moody grey. For the planting, I used Zantedeschia “Picasso” calla lilies and Dahlia “Violet”. This display isn’t merely for decoration, however, as it provides a real opportunity to be an indoor gardener, tending to the leaves and flowers. The storm cloud grey pot emphasises the flowers, creating a wonderful display for a dull spot.’
‘The deep grey of this pot creates such an attractive container for the startlingly vibrant flowers inside. To produce this effect, I painted a terracotta pot with my favourite shade of eggshell paint – a dark, moody grey. For the planting, I used Zantedeschia “Picasso” calla lilies and Dahlia “Violet”. This display isn’t merely for decoration, however, as it provides a real opportunity to be an indoor gardener, tending to the leaves and flowers. The storm cloud grey pot emphasises the flowers, creating a wonderful display for a dull spot.’
Get back to nature
‘Living in the city, I’m very aware that outdoor space is at a premium. During the winter, while looking out at my balconies and dreaming of summer, I started thinking: What if you wanted to have that little bit of green, but didn’t have any outside space at all? This turned my attention indoors.
The house plant, once an integral part of homes everywhere, has gone out of fashion. However, I’ve noticed a renewed interest in house gardening. Even if you live in the country, indoor plants can offer some much-needed contact with nature, something that’s so important, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also to promote a healthy emotional environment. House plants bring their natural form, colour and fragrance to the home, and can add the finishing touch to many interior schemes.’
Extract taken from The House Gardener by Isabelle Palmer, available from CICO Books,
‘Living in the city, I’m very aware that outdoor space is at a premium. During the winter, while looking out at my balconies and dreaming of summer, I started thinking: What if you wanted to have that little bit of green, but didn’t have any outside space at all? This turned my attention indoors.
The house plant, once an integral part of homes everywhere, has gone out of fashion. However, I’ve noticed a renewed interest in house gardening. Even if you live in the country, indoor plants can offer some much-needed contact with nature, something that’s so important, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also to promote a healthy emotional environment. House plants bring their natural form, colour and fragrance to the home, and can add the finishing touch to many interior schemes.’
Extract taken from The House Gardener by Isabelle Palmer, available from CICO Books,
‘This dreamy arrangement of wistful wildflowers is a nod to long, hot summers spent in Provence, France. I arranged these beautiful sprays of pastel colour in carefully selected vintage bottles and an aged wooden milk crate. The whole look has a charming, rustic appeal and is romantically reminiscent of a meadow walk or an afternoon exploring the French countryside. This is a lovely arrangement for an open kitchen or porch, but it would also make an unusual table arrangement for a picturesque, homespun wedding or perhaps a summer lunch just outside.’