Visiting gardens is more than a pleasant pastime - it’s an essential part of how I learn, stay inspired, and reconnect with why gardens matter so much.

One place that has always stayed with me is Kew Gardens. Despite being right in the heart of a busy city, it feels like a haven. As soon as you enter, the pace of life slows. The vast glasshouses are particularly special, each devoted to plants from different climates around the world. Stepping inside feels like travelling continents in a single afternoon. They are places to wander, notice and simply enjoy being surround by plants. It’s also, quite simply a beautiful day out.

From a professional point of view, visiting gardens plays a huge role in developing and refreshing my plant knowledge. I enjoy testing myself - seeing if I can recall plant names- while also discovering new varieties and combinations. I strongly believe we should never stop learning, and gardens offer endless opportunities to “top up” botanical knowledge in a way that books alone never quite can. Visiting at different times of year is especially valuable. Seeing how gardens are designed to work across the seasons- how structure, planting, and interest are layered throughout the year - sparks ideas that directly feed back into my own design work.

Winter focal point and habitat. De Hortus, Amsterdam

But garden visits aren’t just educational, they’re joyful. They’re something to put in the calendar and look forward to. When I travel, I actively seek out botanical gardens, and closer to home love open garden season, when I can full immerse myself in flora and see how others garden in real, lived-in spaces. Some of my next plant trips are to RHS gardens, which always offer a mix of inspiration, craftsmanship, and reassurance that good gardening is a lifelong journey.

For anyone who feels that gardens “aren’t for them,” I’d encourage them to make a proper day of it. Choose somewhere with variety and perhaps good interpretation boards - places like Kew are ideal. If you come away with one new fact or observation, you’ve gained something valuable - and often a great conversation starter too.

What I love most is that inspiration comes from all types of gardens. Grand, world-famous spaces and small, locally developed gardens are equally rich in stories. Often a garden hasn’t been formally designed at all - it has evolved over time. Each element has a tale to tell, from the slow establishment of a hedgerow to the ambition behind a magnificent glasshouse. Listening to those stories, whether through interpretation, owners or guides, adds another layer of inspiration. It’s not just what you see, but what you hear and learn along the way.

All gardens have a story
One of my favourite Open Garden Scheme gardens - Highfield Farm Garden, Penperlleni, Pontypool

Gardens remind us that good things take time, curiosity and care. Visiting them nourishes our knowledge, creativity and wellbeing - and that’s why, for me, they will always be worth seeking out.

The Joy and Importance of Visiting Gardens

Bringing Nature Indoors: My love of Terrariums