What a way to start a day - raise a glass, raise some money and raise your awareness! Please join me at Solent View Cafe at Fakenham Farm (home of the Coastal Gardener Nursery) for a Champagne Breakfast. Grant, the new chef, will be conjuring up a feast inspired by Mama Buci Honey. I'll be there with a selection of plants that are guarenteed to get your garden buzzing!

Spring is on its way! The pot of tulips by my door reminds me every day that, despite the rain, wind, cold and lack of light, spring really is just around the corner. Sometimes it feels like an act of faith to believe that the days will get longer, warmer and lighter, but they are and we’ll soon all be back in our gardens. Hurrah!

During the winter, whilst the nursery has been in hibernation, I’ve been busy designing gardens for public and private spaces. Soon it will be time to start planting the new gardens and visiting those we created last year, which is always a joy.

The Nursery will re-open in March. We still grow nearly all the plants we sell, many from our own seed and cuttings. We’re proud to be peat and chemical free and are working to reduce our use of plastics. We are always looking for new plants suited to our maritime climate and are pleased to be able to showcase many new perennials, grasses and shrubs this year.

The Coastal Gardener will be popping up in various places during 2018. Our first outing will be to Aspire in Ryde where I’ll be giving a talk and demonstration at their Seedy Sunday event on Sunday 11th February (10.30am - 4pm). Later in the year I’ll be talking to WI groups and Horticultural Societies as well as taking plants to the Rare Plant Fair at Eddington Nursery (26th & 27th May), Seaview Open Gardens (8th July) and Wolverton Garden Fair (1st & 2nd September).

This year our free talks will be at the Nursery on the last Thursday of every month. We’ll also be running our popular Coastal Gardening Course (16th June) and hosting Artists in the Garden (15th September). You can find out more at www.thecoastalgardener.co.uk/events

During the winter Grant & Sapphire took over the Solent View Café at Fakenham Farm. The meals, cakes and coffee are all excellent and we are delighted that our first event of the year is collaboration with them to raise funds for Dementia UK, Admiral Nurse Appeal. I’ve attached an invitation and hope you can join us for a Mama Buci Honey Champagne Breakfast on Wednesday 21st March from 7.30 am until 9.30am. If you’re able to join us please reserve your place by calling the café on 07423 695606 (the breakfast costs £10).

Fort View Tyres has also opened at Fakenham Farm. They have a growing reputation for excellent service and reasonable prices. Two new craft workshops/studios will be occupied soon adding to our community of small businesses at the farm.

Well, the root cuttings have been taken, the seed packets are ready and waiting and a pallet of compost is due to arrive any day. Soon I’ll be able to open the gate and welcome you again to the Coastal Gardener Nursery. We’ll be open every Thursday to Sunday from the beginning of March and I hope you’ll visit us very soon.

Looking forward to this event at Aspire in Dover Street, Ryde on Sunday 11th February. I'll be there giving a talk about Coastal Gardening, demonstrating how to make a graden in a colander and swapping seed.

Our "Artists In The Garden" event is fast approaching! I've had a fantastic response already from artists who would like to join me for a day of creativity inspired by the plants at the nursery. If you're a visual artist, writer, musician, poet or engage with any creative activity then please do come along on the day. As well as meeting other artists you'll be able to talk about what you do to visitors to the nursery. If you'd like to know more please get in touch thecoastalgardener@icloud.com