(Originally published 28/3/2016, prices correct at time of publication)
Coolings is full to bursting with wonderful plants and products. Here, our staff pick a few personal favourites.
Jon
Our Horticultural Manager
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. I love this sweetly scented variety for its beautiful soft pink flowers and reliability. Growing to 1m tall, it is perfect when contained by an elegant Tom Chambers Herbaceous support.
Annika
Our Assistant Shop Manager
Smart Honeycombe glass jar lantern (£19.99). This looks really effective when the bottom is filled with silver sand (which is heat resistant) and a large church candle is placed inside.
Tracey
Our Outdoor Visual Merchandiser
Climbing rose Maid of Kent. This is my favourite rose. In my garden it flowers from Summer until Autumn, with big clusters of semi-double soft pink flowers. I encourage repeat flowering by removing faded blooms with my Burgon & Ball pocket pruners. These are really neat, and give powerful cutting for people with smaller hands.
Nicky
Our Houseplant and Bulb Expert
I adore Champagne Begonias for the unique beauty of their long-lasting summer display. I plant three into a Tom Chambers 14″ metal hanging basket (£15.99 including liner) and this is the seasonal plant that people most admire.
Brian
Our Shop Manager
Kent & Stowe digging fork and spade (£29.99 each). They say the answer lies in the soil, and to improve my borders I could not be without these when digging in well-rotted Farmyard Manure (£4.99 per sack, 4 for £10), which is an ideal natural source of nutrients and organic matter.
Garry
Our Hardy Plant Expert
The lovely golds of Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’ underplanted with Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Westray’ really brings out the colour of the two plants and gives some great colour in spring.