Take my last best advice: Try everything twice!

Gardeners often focus exclusively on plants, missing the absolutely essential visual role played by structures, from paths to pavilions.

History is everything in gardening: With a site, weather, a particular plant. It solves mysteries. And it's why, when others say, "You can't do that!" you can know with deepest certainty that you can.

I don't rely on muscle power to dig, I use a sharp spade and I wear boots.

There are far too many self esteem problems in the world as it is. No sense taking on plant guilt, too.

Silly gardeners! We buy pretty, comfortable benches and position them oh so carefully. But does the gardener ever sit? No! We perch momentarily and then jump up to do that next thing we see.

The very best garden is a new one, on virgin ground. Plants leap out of that spot.