This winter I’m working on creating two brand new lectures, they’ll be ready later this year.

Planting the Dry Shade Garden Based on my next book, out later this year. It looks at why dry shade is such a problem in the garden, how to make it less dry and less shady and then presents a choice of plants of all kinds that will do well dry shade. I’m taking bookings now for fall 2011 onwards – from the UK and Ireland, and from North America. Iris foetidissima (above click to enlarge) is a top dry shade plant. (Please excuse the leaf spot - it wasn't in my garden!)
Deer Defeaters – Plants the Deer (probably) Won’t Eat I’ve been researching this important subject extensively and have come up with some unexpected discoveries. Let me enlighten you… I’m taking bookings now for the summer of 2011 onwards – but only from the USA.

Other subjects for lectures include:
UK and Ireland
Transatlantic Treasures - New and Undiscovered Perennials from Across the Atlantic.
Transatlantic Perennials - From vantage points in north-east Pennsylvania and Northamptonshire in England, a look at perennials in the wild, and their selection and development into garden plants on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ultimate Plants for Small Gardens - Small gardens demand special plants.
Hellebores - The charm and diversity of these essential early perennials with ideas for plants to grow with them.
Perennials for Flower and Foliage - Top perennials for flower power, foliage impact and the best of both.
Britain's Favourite Perennials - Britain's top ten perennials based on actual sales at RHS plant centres.

North America (Created for your local conditions)
Transatlantic Treasures - New and Undiscovered Perennials from Across the Atlantic.
Transatlantic Perennials - From vantage points in north-east Pennsylvania and Northamptonshire in England, a look at perennials in the wild, and their selection and development into garden plants on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ultimate Plants for Small Gardens - Small gardens demand special plants.
Hellebores - The charm and diversity of these essential early perennials with ideas for plants to grow with them.
Perennials for Flower and Foliage - Top perennials for flower power, foliage impact and the best of both.

Interested in making a booking or looking for more info? Email me.

Earlier this month I talked to a packed group from the UK Hardy Plant Society Hertfordshire Group about hellebores. And a very friendly, knowledgeable and appreciative group they turned out to be. They have Matthew Wilson, The Landscape Man, on 5 February talking about Making a Garden – should be a great afternoon.

On 5 March I’ll be back in Britain and speaking to the East Anglian Garden Group, Stowmarket in Suffolk, also about Hellebores (members only, I'm sorry to say) and then on 6 March I’m speaking to the Essex Group of the Hardy Plant Society on the subject of Transatlantic Treasures - New and Undiscovered Perennials from Across the Atlantic. Hope to see you there.