Gardening season is upon us and we love nothing more than spending time outdoors, it gives us a chance to unwind, relax and focus on nature and the great outdoors. We caught up with the wonderful Laetitia Maklouf, author of 'The five minute garden' - a book we recently picked up in our local garden centre and can't get enough of!
Tell us a little bit about your book ‘The five minute garden’ and your inspiration behind it…
I was getting regularly overwhelmed by the 'list of things to do' in the garden and decided to do five minutes a day, every day, of the first thing that caught my eye instead of agonising about finding the time. After a while it became obvious that this was the way forward for me, and I started sharing what I was doing on my social media. It seemed to strike a chord with others, and the book was born.
What do you love about gardening?
The sounds, the smells, the fact that it gets me out of my own head. Gardening is incredibly soothing and proven to lift the mood... something to do with the chemicals released from the earth. The number of times I've gone out in the garden to mess around with my plants, or sweep the terrace, or dig a hole and regretted it is zero!
What are your three favourite things to do in the garden?
I love anything mindless... therefore I am particularly fond of tasks which others might find 'boring' like sweeping and weeding and watering. I also love making a fire and burning things in winter!
What are you planting this year?
I'm having a party for my fiftieth and so I'm creating a cutting patch this year for late summer lovelies. I've sown lots of flowers, including gaura, chrysanthemum, dahlias, bunny tails, cosmos and china asters - all rather exciting and I'm planning on doubling my tulip order this autumn as there are just never enough!
Do you have any advice for beginners who would like to spruce their garden?
Start with the first thing you see when you walk out of the door and do that. Follow your instincts - they are usually correct. Don't get worried by large jobs - just do a few minutes a day and you'll get things done!
We love bringing the outdoors into the home, what’s your top tips for doing this?
Pick the flowers! If you are agonising about whether you should pick your flowers the answer is yes, you should, especially if you only get to experience the garden after a long day at work. So pick the flowers and foliage and put them everywhere, but especially next to your bed.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Not about gardening but it's this, on motherhood and being a 'good' mother: "Just aim to be good ENOUGH!"
Quick fire round:
Favourite flower? The next one that blooms!
Favourite vegetable? Can I have a fruit? Alpine strawberries!
Favourite gardening tool? My hori hori knife and my kneeler!
Three things you can’t leave your house without…
- Le Labo Fleur D'oranger scent
- At least three of those chocolate balls from Lindor
- A proper cotton handkerchief
One thing everyone should do… learn to make sourdough - it's so much easier and more fun than it's cracked up to be!
Do you love gardening like us? We'd love to hear all about your garden and what you are planting this year. Let us know in the comments below.
