My parents are my biggest inspiration for me breaking into design, they always imbued me and my siblings with this idea that home is really important, and it's worth looking after. By taking care of your home, it will care for you in return. I think that the joy you feel from living in a space that brings you happiness is unquantifiable and I love that I am able to share that with clients now.ÌýÌý

When we moved in it was essentially a gravel pit, there was nothing in it. We paved it with lovely sandstone pavers, and I left quite generous borders on the sides so that I could introduce lots of evergreen climbers. I also added lots of pots full of seasonal plants that I can move around the garden when I want to change it up. °Â±ð’v±ð just added the Harmondsworth dining table â€� which can seat up to ten people â€� to the back of the garden which will be amazing in the summer for entertaining. The garden is an extension of the rest of the house, we have two sets of French doors that lead out to the patio and ³Ù³ó±ð²â’r±ð open all the time during the summer.Ìý

±õ’d say my top tip for dining, inside and out, is to have an abundance of food and drink. It helps make your guests feel welcome, that they can indulge and relax. One of the reasons I love the Harmondsworth table so much is that ¾±³Ù’s wider than our indoor dining table, so for family summertime suppers I can use the food to decorate the table and place all the dishes out to share. I also always put out little salt cellars and often low level vases or potted herbs to decorate the tabletop.ÌýÌýÌý

Another tip would be candlelight. Tealights, tall tapered candles, lanterns, dot them all around the table! In summertime there is nothing prettier than eating outdoors as the sun sets and the candles begin to illuminate the garden. ±õ³Ù’s just so romantic.ÌýÌý

For interiors I always ask ‘how do I want this room to feel?â€�. Deciding on this feeling helps guide you and means you avoid just following a trend, it should make you feel more confident in your decisions. And ¾±³Ù’s the same for garden spaces. I knew that even though ¾±³Ù’s a city terrace garden, I wanted it to feel green and luscious. It had to still be functional as ¾±³Ù’s a small space, but I love that I could experiment and try different plants and locations for pots. I get a lot of my creative energy and impulsiveness out in the garden because it »å´Ç±ð²õ²Ô’t feel like a costly mistake if something goes wrong.Ìý

I use my garden as a form of therapy for sure, ±õ’m just completely in the zone and can pass a whole afternoon pottering. ±õ³Ù’s a place to decompress and detach from the other responsibilities in my life, everything becomes calm and quiet. ±õ’m also cherishing how my children are starting to enjoy the space too, they take themselves out there with a bowl of cereal or a book and seem to find that same sense of calm.ÌýÌý

Plant evergreens! They take a while to establish but if you plant them as soon as you move into a new home, the rewards are well worth it. One of my favourites is Star Jasmine, it has beautiful glossy leaves all year long, so even in the dead of winter ¾±³Ù’s beautiful and green outside. The white flowers emit an incredible smell, like a hug of fragrance. °Õ³ó±ð²â’r±ð perfect for a small urban garden. ±õ’d also suggest planting herbs in pots; you »å´Ç²Ô’t need a huge amount of space and just a kitchen windowsill works well. My advice would be to not use them too quickly, you need to let them grow and establish themselves before you start taking cuttings from them. Most like lots of sun and not too much water, and then once ³Ù³ó±ð²â’v±ð really settled in you can start taking cuttings and they will continue to bloom. Basil is a different story, but I have a lot more to say about that ().ÌýÌý

Ask me to pick between a country lane or a bustling city and I will always choose the former � that is until May. There is nothing that will keep me from heading to London to walk through the gates of the world’s greatest flower show, RHS Chelsea. For one week every year, the twenty-three-acre site in the centre of London is home to approximately 500 exhibitors, 160,000 visitors, new plants, innovative ideas, celebrities and the world’s most accomplished plants people. Chelsea brings both the unexpected and the familiar � however, the one thing you will never see is a gnome (they are banned in the grounds of RHS Chelsea).

Once wrapped in the comforting arms of the showground the surrounding chaos of the city floats away, and your senses are overwhelmed. It serves as a perfect example of why urban gardens are so important. The show exposes emotions like nowhere else â€� ¾±³Ù’s a place of happy tears and cheers and proves that gardening is as much about people as plants.Ìý
This kind of collaborative magic »å´Ç±ð²õ²Ô’t happen overnight. ±õ³Ù’s taken over 100 years to build such a strong reputation since the first show in 1913, each year is fifteen months in the planning and involves endless sleepless nights, coaxing of plants and solving of logistical conundrums. The reason why so many put so much into this bucket list event is to express their deep love of plants and demonstrate how they can change and enhance all our lives. ±õ³Ù’s not just about the clinking of champagne glasses â€� it takes horticulture forward, breaks boundaries and embraces change.

When the event was first born it was held in a single marquee and has only experienced breaks during the two world wars. What was once one small venue is now the almost three-acre Great Pavilion. ±õ³Ù’s home to perfumed roses, plump strawberries, proteas from South Africa and remarkably out of season daffodils. The portfolio of plants here is like nothing else on earth.

As well as a complete and utter indulgence of the senses, the show is a place of competition and excellence. An RHS medal is the goal for all exhibitors. ±õ³Ù’s an honour to be one of the volunteer garden judges â€� we bring with us a wide range of experience and determination to give the best possible medal. There are nine criteria on which the gardens are judged, and these include planting implementation, design layout and construction. One of the most important criteria is the brief which outlines what the designer hopes to create and the message the garden brings. The stories that the gardensÌýare designed around are highly important, especially if they are relaying an environmental or charitable message.Ìý
Show garden judging takes place over two days and involves sixteen judgesÌý and two moderators. The public can also vote for the ‘People’s Choice Awardâ€� so everyone gets to make their mark on this world-famous event. What will catch your eye this year?

Neptune at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

In 2024, we had our first exhibition space at the famous flower show, featuring a canopied dining area and relaxing sitting area which won a 5 Star Tradestand Award. This May, we will be at the show again, with our new freestanding kitchen, a dining space and an alfresco seating area. We hope to see you there.

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What sparked your passion for gardening and what does gardening mean to you?Ìý

I come from a family of garden enthusiasts â€� perhaps it's in my blood! I was surrounded by beautiful gardens growing up in America and my grandfather had the most sensational English-style garden. After moving to the UK and spending many wonderful years working in interior design, I realised that as my family grew, I wanted to work for myself and spend more time outside.Ìý

Gardening is so rewarding. The excitement you feel when something that you've planted from seed grows millimetre by millimetre each day gives me such joy. I am a great observer of the garden because I think that is the key to a healthy, productive one â€� just keeping a beady eye on things really does help. It's a great tonic for me to tend to the garden, mow the lawn and observe the uncontrolled chaos that is the wildflower meadow. ±õ³Ù’s good for me to just let it be and relinquish a bit of control.

Tell us about your garden.

In my wildflower meadow, the thing I enjoy most is the coming and goings of flowers. It starts with pink campions and then white daisies, followed by a splattering of buttercups â€� these wonderful un-spoilt, humble flowers which I encourage to grow and spread. A wildflower meadow is relatively easy to create as it requires very low-quality soil and sunshine for most of the day. With my clients I always try to encourage them to set aside some lawn space for a wildflower meadow. ±õ’m all about planting for pollinators, using nectar rich perennials and grasses to provide bees, butterflies and insects with food throughout the year.ÌýÌý

On my terrace I have an assortment of pots, each planted slightly differently but they all have one plant that runs through them. I have a pyramid of sweet peas and salvias in one. And, in the other two pots, I've got salvias in different colours and Alchemilla Mollis and Nepeta (Catnip). The terrace is also where I have a spot under the Magnolia with a pair of benches and some very plump cushions, making it a lovely shady place to retreat to on a warm afternoon. Comfortable seating is essential for fully enjoying your garden which, of course, Neptune does beautifully. The Harrington chairs, with their plush seat cushions, are great for relaxing in and the woven wicker design feels harmonious with the garden.Ìý

And what plants do you use in the garden alongside your blooming wildflower meadow?

One plant that I find irresistible is Alchemilla Mollis (Lady’s Mantle). Its velvety green leaves hold the edge of flower beds together and creates a great contrast amongst soil and colourful flowers. Along my borders on opposite sides of the meadow I have clipped, two metre tall, Yew pyramids at regular intervals. These create a lovely structure, allowing the chaos to happen around them, and this repetition really does make a difference to the design.Ìý

ÌýHow does your garden influence your interior design?

I love to create visual stimuli from all angles, both inside and out. My house is not to everyone's taste, as it is maximalist and there is a lot of stuff on absolutely every surface. I find the rich layering of pattern in fabric, colour and texture really makes me happy. Both inside and outside there's a limited amount of workspace! No dining space, no coffee table space. I often have to shift things around just to make room for a cup of tea.Ìý

You have a very vibrant home, which feels like a reflection of your garden, how do you use colour indoors?

For decorating inside, I think it's as simple as choosing a colour that you really adore and then being bold with it. A house should have an overriding colour theme throughout. For mine, I have black and white everywhere. In the drawing room there are zebra rugs, some black furniture and a black and white ticking sofa. In the hallway I have great checkerboard tiles which run into the kitchen and conservatory (and in different configurations in the bathroom too!), plus a black and white stripe stair runner. It's all tempered with lots of green accents that are peppered throughout the house.Ìý

If you’re worried about colour, start small. For instance, in my drawing room I started by painting the inside of my bookshelves orange to break up the grey. Then, as my confidence grew and taste matured I re-covered two chairs in orange â€� one in a divine mohair velvet and another in a bold patterned linen fabric. I love to grow and pick orange tulips to place throughout the house at Easter and throughout the spring. There's always a little bit of room for a bit of pink about the place too, such as my collection of pink Lustreware on shelves and sideboards, and a little flash of yellow that just brings everything alive and feels very welcoming.Ìý

What does a weekend at home look like to you?

±õ’m an early riser, so first thing in the morning I wander around the garden in my dressing gown with a mug of coffee, observing the plants and picking flowers for the house. I love the tradition of gathering and arranging a mix of flowers to bring joy and the outside in. I’ll then take my dog, Wafer, for a walk along the river Thames observing the views across the horizon, which is an act I find deeply calming. Plus, there’s always something interesting going on there â€� the lasers being sailed or people rowing. It's a highway of activity and a real joy.ÌýÌý

If I have time, I’ll pop to . It's a great source of inspiration and gives me a sense of peace. You can find a very quiet, unbeaten path that offers moments of privacy and reflection. And then after that ¾±³Ù’s an afternoon in the garden, a lot of my time is spent actually tending it, mowing the lawn, deadheading, planting, pricking out, all those simple mindful things.Ìý

What's the one most important piece of advice you would give to garden novices?

Understand how the light travels across the garden. See where the morning and afternoon sun falls, and where shade is needed during the summer months. Light and aspect are some of the first things that need to be considered.ÌýÌý

If you’re a morning person and you like to sit in the sunshine with a coffee, make sure you've got a little area for a bistro table or sofa, like Neptune’s classic Cheltenham collection, in that pocket of morning sunshine so you can truly enjoy those moments. Or, if you prefer entertaining in the evening, make sure that your terrace captures the last rays of evening light.Ìý

Butter Wakefield's top gardening tipsÌý

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Don't make any hasty decisions. Watch the garden for a year and see what is in there, what you like the look of and what you don't. Make notes ready for planting.Ìý

Assess what hard landscaping is needed, choosing materials that complement decor and architecture inside and outside of the house, and what seating areas are required. Consider enhancing your privacy with trellis and trees. Then work your way down to ground level with the different layers of climbers, shrubs, perennials and grasses.ÌýÌý

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I suggest using one plant a lot. I think rhythm and repetition really helps to create a beautiful design, and it helps the eye travel from one little moment to the next. For instance I have Hydrangea Annabelle down both sides of my borders and they work equally well in shade and sun.Ìý

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Every garden needs at least one tree, even if it's in a pot. It creates shade in the summer months and privacy all year.ÌýÌýÌý

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During the summer months ¾±³Ù’s all about maintaining the garden with watering when required and deadheading. Also, take time to watch what’s progressing and make notes on gaps too.ÌýÌý

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In autumn, move anything that needs to be relocated and prune plants that have outgrown their space, but really try to leave us much standing and undisturbed as possible for wildlife to shelter in over winter. Where you’ve identified gaps, you can also order your bulbs and plan where you’ll be planting.Ìý

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Feeling inspired by Butter Wakefield's blossoming garden? From outdoor garden sets to wicker planters,Ìýshop the edit to get the look. Follow if you're looking for more inspiration on how to create a vibrant garden or home.

For Laura Jackson, broadcaster and co-founder of homeware marketplace Glassette, entertaining is as much about how you make your guests feel as how you decorate your table. Not that she is averse to a well laid table, of course. “A good tablecloth, glassware and pretty plates set the tone,â€� she says, “but »å´Ç²Ô’t turn it into a production. Your guests have come to see you so the main thing you can do is make them feel welcome, offer drinks and snacks and be present!â€�

For this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Laura collaborated with Neptune to create a welcoming and eye-catching tablescape for both a dining table and coffee table set. “I was so excited to curate the tables for the Neptune x Glassette collaboration. I wanted to bring the dining table to life with a vegetable still life,� says Laura. “The background was kept deliberately muted, and we let the natural wood of the table show through, keeping the colours of the tableware in soft neutrals with a few pops of colour in the Glassette pieces. Then we added colour and structure with the abstract vegetable arrangement that is a real talking point.�

The result is a sophisticated, vibrant and fun set, the perfect high summer dining scape. An outdoor is matched with upholstered in a playful navy palm tree print fabric by called , while the is teamed with a , and , upholstered in , a chic blue stripe Christopher Farr fabric. And that veggie centrepiece? The eye-catching sculpture includes wonky cucumbers and tumbling tomatoes.

When it comes to tablescaping in her own home, Laura’s main rule is ‘there are no rules�. A supper chez Jackson might feature lots of clashing colours and a maximalist theme one night, another evening will be pared back and simple with a focus on textures. Colour is often the starting point for the tables. Laura is a big fan of yellow - “every shade from neon yellow, hay yellow, butter yellow to light lemon� � and often teams it with either a strong navy or sky blue. Seasonal colours also influence her schemes. “I am currently growing sweet peas in my garden,� she adds. “Their whimsical colours and ombre patterns would be a good starting point for a table setting.�

More ideas come from travel. “I love to get out and about, meeting people, visiting hotels and restaurants and discovering unexpected places like old-school Sicilian restaurants and seeing how they style and present their tables and food,� says Laura.

Laura recommends doing as much prep as possible the day before, serving simple recipes rather than elaborate, multi-course meals and enjoying the moment. “Think about how you want people to feel in your home,� she adds, ‘ultimately, they have come to see you. Your gift to them is showing you care through the food and time you are sharing.�

Laura’s top tips for summer tables

• IÌýlike to have a few small displays dotted along the table to catch the eye; seasonal flowers or fresh herbs â€� both add a natural scent too.
• I love napkins as they can be folded in so many fun ways, from swans to fans to envelopes to house cutlery.
• Glassware can be mixed and matched. I like to use different vessels for different things â€� so tumblers for wine, and wine glasses for sparkling water.
• I usually serve food on sharing platters as this always gets the conversation going and allows guests to curate their own plate â€� and means they can help themselves to cheeky seconds!
• As soon as the sun goes down, I light lots of candles as they set the mood and citronella candles keep the bugs away.
• And I always have a playlist ready to go â€� including some optional dance tracks!

Scent is so powerful because the part of your brain that handles smell is directly linked to the parts that handle memory and emotion. Nothing else can evoke or create a feeling quite like it. So, just as ¾±³Ù’s important to consider and enhance scent inside your home, so too is fragrance a vital part of the way you experience your garden. And, in much the same way as you’d vary scents from room to room or according to the time of day inside, you can also orchestrate the fragrances of your garden to enhance the atmospheres you’d like to create.

Scents to comfort, calm & soothe

Around doors, windows and seating areas, and along those pathways you take when returning home, position plants whose scents you find most relaxing. Lavender, chamomile, jasmine, honeysuckle and rose are all likely candidates.

Choose lavender, which grows into clumps or can be arranged to create a low hedge, to line paths and the areas directly underneath windows. You can use chamomile, which is lower and spreading, to create a flowering lawn and, although too delicate for kicking a football about on, it would be lovely around a bench or underneath a hammock. Jasmine and honeysuckle are both climbers as, of course, are some varieties of rose, so train them to arch over doorways and around windows so you can appreciate their scent inside as well. There’s nothing so lovely as waking up to the scent of roses on a June morning. And a honeysuckle left to ramble over a covered seat is wildly romantic.

If you have a relaxed seating area in your garden with sofas and armchairs, consider planting the space with flowers that release their scent as the sun sets. The sweet, dusky fragrances of nicotiana, night-scented stock, star jasmine, phlox and, again, honeysuckle are all gently soothing.

While these are plants that most people find calming, comfort is also bound up in our own personal experiences and memories. So think about the plants you could choose to reflect that. It might be a pot of hyacinths whose fragrance reminds you of a grandparent. Or the greenhouse scents of tomatoes and pelargoniums (also often known as half-hardy or scented geraniums) that recall childhood summer memories.

Scents to refresh, uplift & restore

If you have a dining spot in your garden, or perhaps even a shed where you work, then choose brighter, fresher scents.

Very strongly or sweetly fragranced plants around a dining table can interfere with the food you’re serving, so this is the place for culinary herbs. Basil, rosemary, thyme and oregano are all perfect and, of course, you can also then snip leaves straight into dishes. But we’d also include the likes of mint, lemon verbena and lemon balm, all of which are refreshing after a bit too much to eat � both in scent alone and when infused in hot water as a tea.

Rosemary, mint and citrussy smells are all also thought of as energising � there have even been studies into the memory-boosting properties of rosemary � so plant them around the doors and windows of a garden studio if you have one, or even just the outdoor table where you choose to work on a warm day. As well as lemon verbena and lemon balm, try placing a pot of a citrussy scented-leaf pelargonium (such as ‘Prince of Orange� or ‘Lemon Fizz�) out here so you can reach out and rub its leaves while you work for a hit of scent.

Extending the season

Autumn and winter in the garden aren’t as associated with scent as spring and summer are. In fact, on cold days, we can actually smell less as the receptors in our nose protect themselves from freezing. And yet, with fewer fragrances competing for our attention, our senses seem heightened.

Wood smoke, fallen leaves and the damp earth are all the smells we probably associate most closely with the colder months in the garden. But there are a surprising number of plants that flower and give off scent in the winter. Try sweet box, winter-flowering honeysuckles and viburnum, witch hazel and wintersweet. Then, place them judiciously where you’re most likely to pass them at this time of year. Around the house and garden shed, by doorways and gates and near to seating areas you’ll use year-round (just keeping them clear of the heat from firepits) are all good spots.