Last night’s episode of Love Your Garden featured a stunning transformation by Alan Titchmarsh and the team. They were in Chandler’s Ford to help partners Fran and Jason, whose lives had been severely affected by Jason’s rare heart condition. Determined to keep on living and make the most of the time Jason had left, they wanted to transform their garden that they had been unable to work on.
The Love Your Garden team stepped up to the challenge and transformed their previously unkempt and unpractical garden into a wonderful space for family and friends. Gone was the trampoline, shed and rubbish and installed were a sunken lounge, paving, walkways and many wonderful ornamental plants. And a central feature of the sunken lounge was our X-Large Mexican Chimenea that would keep the area cosy, whatever the temperature, ensuring relaxation all year round.
Watch the full episode to see the finished garden.
The feast day of St. Valentine is fast approaching! St. Valentine lived in the 3rd century A.D. and was executed for clandestinely marrying lovers contrary to Roman law – over the centuries he has become an international symbol of true love. So whether you’re looking to woo that special someone, or enchant the one you’re with, look no further than Primrose for that special Valentine’s Day gift. Water Features
From our tabletop fountains to elaborate structures for your garden, you’re sure to find something to make your loved one smile. Why not check out our bestselling Kendal Three Tier Cascade Water Feature, or for something a bit more exotic with a bit of life in it take a look at our Easter Island Head Solar Water Feature and Planter. For a more quirky feel you could buy one of our gnome helper water features – perfect for a home or office space. You could even opt for a bird bath water feature, and make our feathered friends welcome in your garden. Feel free to browse our full range of water features, with other 1000 to choose from, you’re sure to find something to say “I love you” to that special someone.
Planters
At Primrose we have a wide selection of planters, great for sprucing up an indoor space with some greenery, or for your patio or garden, our planters are of the best quality. So if your partner is green thumbed, give the gift of a planter this Valentine’s. Choose from our great range of metal, wooden or fibreglass planters. We even have personalised planters – so you can personalise a gift to your loved one. Another great gift idea from us at Primrose is to invest in a Pond in a Pot, these innovative additions to your garden can be bought in complete packs with water flowers to help your love bloom all year round.
A stunning Pond in a Pot from Primrose. Order yours in time for Spring!
Garden Mirrors
Why not buy a mirror to accentuate the size of your garden and your love! Our stunning range of garden mirrors are sure to leave a positive reflection on your love life. Choose from acrylic mirror sheets if you don’t mind a bit of DIY to our spectacular gothic mirrors to give that fairytale feel to your garden.
A Beautiful Gothic Mirror
Chimeneas
Perfect for getting your love life to the right temperature, Primrose’s range of chimeneas are great for warming toes and creating a perfect ambience for your garden or outdoor space. Choose from clay, cast iron or steel – not forgetting to properly cure your chimenea if it’s clay! Whichever material you opt for, you’re sure to set hearts racing with this quaint and exotic source of light and heat in your garden.
Weathervanes Whichever way the wind is blowing, your love is sure to weather any storm with our weathervanes. Choose from a variety of attractive figures to sit atop your home and let you and your neighbour know which way the wind is blowing.
Candles and Lighting Finally, why not take a look at our selection of lighting to brighten up your love life. From solar border lights to our range of flameless candles you’re sure to find something to give your home or garden that special something.
We at Primrose wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day, and hope you find something from us to make it extra special.
Charlie works in the Primrose marketing team, mainly on online marketing.
When not writing for the Primrose Blog, Charlie likes nothing more than a good book and a cool cider.
What’s small, Mexican and made of clay? A chiminea! Well, although this is true, these days there are almost as many different types of chimineas as there are ways of spelling the word itself. All this choice can be a little confusing so we have prepared a guide to help you make often the first decision: Which material will be perfect for you garden?
Clay
Clay chimineas are our most popular type with many of our customers enjoying the authentic feel that they create. Historically, fired clay was used as an inexpensive material used to create these fire pits which were an essential for both cooking and heating back in 17th century Mexico. The chimney directed smoke outside meaning that it could be used inside without filling your home with smoke and the design also funnelled fresh air in to fuel a hot, clean fire. This was useful for providing more heat for the home whilst meaning that there was less ash left behind as a more complete combustion took place.
In more recent times, clay chimineas are more often used in the garden and offer both aesthetic appeal and functionality. The authentic look provided by clay lends itself effortlessly to rustic design and these chimineas seem to blend in perfectly with any background. They also add a little foreign charm to a garden, especially the models with Mexican or Italian designs. For guidance on how to prepare and look after your clay chiminea, visit our page full of handy tips.
Cast Iron
Cast iron chimineas burst on to the scene later than clay, providing a different option for consumers. The different material has several advantages over clay in some areas, but also some drawbacks, it really does depend on what is more important to you and what you plan on using your fire pit for. One of the main plus points is that unlike clay versions, you won’t have to cure before use; it’s ready to go straight away. Cast iron is a more durable material, less susceptible to damage caused by temperature change, and should outlive even the best quality clay chimineas.
In addition, they are less likely to be damaged accidently. Cast iron versions are not easily knocked or blown over as they are heavy and so more stable. This makes them ideal for cooking, and many of our cast iron versions come with a grill included. Cast iron fire pits come in stylish colours such as bronze and black and can help create a more modern look if that coincides with the theme you wish to create in your garden. They are also easily re-paintable, whether you are looking to give it a fresh coat after it has faded over the years or after a change in colour to give an entirely new feel to your fire pit.
One slight downside is that being metal; they are prone to getting rather hot. You will need to consider where you place the fire pit. Ensure it is not pushed up against anything that may be affected by the heat and that it is placed on top of a fireproof surface. It is also wise to consider keeping it in an area where it is not likely to be bumped into when in use, especially with children around, and extra care must be taken when operating to ensure that you don’t accidently touch the hot metal.
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Alex works in the Primrose marketing team, mainly on online marketing.
As a psychology graduate it is ironic that he understands plants better than people but a benefit for the purpose of writing this blog.
An enthusiastic gardener, all he needs now is a garden and he’ll be on the path to greatness. Alex’s special talents include superior planter knowledge and the ability to put a gardening twist on any current affairs story.
We hate to admit it to ourselves, but the chill is slowly creeping upon us, and before we know it, winter will have reared its bitter head. The summer month of August wasn’t even that great, with lower than average temperatures. It was also the wettest August across south-east England since 1977! What ever happened to the great British summers? Thankfully we’ve the warm wintery months right? Oh..
Worried about throwing a party and leaving your guests to shiver in the cold? Concerned about getting frostbite when you walk the dogs? Fear not though people, for Primrose have the solution to all your troubles.
1. Patio Heaters Although I definitely do not advocate smoking, outdoor heating has certainly grown and developed since the indoor ban in 2008, especially in pubs, clubs and bars.
Ideal for gardens, patios or even inside a gazebo, there is a huge range of gas and electric heaters to choose from; freestanding and hanging to wall mounted and tabletop. I’d personally recommend a freestanding patio heater. Not only do they look stunning in any garden setting, they are very versatile, with adjustable height settings, offering light and heat, can be used indoor and outdoor, and heat a large area, up to 15sqm.
They aren’t very expensive either; an ideal low cost way to maintain heat if you plan on being outside. Great for congregating round and having a chit chat over the latest episode of the Apprentice. Even better if you plan on keeping the grandparents warm whilst you let off fireworks this week.
2. Chimineas Described as a freestanding fireplace or oven, usually with a vertical smoke vent or chimney, these great inventions originated from Mexico over 500 years ago. Another interesting fact for you; the Mexicans (and incidentally the US) refer to them as ‘chimeneas’. Us English folk like to be different don’t we?
Their original purpose was to keep families warm by burning bits of wood and sticks, with the chimney chute designed to keep the rain at bay. They were also typically made out of clay, a material which still remains very popular with a lot of chimineas you can buy today but the evolution of the design process has allowed for other materials such as cast iron (strong, durable, sturdy and a great conductor of heat) and steel (lighter than cast iron, but often very modern in design).
Primrose has over 100 chimineas to choose from, and they are a perfect solution for keeping guests warm and cosy during the long evenings of storytelling and wine drinking. What’s better is that they even look superb in any garden setting and you could even cook a burger on one if you fancy!
3. BBQs Ok so this might be a tad ambitious given the time of year, but what better way to keep warm than to congregate around a warm fire, with the smell of freshly cooked food whiffing in the air. You can’t beat a proper, British BBQ, and with bonfire night nearing, they’re ideal for parties. Just grab your marshmallows for some delightful bonfire night s’mores.
You have a whole host of shapes, styles and sizes to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Charcoal BBQs are perhaps the most traditional style, and one of the most popular too. You get the authentic smoky taste that only a charcoal BBQ can provide and if you choose one with a lid, you maximise the smoky flavour by trapping the scents and flavours, giving you the extra oomph and zing.
Next time you find a cold, crisp, dry evening to spare and you’re looking for inspiration, why not choose a good old British BBQ and invite the friends and family round. Just make sure you bring the beer and buns.
4. Heated Clothing Finally, we arrived at heated clothing. This is something which I cannot advocate enough. It was last winter and a group of friends wanted to go watch a firework display. Great I thought, I love fireworks. But oh no, standing around in the cold for an hour got the better of me. I wasn’t able to hold a sparkler as my fingers were turning blue. At that point, my friend leant me his heated gloves. This magical invention (which I had never actually heard of up until this point) was superb! My hands were very toasty, without the need to sit by a fire.
Gloves, insoles, scarves, jackets, gilets, socks, there are so many options. They’re really easy to use too. Simply insert a battery (in most cases) and voila, you’ll feel the instant warmth. Primrose have brand new heated insoles this year, which are controlled via Bluetooth through your smart phone. Clever eh?
Heated clothing is also great if you do any cold weather sports or activities such as skiing, motorcycling, walking or you just fancy a trip to Antarctica to see the polar bears (now who wouldn’t?!).
Never go cold again!
What measures do you take to keep warm over the winter months?
Amie is a marketing enthusiast, having worked at Primrose since graduating from Reading University in 2014.
She enjoys all things sport. A keen football fan, Amie follows Tottenham Hotspur FC, and regularly plays for her local 5 a side football team.
Jorge works in the Primrose marketing team. He is an avid reader, although struggles to stick to one topic!
Jorge works in the Primrose marketing team. He is an avid reader, although struggles to stick to one topic!
Charlie works in the 
