I’m Jo Thompson, I’m one of the UK’s top garden designers and garden writers, with a passion for abundantly floral gardens full of colour, scent – and roses.
I’m REALLY delighted to have you here in my proper home: The Gardening Mind. Thanks to subscribers, The Gardening Mind has become a wonderful gardening community – one in which I want to share with you everything I know, and continue to build this worldwide gathering of garden and nature lovers. We have members in 165 countries, and I want us to lean on one another, share experiences, ask questions, even have the occasional meet-up online and in real life.
“THE best gardening newsletter bar none. Incredibly generous, helpful, useful advice whether you're an old hand or a complete novice. Essential.” India Knight
“A designer who has always been refreshingly down to earth, Thompson is now making her colour-led approach even more accessible through The Gardening Mind, a Substack newsletter that shares insights about designing for all kinds of gardens.” Alice Vincent, Country Living: ‘8 pioneering women who have changed the face of gardening in the past 200 years’
Have a look around
There are lots and lots of features – all my past Substack posts are here for you to browse and catch up on. Click through the various topic headers to find articles on that subject, or simply scroll down the home page to find something that interests you. If you’ve already subscribed, you’ll have full access; if you’re just browsing to find out more, you’ll find that most articles have additional content for subscribers only.
Importantly, it’s a community for everyone, whether you’re just starting out with gardening or whether you’ve been gardening forever – there’s something in it for you.
How does it work?
Whether you sign up for free or upgrade to a paid subscription, I hope you’ll join me. You’ll get two info-packed posts a week emailed to you (they’ll also be here on the website, and on the Substack App) that are of real value to your gardening know-how.
Every so often there’s a completely free article, but usually, the key part is for paid subscribers only. So, what do you get for just over £1 a week?
I’m sharing everything I’ve learned as a garden designer over the last 30 years; I’ll take you step-by-step through how to plant a flowerbed, how to tackle a new garden, and how to transform a garden space, whatever the size or shape.
As well as regular planting tutorials, you get access to courses such as the Small Garden Design course, which you can follow at your own pace and have a catch-up with me if you’d like.
We have a private Chat thread (a bit like a WhatsApp group) where you get to share photos of your green space. We problem-solve, identify mystery plants, and chat about what’s going on in your garden/window box/community garden/windowsill.
We have Zooms where I give tuition on a range of things: small garden design, plants, garden style, and I offer you peeks and sneak previews into events, such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Our gardeners’ question times are a fun part of the month. You get to ask me a question, and remember, no question is too stupid to ask.
There are other items to dip in and out of – book clubs and real-life meet-ups at beautiful gardens, and interviews with amazing people who share their gardening story
And not forgetting, as a subscriber you’ll get early access to new dates as they are released for my one-to-one mentoring Meetings. Subjects discussed have ranged from regular career mentoring, how to design a show garden, specific planting issues and many more. Remember these are one-to-one sessions – and as a former teacher, I promise you no question is too small or too silly.
· Subscribe monthly, annually, or there’s Extra Special Membership for even more benefits.
Whatever, subscription level you choose, I aim to give you VALUE for from £1.12 a week – PLUS you’re getting access to a multi award-winning garden designer and author.
About me
Most people know me as a garden designer. I sometimes pop up on BBC Gardeners’ World. Over the years I’ve won a few RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals for my work, which – truth be told – still surprises me. I’m also a rose obsessive, a Labrador retriever-lover (expect to see lots of my gardening helper Basil here), as well as someone who passionately believes that anyone – even someone who thinks they’re the most clueless gardener in the world – can become a wonderful plants person. How do I know this? Because that clueless person used to be me.
I knew nothing about gardening until I hit my 30s. Before that I was a primary school teacher dreaming of a little more space in my tiny London flat. I found that space by creating a garden oasis on a tiny terrace. I didn’t do much to it – a few plants, flowers, a couple of chairs – nothing extravagant. It not only transformed my home, but it transformed me. After that I retrained to become a garden designer. That was nearly 30 years ago now, but in that time, I’ve accumulated so much knowledge – as well as a hell of a lot of garden trivia. But here’s the conundrum: who do I have to pass it on to?
The answer is YOU.
What readers say:
“THE best gardening newsletter bar none. Incredibly generous, helpful, useful advice whether you're an old hand or a complete novice. Essential.” — HOME by
“Jo Thompson is renowned for imbuing her gardens with atmosphere, something she achieves with the help of a highly tuned sense of colour.” — The Sunday Times
“A designer who has always been refreshingly down to earth, Thompson is now making her colour-led approach even more accessible through The Gardening Mind, a Substack newsletter that shares insights about designing for all kinds of gardens.” — Alice Vincent, Country Living: ‘8 pioneering women who have changed the face of gardening in the past 200 years’
“The sophistication of the designs and level of craftsmanship and plantsmanship elevate them beyond their setting.” — The Washington Post
“I love your encouraging and friendly spirit!” — Will Taylor
“Jo is a brilliant garden designer and shares her considerable expertise generously in The Gardening Mind. If you’re after planting or design tips, subscribe!” — Clare Foster, Gardens Editor of House & Garden
“I love your writing voice, as well as your approach to gardens and plants.”
“How refreshing it was to read something that I actually understood! I'm not a complete beginner but I've only really been gardening for a few years and find most gardening related media a bit complex and unachievable! I'm so excited to be part of your community. Thank you!”
“All the elements go to make up the very best gardening magazine available anywhere, whether in print or online. Here's to another great year with The Gardening Mind!”
"As a budding garden designer I appreciate your very practical advice on aesthetics and garden choices. I also recently got your Gardener's Palette and find your very practical insights and guidance, as well as your references to art and culture, hugely valuable and engaging.“
“I love seeing the 'workings' behind a beautiful garden photo: the thought - and long experience - that can turn bare earth into a that little slice of heaven we call a garden. Your case studies are utterly beguiling, and I'm looking forward to exploring more.”
“I’m a landscape architect in the American West working largely on farms and rural landscapes. I am here to learn and to glean from your experience how to create softer, more contextual designs."
Join our community
Please do join us – you’ll be part of a warm, friendly, welcoming community of people who share your interests in plants, nature and gardens.
Always know that I try to make all this content to suit you, so that you can observe from a quiet place, or engage – a little, or a lot. You have total freedom to read and think, suggest subjects, ask questions, send in ideas, be quiet, be loud - whatever and however you like best to go about things. It’s for you
And you can also gift this subscription for an easy, thoughtful present that avoids buying the stuff people just don’t want any more.
And finally
Look out for the buttons which enable you to get involved.
There’s the very important ‘Leave a comment’ button. I’m always keen to hear from readers.
And then there’s the very, very important Restack button:🔄 and the Like button, which is a heart ❤️. Both of these send the article to people who otherwise might not see it and are really helpful in getting others to join our community.
Thank you
Have the very best of days, and thank you for making The Gardening Mind what it is today and on into the future.
