These gardening jewels all have a special place in my heart:

Alnwick Garden – Northumberland’s amazingly family-friendly garden (what a GENIUS that woman was to consider young children in her approach), designed by the fabulous Jacques Wirtz.

David Austin Roses – I defy you to resist these roses if you go for one of the free catalogues. Defy you, I do.

Lia Leendertz – Saturday’s not complete without Lia’s Guardian column. Where else are you going to get smart, funny garden advice that’s spot on?

Paul Barden – A rose hybridizer from the Pacific Northwest of the US; he’s created the most encyclopaedic online resource about Old Garden Roses and given me great advice on roses for my own garden in Scotland.