CATEGORIES

True blues

I HAVE been planting English bluebells. They grow in their millions in the beechwoods that surround us—but not in our own garden. They are, however, a protected species. The law is clear and uncompromising: ‘It is illegal to dig up bluebells or their bulbs from the wild, or to trade or sell wild bluebell bulbs and seeds.’ I have, therefore, had to buy them from a respectable bulb-merchant.

Oh so hip

Stay the hand that itches to deadhead spent roses and you can enjoy their glittering fruits instead, writes John Hoyland

A best kept secret

Oft-forgotten Rutland, England's smallest county, is a 'Notswold' haven deserving of more attention, finds Nicola Venning

Rising supreme: the housethat stayed the course

A medieval manor in Derbyshire survives the building of a 'new hall' and two ancient Wiltshire properties reflect the care and innovation of successive families

The decorated bathroom

Make your bathroom feel more like your sitting room, says Flora Soames

The designer's room

Sims Hilditch has created a cosseting space for a family to relax after a day on the sea

It's only natural

Striking the perfect balance between beautiful and useful, Arcana's heirloom textiles are designed to deepen our connection with Nature, finds Julie Harding

All toggled up

The thermoregulating duffle coat—both a seafarers’ favourite and a sartorial symbol of bohemian intellectualism—is perhaps most famously sported by a certain Peruvian bear with a penchant for marmalade, finds Russell Higham

Another door opens

Whether they contain traditional Christmas scenes, child-pleasing chocolates or deeply decadent beauty treats, Advent calendars ensure the first flutters of anticipation for the festivities, says Flora Watkins

Hybrids of hope

Once the hallmark of a rural idyll, our English elms were almost eradicated by a devastating fungal disease, but a new cultivation aims to secure their survival, finds Andrew Martin

A feast fit for a king

Be it turtle soup or epic, six-course lunches, the Royal Family has long enjoyed superb food. Yet, as Tom Parker Bowles explores in his latest book, the current King and Queen's tastes are far more down to earth

By royal appointment

Forget social-media followers, being appointed a Royal Warrant holder is still the highest form of accolade and influence, says Katy Birchall, as she meets those whose wares have recently been afforded The King and Queen's seal of approval

Princely re-creation - Apethorpe Palace, Northamptonshire, part I A seat of Baron and Baroness von Pfetten

In the first of two articles, Jeremy Musson celebrates the spectacular renewal of one of England's great Jacobean houses

Kitchen garden cook - Apples

'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'

The original Mr Rochester

Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre

Get it write

Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution

'Sloes hath ben my food'

A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright

Souvenirs of greatness

FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.

Plants for plants' sake

The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson

Capturing the castle

Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker

Nature's own cathedral

Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods

All that money could buy

A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages

In with the old

Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery

Sympathy for the Devil

Provocative and insightful, philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli was as complex and paradoxical as his beloved city, discovers Eileen Reid

Power of four

An enigmatic blend of savoury and sweet, laced with heat to tease and tickle, the food of Morocco is both mysterious and misunderstood, finds Tom Parker Bowles

Shifting sands

Saudi Arabia has undergone accelerated social change and is set to become a global art powerhouse, with contemporary artists playing a crucial role, discovers Jessica Lack

Promise of adventure

From sailing to fishing, golf and exceptional watersports, the Caribbean offers activities aplenty for those who are game, discovers Holly Kirkwood

Winging it

Precision engineering, electrifying competition and ballooning budgets define the America's Cup, the most coveted trophy in international sport, says Paul Henderson

Upon St Crispin's Day

Etched into modern memory by Shakespeare, this inspirational martyr became the subject of a rousing battle speech by chance, discovers Ian Morton

Give the dog a throne

Devoted dog owners, past and present, have created a veritable barkitectural digest. Flora Watkins pays tribute to some of the most palatial pet houses in the land