Soil, structure and timing sit at the heart of the spring garden. Long before the first sowings take hold, there is a quieter, more deliberate phase of preparation that determines everything that follows. This is the moment to read the ground, to understand its readiness, and to shape the season ahead with intent rather than urgency.

Soft fruit in Britain is a layered inheritance, from woodland plants gathered in the wild to carefully refined crops of the kitchen garden. What we grow today reflects centuries of selection, exchange and deliberate care.

You can plant potatoes into early May, extending your cropping season. It all depends on your soil conditions. Let Chris Smith explain…

Textile artist and sashiko practitioner Emilie Ma reflects on the culture of repair, the lessons she absorbed while living in Beijing, and why the simple act of stitching can become an expression of care, patience and renewal. Her work reminds us that every stitch strengthens not only the fabric in our hands, but the attention we bring to making.

In Clare Mahoney’s work, fragility and resilience are held in careful tension. Through botanical casting and porcelain, delicate natural forms are translated into objects of quiet strength — inviting us to slow down, look closely, and make with attention.

Botanical casting sits at the meeting point of science and craft, translating fleeting plant forms into enduring plaster reliefs. From ancient traditions to contemporary practice, the article traces a quiet lineage of observation, material exchange and making. At Asterion & Co., this history continues through hands-on workshops that invite close looking, patience and care.