Garden news: May

At the sharp end
With its profile and popularity recently boosted by prominent foodies – Nigella Lawson gushingly called it ‘the caviar of the citrus world’ after a recent visit ‘Down under’, the tart-flavour Australian finger lime is the current on-trend ingredient.

Citrus australasica has elongated, finger-shaped fruit varying from 6 to 12cm, and comes in shades of red, pink, yellow and green. They grow on a large, bushy and very thorny shrub whose evergreen leaves are dark green and elliptical in shape.

Citrus caviar likes a soil rich in organic matter and needs a sunny, sheltered location. When growing in pots use a mixture of compost, garden soil and sand.

Available from Jardiland and Gamm Vert.

Heat seekers
Among the winners at the Paysalia awards for garden innovation was a standalone cupboard from S20 Equipments with built-in heating, to quick-dry your soggy gardening clothes, gloves and boots. With its 1000W Eco programme it promises to dry your items in 90 minutes. See the range of driers, all made in the Vendée, at www.s20equipments.com

Big design for a small space

The newest addition to the Fermob range of stylish and hard-wearing garden furniture is aimed at those with limited space in which to sit and relax in comfort outside. The folding bistro table, which comes in a range of colours including bright red, honey and willow green, is not only practical and functional but can also be stowed away discreetly.

With a steel frame and adjustable hooking system, the table can be attached to a balcony bar or wall-mounted. Price: €337 from www.fermob.com.

Pool resources
Live in the south of France and in the market for a new pool? Head to Salon Piscine, Spa & Jardin: Côté Var, a huge exhibition dedicated to swimming pools, spa and outdoor installations, from May 18-21.
With 15,000 square metres of exhibition space and more than 100 regional, national and international exhibitors, the ‘village’ at Puget-sur-Argens will provide piscine inspiration, as well as outdoor design ideas.
www.piscinespa.com

Another big pool salon will take place in Nice from September 14-17.www.niceorganisation.com has more details.

For garden design inspiration in the Lyon area, visit the annual Salon Scènes de Jardin at Domaine de Lacroix-Laval. Landscape gardeners, horticulturists and nurseries, craftsmen, manufacturers and designers will proudly present new trends in the ‘art of living’ in the garden.
www.scenesdejardin.fr