National Gardening Week | A Monarch Moon Garden Container

May 1st – 7th is the RHS National Gardening Week and this year, the RHS is encouraging everyone to get planting and “create your coronation container”, in honour of King Charles.

Spending time in your garden is proven to be good for your mental health and well-being. By encouraging your younger generation to make time for planting and growing together, this week is also a great opportunity for creating a lifelong passion for gardening.

This year we are talking about the benefits of making a Moon Garden, helping extend the time we spend in our outdoor spaces, by bringing in design elements which embrace the whole day, from morning to moonlight. 

We spoke with Psychologist and TV Broadcaster Honey Langcaster-James about the potential health and wellbeing benefits of using a Moon Garden. Honey said: “Both personally and professionally, I love the idea of a Moon Garden - creating an area in your garden that’s been designed with evening enjoyment in mind. Aside from the fact that it could be a perfect way to inject a little romance into your relationship with your partner while at home, it could also be an ideal place to take some personal time out, to unwind, be more mindful, and to give yourself some much-needed peace and quiet after a busy day. Spending some time in your Moon Garden could become part of your evening routine, and the relaxation associated with your added time in nature, could really help to ready yourself for a more deep and restful sleep.

For National Gardening Week, why not consider bringing these two themes together. Plant a Monarchy Moon Garden container with flowers of white, blue and dark royal reds. Find a space alongside your seating area and you can breathe in all the beautiful fragrance whilst enjoying the moonlight as it bounces off all the petals and foliage.

Choose flowers and plants with stronger scents, and particularly those which release scent at night-time, to create a sensory moment that will aid restful sleep and a sense of calm.

Here are some suggestions for making a Monarchy Moon Garden container:

• White Jasmine 
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Tobacco Plant
• Night Phlox
• Dianthus
• Lonicera “Rhubarb & Custard”