Image provided by: @beardygardener
The relationship between nature and wellbeing is often debated, but award-winning garden designer Lee Johnston (aka @beardygardener) makes positive mental health a central theme in all of his projects. The popular Instagrammer, who creates particularly calming and restorative gardens, explains how gardening has helped her find clarity and ground herself during difficult times. Find out how this inspirational mental health campaigner uses her gardening knowledge to help others…
What inspires you in the garden?
Image provided by: @beardygardener
What inspires me in gardens is the simple yet deep connection with the natural world that they foster. Gardens inspire me through their rhythm and resilience. Observing the way the wind moves through the trees and how plants grow and respond to the seasons is a constant reminder of the quiet yet unyielding power of nature. It’s a constant cycle of renewal and adaptation that motivates you to stay grounded, especially when you’re feeling at your lowest. Gardening brings me back to who I am, finds clarity, and inspires a sense of purpose: growing plants, connecting with the land, and engaging with others who share the same passion.
What is your favorite style?
Image provided by: @beardygardener
My gardening style is very naturalistic. I love when plants grow freely and create a soft, flowing, relaxing atmosphere. Organizing and organizing are not my thing. I don’t have a lawn. Removing the lawn was one of the first things we did when we moved into our house.
For me, a garden should feel like a natural extension of the landscape, where life can unfold without much human control. It’s about capturing the essence of the wider world and bringing a small piece of nature into my backyard. I’m attracted to lush greenery. Did you know that the human eye perceives more shades of green than any other color? When it comes to flowers, I’m not really into bright, bold ones. I tend to be drawn to white and purple. The simple and calm tone really resonates with me.
What are you most proud of?
Image provided by: @beardygardener
There are two things I’m most proud of. The first is the gold medal winning show garden we designed for the 2024 BBC Gardeners World Spring Fair. This was my first judged garden and focused on how our National Parks, particularly the New Forest, could be an important part of it. To improve the well-being of the people.
The second was an urban community project, converting a deserted space in the middle of a public housing complex. I was commissioned by Sovereign Housing Association to transform two overgrown spaces in Basingstoke that had been forgotten for many years. The housing association wanted residents to get involved in a project that would bring love back to the area. Everything is community-focused, which is important when creating an urban garden in a local neighborhood. I spent several days consulting with residents to hear their planting ideas, colors, textures, and more. They then came up with three designs and put them up for public voting. We held grass-cutting and tree-planting days with residents, and held a launch event at the end of summer. It was a very healthy project.
What are your future plans?
This year I am spending a lot of time working with housing associations to regenerate more unloved green spaces (of which there are many). The first will be working with Aburi Housing Association at two sites in Bracknell. I’m also working on a fantastic project with Naval Children’s Charity in Portsmouth to co-design a small garden in a local park, with young people’s welfare as its central theme. We work with youth groups.
I will be hosting the ‘Give it a Grow’ stage at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival. I might even do a little bit on BBC Gardeners World Live. Who knows what else will happen after that?
gardening tips
Strawberry plug plants are a good way to start
Image: T&M strawberry plug plant
We recommend that you don’t get too carried away with learning the Latin names of plants right away. You can do that later. Instead, focus on growing the things you enjoy, not just the things you think you should grow. If you are not passionate about the results, your motivation will decrease.
Start with something simple, like herbs in a window box or tomatoes in a grow bag. There’s no need to feel guilty about purchasing plug plants. It’s not cheating. There is a common misconception that true gardening only occurs when you grow everything from seeds. However, there is nothing wrong with purchasing established plants like strawberries and potting them up. Even if you’re not starting from scratch, you’re still gardening.
Grow like Lee
Lush foliage and tactile grasses add texture and movement to your garden
Image: Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Black Beauty’ from T&M
If you’d like to purchase the plants Lee features on her Instagram page, here’s a quick shopping list.
We hope you enjoy learning more about Lee Johnston from @beardygardener. If you would like to read about other inspirational growers, check out our #tmfeaturedgardens series on Instagram.
Thompson & Morgan’s horticulture team produces a wealth of content about gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalog was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest mail order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and operating an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products money can buy.
Related articles you might enjoy
