About
Kristian
Taking your garden to the next level.
This was not my starting point and just like a garden it grew over time. I have had the good fortune to have enjoyed my working career. Learning like a sponge, absorbing knowledge from great gardening masters. We all have a beginning, with each step we take our garden to the next level. Ultimately, you may want to Garden like a Master in the future too!
It started from here!
I was 16 years old, it was a beautiful warm sunny day and I was out with my dad. We had climbed a hill and we were looking down on my home-town, an industrial historical cotton town in the north of England, when my dad said to me……
“Kristian, there’s more to life than what you see in front of you." My dad went on to say; “Kristian, I want to tell you there’s more beyond this town that you live in.”
Never in my wildest dreams
Never in my wildest dreams did I as a 16-year-old girl imagine that 15 years later I would be flying 6,000 miles all expenses paid to help a woman take her garden to the next level.
My big life adventure
My big life adventure started when I was working at a world-renowned garden called Powis Castle in Mid Wales. I first came to Powis Castle Gardens as a student, forming part of my four year horticultural training at Myerscough College, part of the UCLan.
My role of borders supervisor which meant that I would be meeting members of the public on a daily basis.
It was an autumnal day when I met Edna and David for the first time on the main terrace. They were staying in the holiday cottage at Powis Castle on their honeymoon.
"Do you know if there is a gardener here who would be interested in flying to my home to help me with my garden?"
It didn’t surprise me that Edna had asked the question. many people would say that when you work in a world renowned garden. Only this time it was a serious question.
For the rest of my working day in my head I went through every employee. Who would be a good match, until there was no one else left but me!
That evening over a hot stove.
With some hesitancy and fingers crossed I knocked on the door to find out if it was real.
Edna welcomed me in with open arms, thrust a spoon into my hand and said “Can you stir this sauce in the pan”. We chatted and we struck a deal for me to help and take her garden to the next level.
I can even remember it feeling like a dream until the day arrived when I had the physical plane ticket come through the post and I held it in my hand, you see things like this didn’t happen to people like me.
Another world opened up for me.
From that experience another world opened up in front of my eyes and today I am not the 16yr old girl or the young woman on an adventure of a lifetime.
Upper Shadymoor Farm
Today I combine my love of helping people with my love of horticulture, to take you and your garden to the next level.
In 2020 I began my Facebook page and group page. I felt the need to support gardeners and non gardeners alike.
I have had many people write to tell me how I have helped them through the challenging times that we all experienced.
Seek and ye shall find!
I had been exploring ways in which I could bring my experience and expert knowledge to more gardeners.
In the spring of 2021 I found myself being invited as a guest on the podcast A Touch Of Sunlight. Mary my host interviewed me, click here to listen to the episode.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready... the teacher will disappear.
This quote has been with me throughout my life and it is so true. Having a mentor can make all the difference. I had been looking for a mentor to help me launch Garden like a Master and again through a Facebook group I connected up with Smiling Steve™. His help, support and advise has been invaluable and I am excited for the future having Steve as my mentor.
It is my wish to inspire and enable you to grow on your own gardening journey. Click here to get in touch.
Happy Gardening, Kristian