The teams at Simpsons have been busy behind the scenes preparing for the arrival of spring.
Finally – the short gloomy days of winter are now stretching into longer days with the arrival of spring and with it, increased focus on what is happening in the garden.
Whether it is gardening enthusiasts with decades of experience, new homeowners keen to create their first garden, or novices planning their first window box, there is a sense of anticipation and eagerness to get going.
This week also marks National Gardening Week and the teams at Simpsons Garden Centres, including its flagship store in Inverness, have been busy behind the scenes for months preparing for the forthcoming season – and say now is the time to pay them a visit and gain from their experience and knowledge of gardening in the north of Scotland.
Simpsons group marketing coordinator Lucy Taylor said: “This is the peak gardening season.
“The weather is getting a bit better. The days are getting longer.
“With the core season now starting, people are getting out into the garden.
“The team at Simpsons has been working amazingly hard over the last few months.
“We have experienced gardeners and they want to share their knowledge with people as well as inspiring new ideas.
“One of the main things being in the Highlands is what is going to suit our local climate.
“We are usually two or three weeks behind the typical growing season.”
Another key element for many gardeners is the environment and focusing on sustainability and biodiversity.
“Plants that are great for encouraging wildlife are important,” says Lucy.
The giftware department at the Fochabers Simpsons store.
As Simpsons Garden Centre marked its 25th anniversary last year, it reflected on how it had grown from a modest seasonal garden centre in 2000 to today’s business.
Its hub in Culloden Road, Inverness, for example, is not just a garden centre but more of a destination featuring an award-winning restaurant, foodhall and deli, florists, extensive gift range plus a comprehensive oak furniture and home furnishings store.
Having added another store at Mintlaw in Aberdeenshire in 2020 to the group, Simpsons expanded again last year with the acquisition of another store at Fochabers which has since been upgraded.
There are also incentives for loyal customers signing up to the Simpsons Rewards App which provides members with exclusive offers and discounts.
Plants for indoors are also available at Simpsons.
Simpsons also celebrated its 25th anniversary by giving back to the community.
Under its Garden Project 25 campaign, it donated £25,000 to support local gardening projects across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire.
“The community is important to us,” said Lucy.
“We always try to support local groups, local gardening groups, local schools.
“Last year’s project was a really big one and we were really glad to support so many things.
“This year, we plan to do more visits to local groups and see what they have been able to do with their funding and what they are doing in community spaces.
“It gives us an insight into local gardens and people who are passionate about gardening.”
The forthcoming year will also see Simpsons as the main sponsor of the second annual North Scotland Garden Show taking place at Turriff Showground on June 12 and 13.
A celebration of gardening which brings together enthusiasts from across the region. The event will feature exhibits, demonstration gardens, talks and opportunities to browse and shop.
As well as a garden design competition, there will also be a pallet and container challenge, garden and landscape equipment demonstrations and a floral art competition.
“Last year, we were involved as a sponsor for one of the show gardens,” Lucy said.
“It is the first show like this for the Moray and Highland area.
“It was such a lovely event and the organiser is so passionate about gardening and we are delighted to be the main sponsor this year.”
Quality furniture and spaces to entertain can add to the enjoyment of the garden.
For those caught by the gardening bug, what would be the advice?
“Someone who is starting out maybe wants to look at the space and plan what they want to do with it,” replies Lucy.
“It doesn’t need to be specific but they should have a rough idea of where they want to start and what kind of space they want to create.
“Is it somewhere they want to entertain, somewhere for wildlife, somewhere for kids to run around?
“Then, that is where our team can guide and advise.”
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