It’s spring, and the Uneeka Garden in Truro begins to stir. Through our large showroom window, we can see soft banks of pale yellow and pink primroses slowly waking up. Towards the back of the garden, in a quiet corner, an old apple tree breaks into blossom while supporting a dusty pink clematis weaving through its neighbouring branches.

Our garden evolves each year - part planting space, part inspiration board -where outdoor furniture, wildlife-friendly plants and herbs come together to show how outdoor spaces can feel alive and abundant. Bird boxes are tucked into the greenery, and small openings form hedgehog highways, allowing wildlife (including neighbourhood cats) to move safely between gardens. It’s a reminder that even in a town setting, thoughtful planting and simple gestures can support both people and nature.

Uneeka in Truro, Cornwall is surrounded by inspiring landscapes: coastal paths, open skies, wild land, woodland and sheltered cottage gardens. This connection to nature shapes our approach to outdoor living: relaxed, welcoming, and alive with planting, wildlife and seasonal change.

Gardening today is about more than beautiful borders. It’s about creating spaces to pause, reconnect, and support the natural world. Whether working with a compact garden or a few carefully placed pots, small beginnings can grow into something meaningful.

One of the loveliest things about gardening is how little space you need to begin.  Even a few pots or a small patch of soil can quickly fill with colour, scent and life.‘For smaller gardens, it helps to choose plants that are generous’, Louise explains. ‘hard-working plants that provide year-round interest, structure, or long-lasting blooms include evergreen shrubs, structural perennials, and versatile climbers. Clematis Armandii is a wonderful example of a hardworking plant, it’s evergreen, highly scented and adored by pollinators.'

Plant for Pollinators

Bees and other insects rely on nectar-rich flowers, and even the smallest garden can make a difference.  Pollinators are responsible for around a third of the food we eat, making wildlife-friendly planting more important than ever.

Louise recommends starting with:

·  Cornflowers - loved by bees and easy to grow

·  Cosmos - light, airy and continuously flowering

·  Wildflower mixes - ideal for colour and biodiversity

·  Sweet Peas – romantic sweet peas, they tumble and fill the garden with colour and scent, and the more you pick them for the house, the more they bloom.

Mix Flowers, Herbs and Texture

Combining flowers with herbs such as thyme, oregano, mint, sage, fennel, rosemary or lavender creates a layered, sensory garden. Use them to edge a path, put them in pots near seating areas, let the scent add to your sensory outdoor space.

Herbs not only add fragrance and texture, but are also highly attractive to pollinators, historically medicinal and a gamechanger in the kitchen.

Let a Little Wildness In

Allowing flowers to self-seed or grow more freely creates a softer, more natural feel.  It encourages movement, variation, and a stronger connection to the rhythms of the season.  No Mow May, https://www.plantlife.org.uk/ is one of the easiest ways to help the environment, be brave and let wildflowers like daisies, dandelions and clovers grow while supporting bees and butterflies.  Even small wild patches add up to make a huge difference to nature.

Choosing what to plant often begins with something small - a packet of seeds, a simple idea, a moment of inspiration.

At Uneeka, we’re drawn to seed collections that make growing feel accessible, creative and connected to the wider environment.  From curated mixes to playful, scatter-and-grow options, these are seeds designed to be enjoyed rather than perfected.

Beautifully illustrated collections, including those from Art House Unlimited, Herboo and Seedball are firm favourites at Uneeka for gifting and provide a simple idea: that gardening - whether for wildlife, wellbeing or simple pleasure, should feel open to everyone.  A small packet, a quiet act, and the promise of something to come.

Gardening for Wellbeing: Slowing Down in Nature

Spending time in a garden offers something increasingly rare: a chance to slow down.

Here in Cornwall, where many of the Uneeka team live close or near to the sea or the countryside, that connection to nature is part of everyday life. Coastal walks, fresh air and close-knit communities encourage a gentler rhythm, one that gardening naturally reflects.

There’s a growing appreciation for stepping away from screens and reconnecting with quieter moments, reading outdoors, tending plants, or simply noticing the changing seasons.

Even a small space can offer that pause.  A chair among pots, the scent of herbs in the sun, or the soft movement of grasses in the breeze can create a sense of calm that feels both simple and essential.

From our garden in Truro to the coastal, small town and countryside homes our team return to, we’re reminded that even the smallest spaces can hold meaning — for people, for wildlife, and for the simple pleasure of watching something grow.