A generous source of gardening and garden design inspiration, the Gardening Mind is Jo Thompson’s (twice) weekly Substack newsletter, which over the years has developed into a close garden-loving community.
Substack, the American tech platform, established in 2017 enables anyone to publish a newsletter for a (free) subscription and is increasingly becoming part of the mainstream media discourse. Theories as to success on the channel vary, but is foremost based on the provision of engaging content on a specific topic the writer is passionate about, coupled with an authorial voice, active audience engagement, and personalised, well-designed presentation.
Thompson started the Gardening Mind on Substack in 2021 and has since accumulated readers in 164 countries and currently ranks fifth in the Substack’s Top 25 design newsletters. As part of her Substack offering, Thompson publishes a monthly ‘What to do/What not to do in the garden’, for which the artist and illustrator Helen C Stark is now providing intricate illustrations.
“I saw Helen’s work as I follow her Substack and immediately loved her style, which has so much personality and charm,” explained Thompson.
Stark, an artist living with her family in South Yorkshire, works with watercolour, gouache, ink and pencils to create fine-ink lined, full-colour paintings. A regular creative workshop teacher, she launched the Time Foragers’ Club on Substack, celebrating seasonal charm, encourage artistic growth and connection. Stark’s weekly illustrated visuals, outlining the highlights of her week that inspired Thompson to collaborate with her on the Gardening Mind in 2025.
Thompson, is a landscape architect and designer and has won multiple awards for her work, including four Gold medals for RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens. Active on several RHS advisory committees, she is an RHS judge, lecturer and visiting tutor at the London College of Garden Design.