I noticed the elderberries ripening… and I came across this pretty, squirrel sown gladiola, growing in a pot. Curly cat peering through the lavender and verbena patch… and a beautiful self-sown crab apple tree. Mushroom season is upon us, and kicking it off is this interesting little creature, a first in the garden. Apparently it’s …
There’s a subtle scent of Autumn on the wind now, which is strange given how hot it’s been and how hot it still is. Beech leaves are already raining down and the climbing roses are forming hips, in preparation for the grand display. Such tiny roses, yet such lethal thorns. Rowan berries are ripe and …
The courgettes are beginning to flow, I suspect I’ll have a glut. I do love them small so I’ll have to keep an eye on them as they grow so fast. I’m really looking forward to the little yellow ones. I have herbs drying everywhere at the moment, the kitchen is beginning to look very …
taking herb cuttings as they root easily in water at this time of the year. I’ve also sat a few garlic bulbs on glasses of water to allow the roots to grow. Once each clove sends up a shoot, they’ll be ready for planting. Gathering bunches of Mediterranean herbs for drying. I much prefer to …
It looks like it’s going to be a good year….there’s that song again… for fruit, as all the trees are laden, despite the June drop. Let me show you around…. The greenhouse is overflowing with plants, now it’s mainly peppers, chilies and tomatoes. I can barely get inside to water them. I’m keeping the kale …
Climbing roses It’s been a funny old few months, if you didn’t know what was going on in the world, it could almost be described as idyllic! Apart from missing family and friends, dodging cyclists, runners and walkers and endless cleaning and wiping down of the shopping, life is pretty good. Beautifully scented The weather …
Every time I’ve thought that, Elvis Costello’s, Good Year for the Roses, runs on a loop in my head! Yet it has been a marvelous year for the roses. I’ve never known so many, so early, these are just a few, it must be down to the wall to wall sunshine we’ve had for the …
It’s always difficult trying to describe my little courtyard, as I fondly like to call it, so I thought taking a little wander around it may help to clarify a very confusing space. Here is an aerial view. There are two extensions that were built before we moved in, on either side of this space. …
The topsoil arrived. The neighbours asked if we were building a fortress! Four tons looks smaller than it actually is….poor hubs….a shoveling he did go, and there were a lot of holes in that rusty old barrow! One by one he filled the four raised beds. One is now planted with potatoes, another sown with …
Our lovely weather this week has my seeds growing before my very eyes. Rocket and beef tomatoes My greenhouse is now overflowing and many seedlings have already been potted on. Food will be a priority this year with flowers very much taking second place. We don’t know how long this pandemic will last so having …
