Having a lovely cup of tea in my favourite mug whilst walking the garden is the best thing about returning from holiday. For some reason though I am always slightly nervous about what I will find in the garden. It's only when you go away for a bit, even a [...]
Last night we finally had some rain and just stepping out into the garden this morning made me feel happy as the air felt fresh. A keen breeze was blowing the trees, a cool one, in stark contrast to the "hairdryer on low setting" breeze we've had for over a [...]
These beautiful flowers in pastel shades work well together and unplanned happen to be blooming at the same time in my garden. Here I tell you what they are and show you how simple it is to arrange them in a vase with no fuss or equipment. I also describe [...]
Who doesn’t love a traditional village show? As the holiday season approaches organisers air the beer tent, hammer signs into the village green and untangle the bunting. But what sort of person enters these competitions and what experiences await first timers? If you're a gardener or allotment holder you may be shy to get involved in showing or question why you even would. Here I share my story as a first time entrant and some special tips for exhibiting from a local judge.
This week has seen the summer solstice and the year's longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. It's been a beautifully sunny week and I've been admiring plants best described as sun-worshippers, including alpines, sweet peas and roses. I've also been taking the opportunity to position my armillary sphere accurately. Positioning [...]
Are you a Dahlia debutante growing Dahlias for the first time this year? Have you grown them before but never tried taking cuttings? Have you got a plant with lots of bushy growth? If so you could double, triple or even quadruple the number of flowers by taking cuttings. Each [...]
If you want to grow sweet peas in your allotment or cut flower patch, training them straight upwards is preferable to a triangular obelisk. You'll get straighter stems and better quality flowers for display. Here I show how to build an easy string cordon on a cane frame.
I’ve got a renewed attraction to daffodils, or to use their latin name - narcissi. It’s like cupid’s bow has hit me and inflamed my narcissus desire. That’s my love of daffodils, you understand, not myself. Read on to find out why.
My gardening week - six on saturday - 07.04.18 This week I was thankful for forsythia, showing daffodils, admiring Camellia and Pleione, making homes for more alpines and bringing an old cold frame into service.
