I spend a great deal of time in my study. Many a time I sit there wishing I was in the garden instead of being tied to my screen, metaphorically speaking. However, when I get a whole day in the garden the weather sometimes lets me down. A few days ago, it lashed down for […]
Don’t forget garden fruit this winter. Plant more fruit and fruit trees to provide natural food for nature and plenty of fruit for your family too As winter approaches, anyone that gardens and grows a little produce knows the incredible inherent value of homegrown fruit. It can be bottled, dried, frozen, jammed and stored for […]
Frosts really must be starting later, as I am sure that by this time in previous years I would have been forced to bring all of my tender plants into the greenhouse by increasing threats of icy nights and early mornings. Only in the last week or so has it felt cold and gloomy enough […]
Although none of us want to waste energy we’re also desperate not to lose our plants so then we may inadvertently set our thermostats rather high in order ‘to be safe’. Obviously we need to maintain a sufficiently high temperature so our greenhouse, i.e. not-hardy, plants do not sustain any damage. Now the old recommendations […]
Victorian gardeners ‘forced’ mint for Christmas for garnish, adding to roast vegetables during and after cooking and at the same time took the opportunity to repot their pots of mint. Pot grown mint should be divided and re-potted every couple of years. Growing in pots preferable because it can spread and become a weed; if […]
Shrubs are the easy-care backbone of any garden, whether you have sun or shade. And the National Garden Bureau (NGB) knows how to pick the most outstanding. Recently, I attended a virtual Garden Communicators International conference, where we were given a presentation of the NGB’s 2023 choices, from ornamentals to edibles. The official rollout for […]
It’s that time of year. The garden’s winding down and most of my roses have finished for the year so there are very few to pick for the house. I’ve already reduced the top growth of most by a third, to prevent the wind from rocking the plant about and creating a gaping hole above […]
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow – as do hope, serenity and a sense of purpose amidst mounting political and ecological chaos. It’s time to step up and sow. Even the most sanguine gardener has their limit. I’ve just reached mine: a maelstrom of dispiriting, unsettling news – ecological, political, economic, the here and now, […]
Mandevilla, with their numerous, large, brilliantly colored flowers, are highly prized for the tropical look they give to summertime decks and patios. Knowing that these plants originate from South America, mostly Brazil, gives a clue to the conditions they prefer – warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine. In general, mandevilla need at least six or […]
Lately, I’ve given much thought to an age-old question, why do we garden? First posited by Methuselah – I jest, but my favorite essayist, Sir Francis Bacon reasoned–and rightly so–in 1625, that the garden first created by the Almighty, remains “the purest of human pleasures. [and] the greatest refreshment to the spirit of man…”. Bacon […]
Now that the greenhouse is emptied of summer tomatoes, it’s the perfect moment to move in some bulbs. With a bit of luck and the wind behind you, you can have them in flower for Christmas, but if you don’t manage to hit Christmas just see them as a boon, something spring-like and jolly for […]
Take a wander around your garden, or into your greenhouse and I could almost guarantee there are plants that have a direct memory of a friend or loved one. In my garden I have cuttings of my grandmother’s rosemary plant. That in itself is quite ironic because rosemary is associated with remembrance. So much so […]
