It’s usually May that’s my busy month with Iris but this year it’s all been a bit delayed with a sudden cold snap and then the winds and then the next cold snap and, well you get the picture. Happily my lovely collection of Iris have managed to flower really well this year, taking advantage…
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TODOS – April
March screeched to an end and then the wind howled around the house for what seemed like an age. Spring seemed in full retreat until late last week, now it’s back in force. Of course the risk here is those of us growing seedlings inside are lulled into a false sense of security and send…
Continue ReadingSpring Bulbs – well tulips to be precise
It’s planting time. Buying time is well and truly over unless you are not to fussed about what you’ll be displaying in the spring. On occasion I am one of those who buys up every cheap packet I can find and having mixed them all in a bucket plant out blocks of unknown mixes to…
Continue ReadingSeeds
It’s about that time of year when people who love their gardens and the process of growing start getting a bit antsy about the weather. Not being able to get outside due to inclement weather is one of the things that drives me nuts at this time of year although being a pro now I…
Continue ReadingFebruary and Hippeastrum
I am feeling slightly flat today having missed posting yesterday. ‘One a month’ was the original mantra, I missed Jan 2013 by a whisker of activity. Ho Hum, not going to give myself a hard time about it but ho hum! So Hippeastrum…You’re probably wondering why on earth I would be writing about this rather…
Continue ReadingSnow & Blossom
I am certain many gardeners are staring with trepidation at the weather forecast every evening as the Spring reverts to ‘normal’. WHY? well snow, snow, snow and the dread frost. In 2010 I planted a Reine Claude Green Gage which is a green plum variety, one of the most common and delicious when ripe. Slightly…
Continue ReadingLanguage of Flowers
I just read a wonderful fiction novel called the Language of Flowers. So captivating was the storyline that I stayed up half the night and lounged in bed the following morning. Manuals and text books don’t invite this level of commitment very often but an enticing novel does, on occasion. I think Harry Potter might…
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Planting in Shade
Like those red busses where you have none then 3 come at once so my latest projects all seem to have varying degrees of shade planting required. I have long been a fan of shade so it didn’t fill me with the usual groans I often hear about shady spots. In fact shade is wonderful…
Continue ReadingThe Flower Shop
Where on earth did all the flower shops go? There used to be a marvellous one in the middle of town, it’s been there since I was a child and my Dad knew the owner, Mr Barker. Oh I know he retired and the shop eventually closed but didn’t someone open another great flower shop?…
Continue ReadingThe Dorothy Clive Gardens
REFLECTIONS UPON A GARDEN VISITÂ – written for the SGD student writing competition 2010. The Dorothy Clive Garden, Shropshire Shropshire is glorious country. Far enough off the beaten track to be truly unspoiled but filled with and close to, so many enticing garden greats that an offer of the use of a small, well appointed manor…
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