I find autumn to be a very satisfying season. You quite literally can enjoy the fruits of your labour, or even just enjoy the fruits that you didn’t necessarily labour over! Have you tried Quince? It’s been a great year for quince, a forgotten fruit that is enjoying a bit of a revival. We are lucky enough to have a tree in our communal allotment … Continue reading Autumn fruitfulness and an unwelcome visitor…
At this time of year I always appreciate those plants that did lovely things in spring or summer – delicate spring blossom or glorious summer flowers for instance – but now give a little bit more into autumn and winter. They’re like the best type of friend, those who go the extra mile for you when you weren’t expecting it! Plants with 2+ seasons of … Continue reading Plants that go the extra mile!
It’s been a great year for many fruits, and grapes seem to be no exception. I’m lucky enough to have a grapevine in my garden which I inherited, and it produces sweet red grapes. These are good enough to eat as they are (and the hornets certainly seem to be enjoying them!) but we could never get through that many, so I make grape juice. … Continue reading How to make grape juice in 5 easy steps
You know how everything builds up in spring to culminate in extravagant floral exuberance in May and June? By contrast July and August can seem a tad underwhelming in the garden. But a few summer troopers will lift the mood and keep the interest going. Here are six of my favourites to beat that summer slump: 1- Hemerocallis (daylilies) Producing classic lily flowers in sunny … Continue reading Six plants to beat the summer slump
I’ve been to Chelsea Flower Show, the most over-the-top but compelling event of the British horticultural scene, twice in my life. The first time was in my early twenties with two school friends, when it seemed like a lot of fuss over plants but great fun. The second time was last week, and this time I was able to get more out of it! And … Continue reading 6 winning ideas for shade, from Chelsea Flower Show
There’s a specific moment in the garden when it’s poised between the excitement of early spring, when each sign of life is a treasure beyond compare, and the mad rush of exuberant growth in the heady months of May and June. A lot of the spring bulbs have done their thing, but the herbaceous perennials aren’t quite ready to fill the gap. This is where … Continue reading The indispensable gap filler: Forget-me-not
Hello! It’s a while since I did a Six on Saturday, a more personal post about my garden and what I’m doing. There are some lovely highlights to share with you at this exciting time of year when everything is bursting into leaf and life. 1 Bulbs and breakfast The garden table, still covered, is put to good use at this time of year, serving … Continue reading A Six on Saturday: Spring Surprises
…and a sneak preview of my first full garden redesign! The sun is shining and it feels like spring! For now! The most important thing to do of course is just enjoy this special time of year. Soak up the sun and top up your Vitamin D. It feels so good after a long and exceptionally grey winter. I have been thinking a lot about … Continue reading Some planting tips for spring!
Happy New Year! I’ve just completed some tardy bulb planting, the very last ones. I was experiencing mild but niggling guilt each time I went into the shed and those unopened packets started at me accusingly. Really, they should have gone into the ground and pots earlier, but they were a December gift, and they will still come up next spring, perhaps just a little … Continue reading Why you should never be without Alliums
…is sometimes dreary, grey, a little drab. Let’s be honest, unless you have a garden stuffed with artfully placed, tightly clipped evergreens, that look good no matter the weather, this is just par for the course. Plants die, colours fade, the light is low and weak, the sun becomes a stranger, and it rains. And rains. And rains. And yet…gardeners can always can find little … Continue reading The garden in winter
