Notes on growing ornamentals and edibles, and musings on other matters that interest me.
Over the winter I’ve been very busy planning events for the coming season at Barracks Lane Community Garden. We have exciting plans for a variety of workshops over the coming months, such as making willow plant supports, plant swaps, foraging …
I must confess a slight galanthophile tendency. I’m not sure if it’s because snowdrops are the first flowers of the year after a long cold winter, or the fact there are so many and they are so delicate and beautiful …
Iris reticulata ‘Purple Gem’ I’m so excited! After many years of trying and failing, and killing many plans in the process, I have finally managed to plant a reticulata iris in the right place for it to then come up …
During our Dorset holiday, Kevin and I visited Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. It may seem like an odd thing to do in the middle of winter. However, I often find winter a great time to visit a garden to see the …
Yep, it was the annual trip up to Ryton for Potato Day last Saturday. This years choices are: Foremost Lord Roseberry Red Duke of York* Anya Casablanca Charlotte* Shetland Black Ulster Sovereign Ambo Mayan Gold Mayan Twilight Sante* Cara Pink …
Ugh. It’s been an age since I’ve blogged. I did start the year promising myself that I’d try to blog at least once per week. How quickly that promise was broken! Somehow January got away from me and good grief …
Well, 1st Jan and the gardening year starts off well. After weeks of being unable to get into the garden or down to the lottie, first because I had a bad virus and 2nd because everything was covered under 8 …
Very excited as Oxford Times have now published my letter regarding the closure of 20 libraries. And they didn’t change the text. Don’t read the letter also published, from Keith Mitchell*, unless you want to get really seriously pissed off…! …
This is the letter I wrote to the Oxford Times, in relation to an article published on 2nd December, about the fact the County Council is going to close 20 local libraries. It wasn’t published, but luckily a letter by …
As winter has come early, with snow on the ground in late November and going to work in -4 degrees, my spirits have lifted by a new visitor to my garden bird feeder. Hummmm, time to steal the …