On the pollinating menu
Allium millenium is a much later flowering allium than most, with blooms in July and August. It’s only 40 cms high, but it’s a pretty little thing. And this year, it seems to have been the prime choice on the …
Postcards from our holiday: Cotswolds June 2019
June saw my BFF from Melbourne, Kerri, over in the UK with her sister Sharon. They hired a cottage in Broadway, the Cotswolds for three weeks, and we joined them for part of that time. In between ME resting, and …
Plant memories: Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ and Cat-Merlyn
This is Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’, also known as ‘Grass-Merlyn’. The grass is still looking green now, but in late summer it will turn golden, hence it’s specific name is Goldtau Merlyn was our previous cat, a wonderful cheeky bugger who …
New veg beds – aka finally making a decision on the final layout of my kitchen garden
The kitchen garden? Not an inspiring photograph, is it? I mean, yes, you can see my slowly developing Forest Garden Border around the edges (the blueberries are nearly ready!), and some raised beds with garlic. But the lawn dominates. However, …
Wisteria border: before and after
A year ago, this is what the Wisteria border looked like. What is a Wisteria border you ask… Well, this is now. It’s always good to take before and after photos. You often get caught up in what work you …
Garlic scapes
Updated: 21st May 2024 Garlic scapes grow on Hardneck Garlic, and occasionally on Softneck Garlic (usually only if stressed). If you aren’t sure what type of garlic you are growing, if it starts producing a scape, it’s most likely a …
Purple reign
Purple. It’s my favourite colour. And I love it’s different shades, from lilac to aubergine, blue-purple, pink purple and deep purple. Here are some of the many purples reigning in my garden from Spring to early Summer. Allium hollandicum ‘Purple …
#Florespondence: Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’
For years I’ve been meaning to grow blue Camassia’s and finally, voila! As you can see, it’s very attractive to bees and the purple-blue star-shaped flowers are very attractive. I’ve planted the Camassia under the Quince tree, along with early …
#Florespondence: Osmunda regalis ‘Purpurascens’
It’s quite possible that this, Osmunda regalis ‘Purpurascens’, also known as the ‘royal fern’, is my favourite fern. It’s certainly regal. It’s utterly enchanting, from the moment it sends up its fronds and begins to unfurl. It’s in a …
#Florespondence: Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Havran’
When I first got interested in gardening, about 18 years ago, I was lucky enough to come across the Christopher Lloyd book, Colour for Adventurous Gardeners. It brought together colours that you might not consider go together, and showed you …