offtheedgegardening

Hanging On

Despite the strong winds of the last few days, the last leaf of Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ holds on.

Lady Mantle wanted a greenhouse. And what Lady Mantle wants she gets. Even if it means accosting a small child and his mother in a garden centre and demand that they give her theirs. This ‘gift’ was duly dismantled (get it dis’Mantle’d? such pun-ulicious brilliance) and transported back to the Estate. The base was laid and theContinue reading “Pretty Face”

Umbrella

Before anyone says, “such a shame that her camera is broken, she is doing her gallant best with faulty tools”, this particular picture was taken with the posh one. Any fuzziness is due to user error. I won’t name names. (me) One of the forebears of this Papaver atlanticum ‘Flore Pleno’ hitchhiked into the garden on another plantContinue reading “Umbrella”

Deep Blue Sea

For the past few weeks I have had a problem with my camera. My work camera that is, not my posh posing one. This is the work horse that accompanies me to every job and the one I reach for a million times each day. It is a high risk occupation, fraught with dangerous mud, hardContinue reading “Deep Blue Sea”

Interloper

I tip toed through the grass border (with only the odd oops!) to take a photo of the splendid sugar pink nerines. On closer inspection I was bemused/outraged/impressed to find that an errant hesperantha had seeded itself in the midst of the naked ladies. The cheek! With chameleon like powers of disguise, it had me fooled, aContinue reading “Interloper”

Phlomis ‘Sunningdale Gold’

Short on words again today. To compensate we are especially long on loveliness.

Simple

Simply calendula.

Monster

Some of you will look at this delicate oxalis flower and smile. Some of you will put your head in your hands and rock gently whilst quietly moaning. I am of the latter persuasion. Today I have spent a fair proportion of my time digging this little monster up. It grows rampant in the shadier back ofContinue reading “Monster”

Caution

It is all about getting your timing right. As gardeners we walk the dangerous spit between the first damaging frosts and the desire to admire the swansong of our tender plants. Lord and Lady Mantle’s estate is protected from wind but prone to cold and in my wisdom I have introduced some delicates to their merryContinue reading “Caution”

Normal Service is Resumed

Well as normal as can be expected given the circumstances. The circumstances being that I’m in charge. If a certain brand of lager made autumnal days, they would be just like today. Bliss.