offtheedgegardening

Bug Hotel

The Hilton rather than Travelodge, methinks.

Plans are afoot at The Farm. We have decided to plant an orchard in rough patch of land adjacent to the vegetable garden. Gorse and bracken are perhaps not the ideal starting point, but much has been cleared already and don’t forget we have Farm Force at our disposal. For this is not to be any old orchard butContinue reading “Plans”

Away Day – Appetiser

Delicious!

Flexible

One of the great things about being self-employed is that it is my party and I can cry if I want to. What I mean is my life is flexible. Today it rained. I said “I don’t mind if we don’t do any work”. So we drank coffee and ate cake whilst listening to oldContinue reading “Flexible”

Blurred

It didn’t seem to get light today. All day long it threatened to downpour but only managed the odd spitter-spot which did nothing to alleviate the oppressiveness. And I didn’t feel on top form. A slightly out of focus day. Nothing I could quite put my finger on, but the edges seemed blurred, the air likeContinue reading “Blurred”

Bashful

This bashful soul, Gladiolus murielae commonly known as the Abyssinian gladiolus, holds its head in reverential contemplation. Its light is beneath the bushel, peek beneath the snow white blooms and you will find an Ink Blot smudge of rich aubergine. I can see two dancing ferrets, sipping Pina Coladas. How about you?

Smitten

It was good. I sang tra la la quite a lot and it was heavenly (the experience not the sound). I attempted inappropriate songs. I sang as loud as I could. My teacher didn’t scream (out loud anyway). I am smitten. I just wondered, has the moniker “The Singing Gardener” been taken?

All or Nothing

My Dad was not a gardener. Valiantly he went through the motions, mowing the scrappy lawn, growing a few tomatoes, hacking back every now and then. His favourite job was leaning on his spade whilst laughing and joking with the passers-by. On one occasion he thought he would try to grow mushrooms. After getting an appropriate book out of the libraryContinue reading “All or Nothing”

Leonotis nepetifolia

Leonurus nepetifolia can speak very nicely for itself, it needs no help from me. Of course it can’t actually hold an intelligent conversation, that would be asking a little too much. However, through the understated discipline of mime it eloquently communicates its awesome exotic beauty.

Enhance

Although it was a beautifully warm day, with an advantageous breeze which greatly assisted the workers in their toils, it somehow felt different. The light has become softer, kinder. Instead of sucking the soul out of colours it is enhancing them, embracing them. I like it.