Author Archives: offtheedgegardening

Albitzia julibrissin f. rosea, the pink silk tree, has been jettisoning its flowers for the past few weeks.  Most have fallen on the tarmac drive or are resting atop ferns and foliage. One dropped into the black bin now serving as a water reservoir, floating above the darkness, the end of each tassel glowing like a fibre optic light.

Today I had a postponed birthday breakfast with my lovely pals Hero and Betsy Bee.  It was wonderful.  It has inspired me to write a poem entitled Friends. Friends are good Friends are ace Friends are welcome round my place* Friends are lush Friends are cool Friends are even better if they have a swimming pool** FriendsContinue reading “Friends”

Ceratostigma willmottianum, the Chinese plumbago.  Blue incarnate.

I have never been a big fan of chrysanthemums, although I have tried for years.  Persistence may have eventually paid off.

Today we started in autumn and ended with summer.  It began by wiping windscreens and ended with wiping brows.  We are in between.

As I slammed the door behind me this morning I realised I had forgotten to pick up my waterproof.  Time wasn’t on my side, so with my usual misplaced optimism I thought, “they said there might be showers this afternoon, they are probably wrong”.  And they were.  It rained incessantly. In spite of all theContinue reading “Smile”

Tricyrtis hirta, the Hairy Toad lily was looking splendid today.  It is not however looking like any toad I’ve ever met, hairy or otherwise.

In ten days time it is the wedding of Mr and Mrs Bun’s daughter to her beau.  It is to be held in the village church, not one hundred meters from their house, and is bound to be a grand affair. Although most of the flowers will be supplied by the wonderful Pat the Field and arranged byContinue reading “Umbrella”

Lord and Lady Mantle have guests in residence, the Royal Pixie Highnesses, Princess Maia-Rose and Princess Elizabeth-Daisy.  You may have heard of them, they regularly grace the pages of Hello magazine.  They had decided that whilst holidaying on the estate, they would immerse themselves in local traditions and watch the servant toil in the garden.  Unfortunately the maid had forgottenContinue reading “Guests”

I have been thinking about next season for a while now.  Making, mainly mental, notes about what needs to be moved, removed or encouraged.  New projects are bubbling up and remedies sought for any obvious mistakes.  Although these are valuable exercises, I must remember to appreciate the now, to live a little more in theContinue reading “Going Strong”