offtheedgegardening

Be Careful What You Wish For

Surely I wouldn’t have been so careless as to omit an important caveat in my official request for rain. There definitely would have been a “night time only” clause. This was an amateur error. Perhaps in my desperation I forgot. Today, at Milo’s Garden, it rained almost non-stop, the only variance being the severity ofContinue reading “Be Careful What You Wish For”

Six on Saturday – Uncertainties

It is proper summer now. We have had some rain and we have had some sun and we have had some wind. Proper summer. And I have also started thinking about what is working in the garden and what is not. How I can improve things next year. I suppose that is how we roll,Continue reading “Six on Saturday – Uncertainties”

Introducing – Flora

It was the photo opportunity of a life time and I missed it. It involved a new friend. Her name is Flora, she is a Cavalier spaniel and I work in her garden. She is adorable. When I first met her she made such a fuss of me, I thought I must be something special.Continue reading “Introducing – Flora”

Six on Saturday – Can I See Your Invite, Please?

The weather has eventually broken. Thank goodness. Although I must warn you that the ETA for moaning about the rain and gloom is approximately one week. I am sure there will be many UK gardeners celebrating at the moment, none more so than Our Jim, guardian and holder of the sacred SoS baton. Over theContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Can I See Your Invite, Please?”

Trying

We live on a new housing estate. It is the first time we have lived in a modern house. We were fed up with the continual maintenance of an older property. To be honest we could no longer afford to keep it in the manner it had become accustomed or indeed deserved. One of theContinue reading “Trying”

At Last!

After weeks of broken promises and crushed dreams, today, at long last, we have had some sensible rain. Not so hard that it runs off and ruins, not so light that it evaporates before even the most thirsty of roots can take advantage. It has been persistent heavy drizzle. Perfect. Whether this has anything toContinue reading “At Last!”

Introducing – Mrs Keen

It is widely believed that the biome supporting the most diverse selection of horticultural species on the planet is the Amazon Rainforest. I have made a startling discovery, this assumption is untrue. In a suburban garden on the outskirts of Bridgend, there is a border that contains more plants per square metre than any otherContinue reading “Introducing – Mrs Keen”

Six on Saturday – Frazzled

Hands up, anyone else feeling frazzled? I thought as much, most of the UK contingent. The gardens are suffering, choices are having to be made and lessons learnt. We have been promised thundery showers today but, having just checked the Met Office forecast, it appears they have changed their minds. Someone who is hoping thatContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Frazzled”

Introducing – Milo’s Garden

As promised, it is time to introduce you to another of my new gardens. As those of you who have followed me for a while will know, I favour my human clients full anonymity and to this end allocate each with an appropriate alias. Sometimes it takes a while for the right name to presentContinue reading “Introducing – Milo’s Garden”

Six on Saturday – Shirley Temple and Friends

How did that happen? One day I’m griping about the incessant rain and wind, the next I’m moaning about the persistent dry windy days and bitingly cold windy mornings. I don’t care so much about the night, although I suppose I should. My poor little ones are having to hunker down as the temperatures drop,Continue reading “Six on Saturday – Shirley Temple and Friends”