Author Archives: offtheedgegardening

I do love a nice hanging basket

Clients beware.  This is what happened to the unfortunate who suggested that I might plant Cotoneaster horizontalis in their garden.  For the sake of my dear and most sensitive readers I have shown you the silhouette only.  Some might say “harsh”, but I would say “fair”  

At The Farm we have been working hard to reclaim the vegetable garden. To save you the trauma of our agonies over the last few months I will précis what we have achieved.  There are now two distinct planting areas.  These are rectangles of improved soil that have been released from the suffocating carpet lain manyContinue reading “What Lies Beneath?”

Everyone is shouting “snow”,”plummeting temperatures”, “wind chill”, “Arctic conditions”.  So, in an attempt to redress the balance, I will whisper “beautiful icy-white Iberis sempervirens“.

This is Tulip “Blue Diamond”.  When I bought the bulbs at last autumn’s Malvern Show I didn’t really believe they would be blue.  But a little bit of me hoped they would be.  The little bit that would like to believe in Father Christmas or that I will win the Lottery or that George Clooney is regretting marrying thatContinue reading “Believe”

As gardeners we often spend our days looking soil-ward.  We should remember, on occasion, to tilt our heads backwards and enjoy the view.

There are ways and means.  You may not need a hammer to crack an egg, but it is very helpful to have a mini digger to get out an old root stump or ten.  I explained to Lord and Lady Mantle that all the aristo’s have stumperies these days, but they weren’t convinced.  In fact I don’tContinue reading “Ways and Means”

My friend Bobby foolishly ate a dead fish that she found on the beach.  For this reason she wasn’t feeling herself yesterday.  Then she ate the plastic pot from the cistus I had just planted. Some little dogs just wont learn. This hairy poppy bud is sitting patiently waiting for the weather to warm.  Like me.Continue reading “Fish”