Author Archives: offtheedgegardening

Another hard days slog buying plants, eating crisps and admiring a two metre high inflatable Lindt rabbit.

One of the disciplines I try to instil on my clients is the importance of accurate labelling.  Let me give you an example.  The above is a tulip, no need for years of study to work that one out.  But what, however, is the cultivar or species name?  If I don’t know then it will beContinue reading “The Noble Art of Labelling”

You have fair warning, there will be a substantial amount of joy within this blog.  Anyone looking for misery or heartache, turn away now, you are the road to disappointment.  Similarly, if you are likely to be offended by unabashed gloating, please retune your TV. To be greeted by a bouncing Bobbie dog as you arriveContinue reading “Gloating”

We seem to have slipped quite nicely into second gear.  Spring has officially sprung and trundling along in first gear will not be possible any longer.  Soon hyper-drive will kick in and our faces will be doing that attractive g-force thing.  Luckily we have all spent the winter months wisely; preparing, planning, scheduling.  After all it isContinue reading “Second Gear”

Today I have been mostly digging out celandine.  I paused for a moment to admire its pretty green stained flower.  Then I dug out some more.

Generally I avoid prickly plants, call me a wimp if you dare.  But from a safe distance, and with the renewed bravery a little sunshine brings, this coconut scented gorse was a real treat in the spring sunshine at The Farm this week. Heading west for a few days, see you when I return.

My knowledge of water gardening is minimal, and that is being generous.  I do however know that this is a bulrush, last year’s stems standing to attention awaiting the arrival of this year’s growth. These are looking a little bedraggled at the moment or, perhaps more accurately, stone dead. However soon, when once again in full livery,Continue reading “Water”

On occasion, especially when you work outside, the world gets ramped up to high volume. Everything is more intense, you become more aware, you sense the essence of things.  Yesterday the culprit was the wind, today it was that stranger the blue sky.  Perfect.

A tough morning.  It had been a restless sleep disturbed by raging storms and appropriately bizarre nightmares but I had no chance to be bleary eyed.  Walking from the front door to my car the unremitting wind and accompanying vicious showers suggested strongly that I return to my bed.  Tempting, but I pushed on.   Crazy stallions wereContinue reading “Lightning Hits Twice”

Lord Mantle certainly knows how to pack a trailer.  This task was project managed with precision. His Lordship instructed and I followed.  LM was officer in charge of collecting the raw material, delivering to site, presenting to myself, pointing and saying “chop there”.  Naturally I excelled as chief chopper.  My duties entailed chopping when and where I wasContinue reading “Neat”