Author Archives: offtheedgegardening

An extremely satisfactory day.  I considered sharing photos of newly dug soil enriched with sumptuous mushroom compost, paving slabs defining the vegetable garden, a superhuman tag-team barrowing concrete planters up a progressively steep hill then filling them with soil and Strawberry “Cambridge Favourite”,  holes that once housed ancient fruit bushes and will soon be home to new vigorous specimens, aContinue reading “Pastures New”

“On the way to work this morning I nearly drove into a mountain of mangelwurzles.”

This frilly number, photographed last week at The Farm, is the antithesis of what I consider to be the perfect daffodil.  My idea of daff excellence is a petite form, with elegant reflexed outer petals and an elongated central corona, simple in design, understated and classy.  Just like …. well perhaps not.  On a particularly adventurous day, an orange trumpet wouldContinue reading “Contrary”

I do not know either the scientific or common name of the bracket fungus which is encircling the waist of Buddleja “Black Knight” in Lionel and Lavinia’s garden.  It has therefore been dubbed the Tutu Fungus, Tutuious maximus. Or was that one of the later Roman Emperors?  Happy weekend everyone!

The renovation/rediscovery of the vegetable garden at The Farm continued today.  Slasher is on holiday, so that left me and White Spot the chicken to dig over the plot and try to extract some of the unwanted inhabitants.  The area being reclaimed is a hotchpotch of excitement.  If you happen to be a glutton for punishment, that is! Continue reading “Carpet”

We have been away for a few days.  Not for a happy reason.  It one of those times when you must do your best to do what is right.  It was not, however, a wasted weekend.  In many ways.  It was a time to reconnect with family, a time to ponder our mortality, a time to weigh up what isContinue reading “Humble”

Yesterday there was an unexpected frost.  In this neck of the woods even if they forecast one, it is met with doubt until it actually manifests itself.  This is why I was surprised when I arrived at The Farm to find a white smattering over the evergreen plants and mulch in the Welcome Border.  A little later, afterContinue reading “Frost!”

My camera has gone a bit weird.  Please don’t tell anyone.  I am going to pretend that it took me hours to set up this arty shot of a rich purple crocus.

It was my first visit of the year to the grand estate of Lord and Lady Mantle.  I was met with a cup of coffee and a barrage of excuses as to why absolutely no gardening had been undertaken in my absence. And I mean not even an itsy bit of weeding or a peruse or aContinue reading “Crumpled”

I am not sure I approve of naming storms.  Is it (foolishly in my mind) to foist human characteristics on these tumults of skinny isobars?  If so, I would say this Imogen gal is having one heck of a hissy fit. Definitely not bessie mate material. What we need on days such as this is a furryContinue reading “Furry”