offtheedgegardening

GPAP – Sore Eyes

This is Achillea Cerise Queen, August 2015, in Lav and Li’s garden. Although I have no desire to wish the months away, sometimes it is nice to warm your toes on the stove of summer remembrances. The winter months undoubtedly have their joys and it is invaluable to turn down the volume and plan a little. Even so, everContinue reading “GPAP – Sore Eyes”

Last Minute GPAP

I can’t remember if this is the seed head of a zephyranthes or a habranthus. It doesn’t really matter though, my point is still the same. Seeds are lush.* *Translation for those of you not familiar with the terminology of the west of England, lush means mighty fine.

GPAP – Instinct

When this photo was taken, one swallow really did make a summer. The month was June, the location the Farm, and he sat defiant on an overhead cable, surveying the scene. I wonder where this swallow is now? Did he make the journey safely back to South Africa? At this very moment is he thinking about travelling north again, flexing hisContinue reading “GPAP – Instinct”

GPAP – Summer Rain

While we are on the subject of rain …… This photo was taken in July. I wonder why I haven’t used it before. Perhaps I have and can’t remember, highly possible. If so I apologise, but I think it might deserve a repeat. It is a callistemon, an Australian bottlebrush, and it lives in aContinue reading “GPAP – Summer Rain”

Forever GPAP – Warmth

There are a lot of tedious things about rain. These include, but are not confined to, the following: It makes you wet, It makes the soil wet, It makes your sandwiches wet. You must admit, however, that it does add a little something to a photograph. This lily, the colour of warmth, is bejewelled by raindrops. BeautifulContinue reading “Forever GPAP – Warmth”

GPAP – The Rediscovery

I found it in the garden today and I hadn’t realised that it was lost. It has been a forever twilight day, dank and uninviting. With feet dragging slightly and a lope of indifference, I went outside to do some necessary work, it was duty rather than desire. Within minutes it came over me, that old feeling. The oneContinue reading “GPAP – The Rediscovery”

GPAP – Photo Bomb

Marwood Hill Gardens in April. A photograph of camassia. Who is that I spy hovering in between the blooms? Zoom in to find this little fella. This is not the first time I have re-examined shots and found more than I first imagined. This is a good thing. The picture that just keeps giving.

GPAP – Frosty the Hellebore

This photo was taken last January in Spotty Dotty’s garden. The emerging hellebore has been caught by frost, its back crystalline with cold. But these are tough customers and it shrugged it off in the lukewarm winter sunshine. In the weeks that followed we enjoyed a plethora of double white flowers, which later freely seeded underContinue reading “GPAP – Frosty the Hellebore”

GPAP – Metal Roses

Today I have been working hard an article that I am writing about Broomhill Sculpture Gardens for Devon Life magazine. Whilst sorting through the photos I found this picture of a favourite of mine. I’m afraid I can’t tell you who it is by or what it is called. I can tell you that itContinue reading “GPAP – Metal Roses”

GPAP and there’s more ….

You could be forgiven for thinking that I had painted the thin cerise lines down each side of this phormium’s gloriously strappy leaves. Then you would remember that if I had attempted the job it wouldn’t be half as neat, so beautifully applied, so perfectly framing the stripes of green and cream. This plant was givenContinue reading “GPAP and there’s more ….”