Author Archives: offtheedgegardening

I clearly remember taking this photograph.  It was the day after my birthday and the sloping meadow above the greenhouse at Cliffe was aflutter with these little blue butterflies, edged in silver.  It was quite heavenly.  The memory keeps me warm on a dreary day such as today.

As befits my disorderly personality, I am not undertaking The Great Photo Archiving Project in a methodical manner.  I am closing my eyes and picking a file at random to cull and label.  Far more exciting. I took this picture of an auricula in September 2014 at one of my favourite haunts, the alpine house at RHS Rosemoor.Continue reading “The GPAP – Auricula”

The one line that is guaranteed to put fear into the souls of my illustrious clients is “I have had an idea”.   After the initial knee-jerk gasp of horror, one of the following occurs a) they change the subject, b) run for cover or c) start crying.  It is true that these plans often involve mud,Continue reading “Plan 763”

As my own boss (and might I say at this juncture that I have found myself to be exemplary in this role) I have given myself the whole month of January off.  Now before you all start tutting and back-chatting let me explain my reasoning.  I can, so I am going to.  It really is aContinue reading “Lucky Heather”

Conversations at the Farm The week before Christmas I had a cunning plan.  Well not very cunning, but still a plan and not bad as plans go. Me:  Shall I get something to go in the planters outside the office?  It will jolly things up for your guests who are coming to celebrate New Year at The Farm.  A fewContinue reading “Conversations”

We went on a Boxing Day walk.  To clear the head and heart.  There were Boxing Day flowers along this walk.  A hot-washed pink, flowering quince was one of them.  I expect it is beautiful on other days too.

Yes, it really is Rudolph!  He popped into The Farm yesterday to say hello before he gets down to the nitty gritty “flying through the air and present delivery” stuff.  Although underwhelmed by the incessant rain, a juicy apple and a bit of fuss made it worth his while.  He said he doesn’t gets treated so well by Santa who canContinue reading “Rudolph”

The winter solstice must be acknowledged.  So we will celebrate with a flower that is actually supposed to be blooming at this time of year*.  A cyclamen.  Wonderful.  Nearly Spring! * The Official Horti Rule Book, Chapter 7 Non-negotiable Flowering Times.