offtheedgegardening

Slow Roast

Today was the first time this year to be “I wonder if there is a job in the shade?” hot. There wasn’t and it was a slow roast. Never mind, Lavinia kindly supplied Mexican Lime cordial, which was greatly received and knocked back in a manner more docker than dame, and I made a noteContinue reading “Slow Roast”

Have we met before?

There are self seeders and there are SELF SEEDERS! When this little beauty popped his head up last year I did a double take, this surely can’t be true. In our most unkempt front garden (we are letting it express itself) a Rhodotypos scandens had miraculously appeared. It must have been left by the gardenContinue reading “Have we met before?”

Fleeting

Peony time is fleeting. Perhaps this contrariness is part of their attraction. They come and they go and leave summer to the rest, having first shown the others how to do it with style and little finesse. Left behind are rich memories of blooms that are at times hilariously blousy but more often sensuously voluptuous. Continue reading “Fleeting”

Tree Watching – Trauma

On the face of it my larch is doing splendidly. The downy growth of last month is maturing fast and although still fresh-faced now has an increased look of adulthood. An aura of its first flush still remains but is swiftly outgrowing its innocence. However it seems that life has not always been so carefreeContinue reading “Tree Watching – Trauma”

Pittosporum Flowers

Who would have thought it?! Looks like berries are on the way.

Rubus spectabilis “Olympic Double” – Salmonberry

There is something to be said for visiting other people’s gardens, places that you aren’t intimately acquainted with. Actually there is a lot to be said. At certain times of the year I go for long periods without travelling much further than my workplaces and this is to my detriment. This only relates to myContinue reading “Rubus spectabilis “Olympic Double” – Salmonberry”

Sea Campion

For the last few days we have had my family staying with us. Not all at once, but in relay. The first tranche arrived on Friday, the second attack left this morning. Typical isn’t it? You wait for ages for one brother to come along and then two come in same weekend! On Sunday, afterContinue reading “Sea Campion”

Addiction

Above are some of the plants I have bought this week. Our garden is tiny. There is no where for these plants to go but still I buy them. Earlier in the week the plant sale at U3A offered cheap but well-grown plants, so a candelabra primula and the golden variegated grass Hakonechloa macra aureolaContinue reading “Addiction”

Staphylea holocarpa “Rosea”

The great thing about visiting gardens is meeting plants that are unfamiliar to you. It may indeed be your first encounter or you may have forgotten the previous occasion, either is quite feasible. This Staphylea holocarpa “Rosea” was one such tree. It is hard to believe I could possibly have forgotten such a beauty!

Talk

Those of you that know me well would say that I am pretty good at talking. That I am. In a “supermarket queue”, “bus stop”, “train journey”, “any time any place” kind of way. This is part affliction, part blessing. My mum is to blame as she has perfected The Art over the years andContinue reading “Talk”