offtheedgegardening

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”

The First is Always the Best

This is my first aquilegia flower of the year. Undoubtedly there have been some that I missed along the way. I was probably admiring foals, sending WM’s into water butts, falling into nettles, eating my sandwiches, chitty chatting, digging, fighting ground elder, dancing or perhaps even day-dreaming. Either way today’s columbine was looking marvellous, asContinue reading “The First is Always the Best”

Cunning Plan No. 237

I had a cunning plan today, yes another one! Actually it was quite ingenious whilst still in the safe confines of my head. If I written it down it would have been most excellent on paper. However, when put into practice, the theory met with a few variables that had not been allowed for. ItContinue reading “Cunning Plan No. 237”

Speachless

Esteemed Client: “Remember that beautiful pink tree peony I told you about?” Humble Gardener: “Yes, is it flowering yet?” Esteemed Client: “It is, but this year it seems to be yellow” Humble Gardener: “…………”