offtheedgegardening

Distracted

When I arrived at The Mantle Mansion this morning I was distracted by something I had passed at the entrance. I wandered into the kitchen, poured myself a cup of coffee and greeted Their ‘Ships, who were dining on kedgeree and peasant porridge. “What is that out the front?” I questioned. They giggled in aContinue reading “Distracted”

Six on Saturday – Dreary

It always takes me a few weeks to accustom myself to the shortening days and falling temperatures. All week I have struggled to get up in the morning and when I drag myself out of bed I am more belligerent teenager than disco diva. Today was no exception. There is one word that concisely sumsContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Dreary”

Acer japonicum ‘Vitifolium’

Hero and myself spent a wonderful day at RHS Rosemoor, successfully dodging heavy showers and small children dressed as gruffalos. It has been very difficult to pick just one photo to sum up the day. The magnificent cheese scone from the restaurant before we got going was a contender (had to build up my strengthContinue reading “Acer japonicum ‘Vitifolium’”

By Special Request

Just for you Mrs D, the Delusional Azalea. Still deluded.

Rogues and Roses

Bill and Ben’s garden was well planted, albeit several decades ago. To paraphrase Tennyson, it is “red in tooth and thorn” out there in the horticultural world. And we are talking about plants not the gardeners! Unchecked, interlopers invade, the vigorous stifle the slow-growing and the neglected grow unkept. I have been clearing an areaContinue reading “Rogues and Roses”

Harvest Time

Exciting times. Today, the inaugural saffron harvest was undertaken at Chez Nous. There was no need to employ seasonal staff to help with the workload. We took full responsibility for the task at hand. Three beautiful stamen are now drying in their own tiny Tupperware box, nestled on some plumped up kitchen paper, for theirContinue reading “Harvest Time”

Six on Saturday – Sunny

The weeks are shepherding us towards winter, a time when finding suitable subjects for Six on Saturday becomes increasingly difficult. The Lord of the Prop, whose mighty hand rules us SoSers, has followers from all corners of the earth and beyond. For some of us spring is just getting into its stride, whilst for othersContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Sunny”

Sigh

This isn’t a moan, or a gripe, or a temper tantrum. Maybe it is a little bit of each. Mainly it is a sigh. I had a wonderful afternoon in the garden. My garden. Potting on cuttings, pricking out seedlings, pootling about. Marvelling at the anarchy of the borders and making strange noises at nextContinue reading “Sigh”

Colour

I don’t know if it is the autumn sun accentuating the vibrancy of the garden, or perhaps my new medication, but at the moment I am slightly obsessed with colour combinations. Looking from each and every angle, however unlikely and impossible for anyone who is not allowed to stomp around the borders, and exclaiming “haveContinue reading “Colour”

So Much More

Gardening is so much more than being able to identify a tree or know which way a plant goes in the ground. Stating the bleeding obvious? Perhaps. After lunch today Lady Mantle whisked me off to visit a local garden, ostensively to admire some autumn colour. Which is exactly what we did. The on-cue afternoonContinue reading “So Much More”