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”
Author Archives: offtheedgegardening
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”
Coconut Ice
There is still a lot going on in Nancy Nightingale’s garden. Obviously there is the singing, dancing and a little rough housing, but also there are dahlias, rudbeckia, cosmos and calendula. Although past their best, looking a little windblown and tatty around the edges, they still contain enough vibrancy to restrain the tidy instinct thatContinue reading “Coconut Ice”
Six on Saturday – A Challenge
When I switched my phone on this morning the first thing I saw was a message from my sister-in-law “have you two tied yourselves to the house?”. Curious. And then it dawned on me, the news of our very own cuddly Storm Callum had reached the Netherlands. For your information we are managing to stayContinue reading “Six on Saturday – A Challenge”
Another
Another hydrangea, and why not? It has made the effort to flower, and so beautifully. Today on Button Moon, glowing in the low and most welcome sunlight, it was hard to believe that it wasn’t blooming just for our delectation. Of course it doesn’t care a fig what we think.
Dinosaur
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ayesha’ is no one trick pony. The pretty puckered flowers would be reason enough to welcome this beauty into your garden. You could sit back and say “you have earned your place with your glorious blooms, no need for anymore effort”. But then, as a autumnal bonus, the serrated leaves blush scarlet beforeContinue reading “Dinosaur”
Juxtaposition
An out of focus cosmos, symbolising the confusion and instability of life. A backdrop of steely scaffolding representing the hard, harsh realities of life. Yep, the roof is still leaking. After all those promises. Again.