offtheedgegardening

A meadow of snakes

The hail is flamenco-ing on the velux and I am remembering happy days. This photo was taken at the very end of March 2016 at Holbrook Garden. I was visiting this wild and wonderful garden with the grand dame of Little Ash, Helen. A meadow of Fritillaria meleagris, the snake’s head fritillary, was particularly spectacular, with itsContinue reading “A meadow of snakes”

Shark Attack

It didn’t take me long to realise that when you visit Nancy Nightingale you have to be prepared for all eventualities. Even a shark. Luckily this one was only 20cm long and quite friendly.

Still Counting

I have fallen a little behind with my photograph sorting/deleting/labelling/archiving/tedium. Excuses, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention. Here is another picture, a slightly nibbled abutilon, just to show that I am making a pathetic effort. It was taken this time-ish last year on a visit to Knightshayes with the lovelyContinue reading “Still Counting”

Daffs

We don’t often have cut flowers in the house. It is not that I have anything against them, and I invariably admire them in others’ homes, it just seldom happens. Embarrassingly I have friends who are growers and naturally always champion British flowers. As we have a very small garden any blooms are best leftContinue reading “Daffs”

The Songs

All I can tell you about this photo is that I took it in January last year when we were holidaying in Cornwall. It is strange to write “holidaying in Cornwall”. Of course it is exactly what we were doing, but as someone who spent my formative years in West Penwith (and yes those yearsContinue reading “The Songs”

Androsace lanuginosa – Woolly Rock Jasmine

Exquisitely diddy, Himalayan alpine, Foamlea Garden, enough said. 999,998 to go.

Parrotia persica

With the good must come the bad, the cloud before the silver lining arrives, the doughnut that missed the jam nozzle. A month off, but a million photos to catalogue. Here is a photo taken this time last year. It is a blossoming Parrotia persica or Persian Ironwood, taken at RHS Rosemoor. The flowers have no petalsContinue reading “Parrotia persica”

Straggler

Winter is traditionally horticultural ordering season; seed, plants, bulbs. Take your pick. Catalogues have arrived with their evil photos and delicious descriptions, emails regularly pop into your inbox tempting you to (with one click) enter their wicked world. Combined with opportunity aplenty to peruse at pleasure, this adds up to a very slippery slope. IContinue reading “Straggler”

Guilt

Reader, I planted him.

Happy New Six on Saturday

Happy New Six on Saturday to you all. What is Six on Saturday you ask? Can I believe my ears? Where have you been for the last century, Mars? I suggest you take your rocket ship over to Mr P’s planet, our commandant’s home, and it will all become clear. Let us proceed. Earlier in theContinue reading “Happy New Six on Saturday”