offtheedgegardening

Things I never thought I’d say – Part Seven

“Don’t punch the plants Nancy!” A couple of weeks ago we reached the heady stage of planting out Nancy Nightingale’s new border. We laid the specimens in position, carefully considering potential clashes of colour or foliage before we commenced. As NN is a complete novice I gave her a quick planting tutorial before retreating to aContinue reading “Things I never thought I’d say – Part Seven”

A Rose in the Desert

On the whole builders and gardeners don’t go. Far be it for me to generalise, but in my experience they are counter- rather than productive partnerships. They are not “cheese and pickle”, “strawberries and cream” or, let me wrack my brain for another, oh yes “gin and tonic”. They are more “the black death and 14th centuryContinue reading “A Rose in the Desert”

Rhody Time

It’s rhody time again hip hip horray! In bud they are compressed sweetmeats, an intense whisper of what is to come. In bloom they are brash and brazen, shameless in their frippery. The rhododendrons are back in bloom and they are shouting loud. I, for one, am pleased to see them again.

Lavendula stoechas – French Lavender

Our Grand Plan for the Mantle Estate last year was very simple. It was do what you can, consolidate and hide the rest. A particularly troublesome area was dominated by a huge tree peony. The monster was relocated. If my memory serves me correctly, in my capacity of official photographer and heckler, it involved huffing andContinue reading “Lavendula stoechas – French Lavender”

Laughing

We were laughing. I was attempting to photograph the newly emerged poppy. The wind gusted the ephemeral flower in a haphazard dance, impossible to capture unless you were acquainted with the moves. Which I wasn’t, although I did my best to keep up. This was all I could manage. When I saw the picture I laughed again.

Fudge

There is a shop in the harbour that sells fudge, particularly excellent fudge. I may have partaken on the odd occasion. They concoct this ambrosial sweetmeat in front of your drooling lips, large copper vats are stirred over an open flame emitting devilish aromas which drift into the street, enticing the hardest hearts down into their lair. For those notContinue reading “Fudge”

Arctotis

Nice hat.

Erythronium ‘Pagoda’

This morning, as I staggered along the footpath that runs steeply down one side of Max’s garden, I noticed that the Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ had come into flower. This glorious sight heralded a big fat face-aching grin which didn’t leave my fizog for rest of the day. I love spring. Especially when the sun shines brightly all day long. Today IContinue reading “Erythronium ‘Pagoda’”

Found

Did I mention that whilst working at The Farm last week I lost my glasses? As I am approaching my life-peak I am finding that reading glasses are getting higher and higher on my top ten of day to day necessities. It has even overtaken marmite on toast. This doesn’t mean that I spend hundreds of poundsContinue reading “Found”

Pea Soup

It was a real pea souper driving to the Mantle Estate this morning. To be honest it was a little bit cliched. I mean we all know Exmoor is a moor and “atmospheric” goes with the territory and all that dramatic Lorna Doone stuff is a given, but really, a little obvious don’t you think? I haveContinue reading “Pea Soup”