Away Days – Page 5 – Off The Edge Gardening

Reminisces

My yearly trawl through reams of digital photos, deleting and labelling as I go, has begun early. Not only does this attempt to impose some kind of order into my life give the illusion that I am in control, it also gives me an opportunity to share some of these snaps and the reminisces theyContinue reading “Reminisces”

Curmudgeon

I am not a fan of Halloween. Quite the contrary. However on this night, when my door bell rings, I attempt to go through the appropriate motions with at least a little feeling. I pretend to be terrified by the little ghouls and ghosties, I offer hypo-inducing sweets to the adorables in their costumes, IContinue reading “Curmudgeon”

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’”

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”

Six on Saturday – Happy Holidays

After a week or more away, I have come home to builders, scaffolding, inaccessible plants and a really vicious cold. For this reason (and I will continue to blame everything on the builders including my poor health, who in reality are rather nice chaps, until further notice) my Six on Saturday will dwell on holidayContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Happy Holidays”

People

Folk, they get in the way. Some say “I like having people in my photos, they add scale and interest”. Not me. They clutter and blot and spoil everything. Trying to photograph the Hot Garden at RHS Rosemoor on a Saturday in August without including a member of the public is as tricky as unicornContinue reading “People”

Team Building

When visiting Marwood Hill Gardens the other day we, Max’s Dad and me, were greeted quite unexpectedly with “are you on the team building day?” We looked at each other, both of us wondering which answer we should give. Before committing myself I enquired “is there free cake?”. It appears that this gave the gameContinue reading “Team Building”

Next Year

There was a problem with my dahlia order. Last autumn I selected a modest amount of mainly species varieties, plus one cultivar. These would arrive in the spring as rooted cuttings, young and adorable. Time trickled by and I began to wonder if I had been stood up. I emailed, I was placated. I wasContinue reading “Next Year”

Wrenched

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to escape once I have got my horticultural claws into you. It may involve moving home but, I understand to be true, sometimes the means justifies the end. Today I spent a special day at Marwood Hill Gardens with Mrs Fish and our mutual friend (and another ofContinue reading “Wrenched”

Hookey

I played hookey today. I skived off. There were things that should have been done and weren’t. There is a deadline, don’t you know. But I defiantly chose to ignore it. Instead I visited the garden of some friends, the wonderful Round House. I shared a cuppa with old mates and scoffed a chocolate brownie,Continue reading “Hookey”