At Nancy Nightingale’s today we planted out more bulbs, dug up dahlias for their winter sojourn and said “NO!” and “DROP IT”, on repeat, to Scooby the puppy. Whilst stuffing the compost bin with the defunct dahlia vegetation, I rescued some seed heads, certain that my collection needed a boost. Which of course are theContinue reading “Decisions”
Category Archives: Nancy Nightingale
Needed
For those of you who, like myself, have suffered a weekend of rain, wind and misery (a blatant exaggeration for dramatic effect), this vibrant chrysanthemum might come in handy. In the cheery-uppy department. You are most welcome.
Good Boy
Initially, I was horrified to see Nancy Nightingale’s pup running around the garden with a chicken head in his mouth. On closer inspection, it appears that dear, lovable Scooby had decapitated NN’s metal rooster. This naughtiness is quite out of character. Apart from digging up many of the muscari I planted last week, wrecking theContinue reading “Good Boy”
The Moment
A lot of people enjoy the autumn; look forward to it even. Not me. I don’t like it at all. Unfairly, of course. I struggle to appreciate this season for itself, in its own right. Instead I consider autumn merely a herald of the coming gloom and doom of winter. Blighted by the company itContinue reading “The Moment”
The Altogether
I’ve always enjoyed sleeping. Would it be immodest of me to say I’m rather good at it? Well I am, it would be my Mastermind specialist subject. That is until recently. My meagre superpower has abandoned me. In the past few weeks, months even, I have woken early, wide awake with no glimmer of sleepContinue reading “The Altogether”
Sticky Tape
Over the past few weeks I have given some remote advice to my esteemed clients. There have been a few phone calls, a couple of WhatsAps, some dodgy “is this a weed?” pictures and the like. Today I received the above photo from Nancy Nightingale with the caption “Is this the done thing?”. Like youContinue reading “Sticky Tape”
My Delight
Many years ago the only tomatoes grown at Cliffe were Gardener’s Delight. When I took over I rebelled (I know a surprise) and we extended our range significantly. But still we grew Gardener’s Delight. Because they are delicious. Yesterday at Nancy Nightingale’s I sowed seed whilst she hacked back. I sowed San Marzano tomatoes, radishContinue reading “My Delight”
Restraint
Nancy Nightingale is not a woman of restraint. The word does not come into her vocabulary. It is one of the reasons that I like her. The morning was spent planting some of the hundredweight of daffs, tulips, more daffs, iris and more daffs she has recently bought. I am not totally without blame. AContinue reading “Restraint”
Starry, Starry Night
It has been a very strange week with very little gardening and much mouching, more’s the pity. Today I worked for couple of hours at Nancy Nightingale’s and then had a singing lesson. We sang sad songs. I do love a sad song. The afternoon at Bill and Ben’s was aborted as they had doubleContinue reading “Starry, Starry Night”
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”
Off The Edge Gardening 