Today, whilst rummaging in the undergrowth, I disturbed this flighty gem. After some research (yes, I googled “blue/green moth”) I discovered it is most likely the small emerald moth. The caterpillars feed on native clematis, commonly known as old man’s beard, and the adults fly from July to August. This one is fashionably early. OrContinue reading “Small Emerald”
Category Archives: Professor Gadget
Ewenny and a Special Cat
Today I had an unexpected day off as my friend Buster is not very well and Professor Gadget is tending to his ills. Taking advantage of the clement weather, OH and myself visited Ewenny Priory, a heavily fortified former Benedictine monastery. It seems they were fierce chaps those 12th century monks. They were filming onContinue reading “Ewenny and a Special Cat”
Great Excitement
Today the men are here laying the slab base for my birthday greenhouse. So far it has not been an easy journey down the road to construction. Crazy quotes, broken down vans and lost work days have not endeared me to the process, but still I keep the winning post in sight. The workers arrivedContinue reading “Great Excitement”
A Distinct Feeling of ….
Professor Gadget messaged me to say that we would be going to the garden centre to buy compost, top soil and perhaps some wooden stakes. We would not be buying plants. Definitely, without any doubt, not one single pot of herbaceous or woody material would be finding its way into the trolley. I whole-heartedly agreed.Continue reading “A Distinct Feeling of ….”
Spectre
It was pasty time at Professor Gadget’s. We were having our usual lunchtime conversation “I’m definitely not buying any more plants, I’m so over plant buying” “No, I’m not either, no way, no how!”, when a humongous crash came from the kitchen. A moment later a bird crashed to the ground outside the breakfast roomContinue reading “Spectre”
Back in the Saddle
For those of you who don’t know/don’t remember/don’t care, ever since I became self-employed I have taken January off. I have been known to call it a sabatical, mainly because it sounded like I was doing something useful to further my career, which to be honest was rather misleading. The reasons for this hiatus haveContinue reading “Back in the Saddle”
Shelter
“Come and shelter, now!” shouted Professor Gadget. He is very authoritarian on occasion. “I’ll be there in a minute, I’m just trying to photograph a spider’s web full of raindrops whilst balancing my phone, sodden gloves and a handfork, shouldn’t be long.” I replied. Herculean task completed, I made a run for the, now, tidyContinue reading “Shelter”
Normality
After a rather fraught couple of weeks/months/year we are trying to recover some semblance of normality. When I say “normality” I mean the best we can do in that department. Generally, it is treacherous to compare oneself to others’ unobtainable standards. Perhaps I should say “our normality”. Unsurprisingly, our new home is in chaos and,Continue reading “Normality”
Just a Heuchera
“All I need is a heuchera” said Professor Gadget as we entered the garden centre. “Okeydokey” his faithful sidekick replied “just one heuchera it will be!” popping a little geum into the sweet mini trolley. Unfortunately, The Prof didn’t find a heuchera he liked. He did, however, find a couple of other things to fillContinue reading “Just a Heuchera”
Green Jumpy Things
Professor Gadget (no dimwit) appears to have an abundance of green jumpy things in his garden. Last week this Incredible Hulk was lurking unabashed on Rosa ‘Wild Edric’. As I struggled, with a cursory hand wipe on my trousers, to grab my camera, he posed and preened, pleading “make sure you get my good side”.Continue reading “Green Jumpy Things”
Off The Edge Gardening 