Uncategorized – Page 100 – Off The Edge Gardening

Mono Part Two – Fern

Day Two of my black and white series features one of my favourite ferns, Woodwardia radicans or the European Chain Fern. This striking evergreen is called the Chain Fern as it very cunningly forms mini root balls at the end of each frond, as the tip touches the ground they root themselves into the soilContinue reading “Mono Part Two – Fern”

Monochrome Set

I have been challenged to take some black and white photographs. Never one to turn down a dare, unless it involves wing walking or baked beans, I thought it might be fun to give it a go. So I adjusted my faithful “point and shoot” to Monochrome Magic (or some such setting) and ventured forthContinue reading “Monochrome Set”

Gaultheria mucronata

Plump, pink, perfect! Like a middle aged Barbie.

Brugmansia sanguinea – Red Angel Trumpet

No, I haven’t been on a short break trekking in the Andes, this photograph was taken yesterday in exotic North Devon. This is Brugmansia sanguinea, a glamorous member of the Solonaceae family, relative of the potato, tomato and aubergine. The Red Angel Trumpet is tougher than it looks, although it will crumple dramatically if frosted,Continue reading “Brugmansia sanguinea – Red Angel Trumpet”

Thunder and Lightning (very very frightening)

After weeks of benign, some might say fairy tale, weather today was a one way ticket on the express train to Storm Land. Thunder and lightning followed in quick succession with lightning and thunder and the rain (not wanting to be left on the sidelines) was apocryphal. The guttering groaned and the girlies screamed andContinue reading “Thunder and Lightning (very very frightening)”

Gall

A good year for the spangle gall wasp. I love a bit of spangle, not so sure about the gall and the wasp though.

Tree Poo

I love to learn a new word, or in this case two new words. Slime Flux. How fantastic is that? Slime Flux. And I got to see it as well. Slime Flux. And I heard grisly tales of how it can spurt out of a tree like the fountain from hell and smells as rankContinue reading “Tree Poo”

Because you’re worth it!

Driving down the M5 in the sheeting rain along with what appeared to be the annual juggernaut migration west and their accompanying curtain of impenetrable spray, it crossed my mind that this two hour drive was a lot of trouble just to visit a National Collection of Nerine sarniensis cultivars. Trust me, it was worthContinue reading “Because you’re worth it!”

Knickers in the Seaweed

Working in a coastal garden, albeit at the top of a mountain, means there is an almost constant supply of seaweed available on the beach below. With this free resource you can create valuable and nutritious feeds and composts full of trace elements vital to healthy soil and therefore healthy plants. A few years ago,Continue reading “Knickers in the Seaweed”

Class

Earlier in the week I was, for my sins, a panelist at a “Gardener’s Question Time” event in a local garden centre. I was joined by two others whose joint CV’s were extensive and involved phrases such as RHS examiner, lifetime in horticulture, university lecturer, supplier of vegetables to supermarkets, explorer and astronaut*. LuckilyContinue reading “Class”