A wonderful day at The Farm. Absence definitely has made my heart grow fonder. And it was pretty fond already. I planted out Allium atropurpureum, Brodiaea laxa ‘Queen Fabiola’ and Anemone blanda. I primped and preened and mulched and collected seed and my horticultural zeal was invigorated. Then, as I was dragging my tired feet towards theContinue reading “Missed”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Faith
During our early morning tour of the garden I asked after the hollyhock youths that were due be planted out. “Oh” said Mrs Bun “I’m not sure, I haven’t been in the greenhouse for ages”. The hollyhocks were doing just fine, and later were relocated to their new playground, which is more than can beContinue reading “Faith”
Options
Is there anything better, on a bright winter’s day, than to go for a walk in the woods? Drinking hot chocolate in front of an open fire would also be nice, especially if you had a Cadbury’s flake to dunk. However on this occasion we opted for Option No. 1 and a very good choice itContinue reading “Options”
Sway
We have a thing about teasels in our house. When we lived in Bristol we grew a monster teasel. In truth we neither planted it or nurtured it, it just appeared. Then one day it was so large that we could watch the goldfinches feast on the seed from our first floor bathroom window. It wasContinue reading “Sway”
Crazy Name
Crazy name alert! This is Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’. I would suggest calling it by its common name but as this is Bastard Senna I won’t. Shall we call it Coronilla ‘Citrina’? This winter to spring flowering shrub has delicate bi-coloured pea flowers which are gently fragrant. It tends to be a little unruly inContinue reading “Crazy Name”
Not done yet
I haven’t been very well. Now I am much better but not best. I am a gardener. It is not a job. Of course it my job, what I mean it is not just my job, it is me. My identity. Who I am, what I am. For a while I thought I might not beContinue reading “Not done yet”
Spotlight
Basking under the sunny spotlight is the heronsbill, Erodium manescavii. This Pyrenean native is enjoying the recent cold snap, reminiscing about its chilly homeland. There are no Mountain Dogs here though, just Max who is half kangeroo and not interested in snow peaked mountains. Perhaps we could train him. He will need a wig.
Shadow
It wasn’t the carmine flower of the pineapple sage that caught my eye, but its crisp shadow lying on the white-washed wall. I was surprised that this fragrant salvia was still standing after the recent sharp frosts. But it was, defiant to the last. And in a world of droop and desiccation it looked especially fine today.
Sleep
As the year rapidly advances towards the winter solstice, so my reluctance to get out of bed in the morning increases. The short days and long nights pander to my love of sleep. Sleep would be my specialist subject if I were ever on Mastermind. This morning, however, if I hadn’t dragged my comatose limbs fromContinue reading “Sleep”
Scaredy Cat
They said it would be a cold night so we had been warned. The morning was icy and I was bound for Lord and Lady Mantle’s estate on the edge of Exmoor. As I am by nature a Scaredy Cat I was slightly anxious about this drive. Most of the journey is on decent roads, butContinue reading “Scaredy Cat”
Off The Edge Gardening 