This is Menziesia ciliicalyx var. multiflora photographed last May in the wonderful garden at Andrew’s Corner. I had never heard of it then, I haven’t seen it since. My job is a continual education and most days I am reminded just how ignorant I am. I was quite taken with this ericaceous beauty. The name,Continue reading “A Continual Education”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The First Rose
The day has been blustery and unstable, veering from sun to hail to sleet like a out of control shopping trolley. Luckily it was not a gardening day, it was a writing day. I have been writing about medicinal plants. So what do you want to know? Sea buckthorn fruit is good for burns andContinue reading “The First Rose”
The Magic Tree
When asked if I had room for a new client, I explained that regretfully I was “full up”. When I was told that the garden was situated in Exmoor National Park and hadn’t been touched except by chainsaw and strimmer for 6 years, I conceded that it would do no harm to take a look,Continue reading “The Magic Tree”
Great North Devon Sowing Bee
The weather was atrocious yesterday, making it the perfect day for the first sowing session of the year. To mark the occasion we had a Sowing Bee at The Farm. Although owner of a mysterious box of half empty seed packets Mrs G allegedly hasn’t grown anything from seed before. Perhaps nocturnal sowing somnambulism isContinue reading “Great North Devon Sowing Bee”
Alternatives
At The Farm this morning I quizzed George’s Mum and Dad on the extent of their gardening activities in the last week. Mrs G told me that unfortunately they hadn’t managed to find the pelleted chicken manure I had asked them to buy. She had however managed to purchase, for a very reasonable price, aContinue reading “Alternatives”
Kerria japonica “Pleniflora”
Perhaps a little early for a full display, this Kerria japonica “Pleniflora” was sending out an advance scout in the warm sun this week. Sometimes called the Japanese Rose it is indeed in the family Rosaceae and is native to China, Japan and Korea. Thicket forming with tall lax stems up to 2m high, itContinue reading “Kerria japonica “Pleniflora””
Pixies, Persians and Previews
The Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica, is one of my favourite trees (although there are quite a few that fall into this category) and was in fine flower this week at Marwood Hill Gardens. We were lucky enough to be able to sneak a peak before the garden opens officially in March. There is something veryContinue reading “Pixies, Persians and Previews”
Charming
The pressure to feature snowdrops at this time of year is extreme. Everywhere you look there are delicate white blooms with varying amounts of green and reflex. I have succumbed. The lure of these milky blooms is irresistible. They have earned their place here not just because they are harbingers of longer days andContinue reading “Charming”
Puzzle
Today I have been trying to work out why this buddleja hedge has so many bald patches at the back, stripped of foliage and snapped in places. Perhaps it is a type of fungal die-back or particularly aggressive snails. If only there was some sort of clue. Seriously it is very tricky trying to pruneContinue reading “Puzzle”
Monsters
There is good vegetable growing and there is showing off. The parsnip at the front is for the purposes of scale and is at this moment in time feeling very inadequate. Well done to the du Mauriers for producing these monsters. I did wonder if they were glowing green, just a little …..
Off The Edge Gardening 