Still the plant catalogues are falling through the letter box, advertising plants, seeds and many gifts to give a friendly gardener. I have tried many of their products between encouraging plants to grow and something to scare away the enemies. You can tot up quite a bit between all the deterrents, none of which seem … More Condiments and Coffee
It’s sad to see the darker nights come back. I could quite happily cope with lower temperatures as long as there were lighter nights. There is something about darkness which makes you want to close the blinds and settle down to a sedentary evening in front of the TV. Not all dark is bad though, … More Dark Nights
At long last I am getting a harvest of tasty fruits from the greenhouse. There have been a few disappointments of new plants but the season isn’t over yet, they may still give me an idea of what they are like. The cherry tomatoes were the first to ripen and are constantly getting nibbled. It … More Cool As A Cucumber
Strangely enough, many of the herbs I grow are never used. I like basil, but do I need eight varieties? It is interesting to taste and smell the differences but I am more inclined to use the Italian classic basil in cooking. The purple ruffles basil is a pretty colour even though it didn’t ruffle … More Herby, Mexican Style
For some time I have suffered from a skin complaint, possibly eczema or similar. Painful hands, drying, splitting skin, sent me off for serious medication as there was nothing I tried that worked. As time passed, I realised most of the skin irritation was after working with tomatoes. Just checking and removing the offshoots was … More Tomatoes Rebel
It seems to be whatever nature has done, man thinks he can do better. Humans are never happy with what they have been given. Plants, animals, birds and insects have a sense of naturally adapting to their surroundings without human intervention. They live according to their needs but humans can’t, they have always got to … More To Err Is Human (Naturally)
They are only secret seeds because I bought them and forgot about them, so it is a pleasant surprise when I discover them again. Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Green Goddess’, an arum lily with a white flower with green tips. Poisonous but so many common plants are at some point in their lives and we don’t think about them … More My Secret Seeds
I have come to the conclusion, I sow too many seeds. I just like experimenting with and tasting the produce but I think I need to be a bit more practical. I have already grown over a hundred varieties of plants in my small area. I think that is enough to prove just what can … More Changing Seasons
We have been given this planet and yet we abuse it because we think we know best. The grass isn’t green enough, it’s too long, it’s not short enough etc. so we redesign the land of which we have been made guardians. We spray dangerous chemicals and artificial fertilisers and destroy land for the sake of … More The Rewilding Experiment
We have plenty of the small, buff-tailed carder bees around but there isn’t much choice of flowers available here at the moment. I have a few miniature daffodils, some tulips and a few other small spring flowers. However, once the Cotoneaster horizontalis is in flower, the garden will be buzzing with them. Looking good in a dull corner … More Where There’s Life, There’s Hope
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