For the past few years I have tried to concentrate more on the edible side of gardening, looking for interesting plants with visual appeal and a fair amount of attraction to the bees and butterflies. Circumstances such as weather and temperature have hindered the start of the growing season this year again, but I was … More A Serendipity Gardener
I have tried different forms of gardening over the years. Partly through curiosity and interest but also to find out which way works best for me. Lack of garden space reduces the choice but on some occasions whether in pot or in ground, it makes very little difference and I have tested a few plants … More Variety is the Spice of Life
My new mini greenhouse was no sooner up than it was put through its paces, battling wind and weather. Not even attached to the shed yet, it kept quite firm. A few other things were thrown around, the wooden cage over a raised bed had been blown off and two obelisks, temporarily stuck in a … More On The Road to Recovery
Throughout January we prepare for spring sowing. It’s very tempting to sow seeds earlier than the recommended sowing times but the results are usually disappointing. Sowing tomato seeds from mid-February to March was the best time for me in my area, probably being the best number of daylight hours. My chosen tomato seeds were in … More Mad March
My first attempt to clear my raised beds failed drastically. There were still plants I intended overwintering in them but the severe frost left them in a very undesirable condition. This was my first of four Square Foot Gardening (SFG) raised beds, which was to replace the odd assortment of pots and containers, from which … More Frozen Wastes
I think every day, I am becoming more and more aware of what I am eating. Ideally I would love to be able to grow produce all year round, but living in south-west Scotland, I feel most of the time, we are still living in an ice age. Snow might provide an insular covering for … More New Year, New Changes
So far my planting has been mainly for the table but I still get concerned about our disappearing urban gardens’ effect on wildlife. Having cut down a juniper bush which had been accidentally trimmed too severely, I decided to remove it. I’ve only cut it down to above ground level as the roots will probably … More The Birds and Bees
Sometimes I feel I am alone on my mission to save the planet. I do wish more people would take on board, how being an easy living, throwaway society is killing the planet and damaging our own health. I’ve known people who lived on takeaways because they never took the trouble or time to learn … More Saving the Planet
Autumn is a good time to stock up seeds for next year. Whilst it’s sad to see plants die off in autumn, it’s a bonus to be able to collect seeds or divide plants ready for next year. I’ve always described myself as a fair weather gardener because cold and frosty days don’t see much … More Something for Nothing
It’s rather sad that autumn colours don’t stay longer. It doesn’t take long for that beautiful, colourful mantle to disappear. Some of the leaves didn’t take time to present a colourful show whilst others were ablaze. The leaves of the Acer are all gone now, but those on its neighbouring contorted hazel are a mix … More Colour Me Autumn
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