Three Strikes and Out
Weather-wise, we’ve had a terrible start to the gardening season for 2018. Winter long outstayed its welcome and in fact returned several times to make sure we wouldn’t forget it. […]
Plants
Blooming Marvellous
Well, it’s been a few weeks since the two flower heads on the strelitzia tipped, ready to open and we now have the first set of flowers on display: This […]
Seven Years in Waiting
Seven years. Gardeners are a patient lot, they have to be. Many plants work on the timescale of years; a year to germinate, a few years to move on from […]
Spice it up with a Ginger
One of the best things about growing in the UK and particularly in the south is pushing the boundaries on just what you can get away with growing. As I look […]
Time to Water the Orchids
Over the years I’ve accumulated many indoor orchids, all of the phalaenopsis (moth) type. The first couple were bought, several others were gifted and several more were donated from people who […]
Cheap Frontage Upgrade
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a detached house in possession of a long frontage, must be in want of clematis. Or so the line goes. Many people know […]
The Star of India
It’s been the best part of a year since we made a particularly sinful trip to the local Garden Centre and came away with three climbers: A climbing hydrangea A […]
Update from Wisteria Watch
In the UK there’s a series of “watch” programs on TV that attempt to keep us in tune with the seasons: SpringWatch AutumnWatch WinterWatch Wildlife Watch Oddly, summer doesn’t get […]
Strelitzia Progress
As you may know, Strelitzia Reginae (Bird of Paradise) is one of my favourite plants. A good few years ago, I sowed a whole bunch of seeds, out of which […]
Why It’s Called the Delicious Monster
In a way, I’ve been waiting to write this post for over 15 years. It’s all about the once-fashionable house plant commonly known as the “swiss cheese” plant, because its […]