This weekend saw a return to the nursery at Great Dixter to buy plants for the newly rejuvenated garden. A wander around the gardens is compulsory for this Busman’s Holiday shopper. It seems like every corner, every pot, every border … Continue reading
Have you ever seen or eaten Salsify? Salsify grows on my allotment site, it self-seeds and pops up in the long grasses on the edges of plots. Salsify is also known as the Oyster plant for it’s delicate flavoured roots but the flowers … Continue reading
Are you in a jubilant mood this weekend?
The UK is in the throes of being jubilant, you see a certain Maj is celebrating her reign on the throne. Events are being held all over the UK – pageants, tea parties, church bells rung, lighting beacons, bunting hung. You name it. We also have the luxury of a four-day weekend to help us celebrate.
Except it’s grey and overcast and is raining. And I’m sitting on the proverbial garden fence, you see I consider myself agnostic when it comes to royalty – neither an outright Republican nor a flag waving Royalist.
So I’ll just get on with my life here on the south coast. Besides they didn’t consult me on the dates - the last jubilee was on my birthday; a party in the garden, butterfly cakes with the icing melting it was so hot, party frocks and games. So this time around and not being ten I’ll be on my knees planting a zillion bean plants whilst planning what to do with my extra piece of allotment land. Yes Promenade Plantings is empire building 
Jubilant gardening my friends!
Mystery as in what the heck was it that I planted sometime last summer?
A teeny plant given to me by an allotment friend. The said friend I haven’t seen for months so can’t ask.
All I remember is that it grows tall (TICK – now over 7 feet and rising), has purple-lilac flowers (TICK – the first few flower buds are starting to open), attracts bees (hopefully a tick) and maybe grows or comes from in the Channel Islands.
So can you solve a mystery?
Oh and if it continues to keep on growing it may become a murder mystery!
After the muted garden tones of winter Spring is showing us what colour is all about. From delicate pinks and hues of creams and yellows, to bright acid orange-reds all off-set with a bright blue sky. The garden year has started … Continue reading
Nasturtium on the allotment are in full flower – bright yellows, oranges and deep reds greeted me this morning. Isn’t nature stunning
Canna leaves give the autumnal garden colour, structure and texture. With the sun shining through their leaves the shades of yellows, oranges, bronzes and greens sizzle in true Tropicana style
The garden still has plenty of colour, and the Sedums catch my eye every time I walk past. We are experiencing a mini heat wave, an Indian Summer, or simply put weather that is sunny and with temperatures that mean you don’t … Continue reading
