I could not believe my ears. Had she really just said that? I'd only known Margaret (the local farmer) for a few hours. How could she possibly have formed such a robust opinion of me in such a short time? It was the summer of 2008. I had applied for the post of gardener at … Continue reading “I Hate You”
Countryside
Jenny Wren And The White Hart*
Water quality in the east pond has recovered. Heavy winter rain has flushed out any remaining sewage, bleach and bath-suds. (A cowboy plumber, working in 2008, patched the soil pipe from the main bathroom into the drains carrying rainwater to the pond, see - 'A Mild Sense Of Panic'). In my first two years at … Continue reading Jenny Wren And The White Hart*
An End To May
As I walk about the Priory gardens, I am watched. When deep in thought (it happens), I might suddenly look up and be quite startled. These four made me jump - but then it doesn't take much. Margaret's cattle are part of the summer scene at the Priory; mooing loudly (and often very unnecessarily), drifting … Continue reading An End To May
Win A Copy Of ‘Remaking A Garden’
As promised, here's another book giveaway. It is a treat being sent new books but finding time to read them is a problem. When Jessica at Frances Lincoln sent me Sir Roy Strong's latest, I decided to take it with me to the Chelsea Flower Show and read it on the train. But don't try … Continue reading Win A Copy Of ‘Remaking A Garden’
One Day In May
Yesterday was a special day. A five-minute walk away at Margaret's farm, the cows were being let out to summer pasture. I've written about this annual event in the Priory calendar before (see 'A Stampede of Cows'). So, here's just a handful of photos of a spectacle I always enjoy. After several months indoors, the … Continue reading One Day In May
Gravetye Manor
When I planted a Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty' at The Priory, I had no idea what or who it was named after. And then in August a blogging friend, Sara, wrote about a visit to Gravetye Manor and the penny dropped (you can read her post - here). Sara's description and photos were captivating and I wished … Continue reading Gravetye Manor
Breathe In
About a week ago, my laptop died and I spent hours trying to resurrect it. I failed. So I spent several more hours. And failed again. Then I panicked. I feared I had lost spreadsheets and word documents and other files I wouldn't even miss until I needed them. And hundreds of photos. In a … Continue reading Breathe In
The Anxious Gardener 