For a couple of days last week the skies cleared and the sun shone. After a short holiday away, a return to work wasn't so very awful. We've had plenty of dark cloud and rain recently but with sunlight filling the valley, there's nowhere I would rather be. And neither, I suppose, would Digby the … Continue reading Autumn Light
Countryside
The Tawny Owl
I joined the Priory in the summer of 2008 and since then, I have regularly heard the call of a male tawny owl. From late morning until I go home, the magical hoo-hoo of that owl has both delighted me and driven me nuts. I've stopped work, I've run for my camera and I've stalked … Continue reading The Tawny Owl
Wordless Wednesday: Peckish?
A Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) wraps a newly caught honeybee.
September Days
After a hot, dry September the garden is tired. The meadow is spent; spring and summer wild flowers are over and have set seed. It will be mowed next week. But there is still some colour at the Priory - although any remaining flowers in the kidney beds have had scant help from me recently. … Continue reading September Days
Wordless Wednesday
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), The Old Forge, yesterday.
Win a Copy Of ‘The Splendour Of The Tree’
Here is the second of this month's book giveaways. And what a smashing book it is too. I would have nabbed a copy for review if I had the time to write one and my gardening book-shelves weren't already overspilling. 'The Splendour of the Tree' was published two days ago by Frances Lincoln at £25.00. … Continue reading Win a Copy Of ‘The Splendour Of The Tree’
The Tropical Border – 3rd Year
Mid September already? It seems just a few short weeks since I lugged a large Musa basjoo out of a greenhouse; since I stripped the straw protection off those I'd left outside. Only a little while since I wheeled out Colocasia esculenta and hefty red bananas (Ensete maurelii). Hardly any time at all since I … Continue reading The Tropical Border – 3rd Year
The Anxious Gardener 