In a quiet crease of the South Downs lies Charleston Manor. It is somewhere I have long wanted to visit and so, when I heard that the gardens were open, I almost fell over with excitement. After a pub lunch in nearby Litlington, we trundled up the yew-lined drive, to the house. The house itself … Continue reading Charleston Manor
English Country Garden
Strangers On My Knapweed
Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) grows widely in the meadow. It flowers from June till September, is very popular with a wide range of insects and is usually abuzz with visitors. There are, of course, the usual bees and flies that feed on its nectar. But the other day there were three visitors that I didn't … Continue reading Strangers On My Knapweed
Cutting The Mixed Hedging
There are three 'Priory Big Jobs' punctuating the summer: the cutting of the mixed hedging, the cutting of the beech hedging and the cutting of the meadow. Last week, I set aside two days to tackle the first of these. The Priory drive is a third of a mile long and lined on either side, … Continue reading Cutting The Mixed Hedging
Of Flowers And Foes
I'm rather fond of lilies. I know not everyone is. But I am. I grow them in some of the borders and ... ... in pots. After two years grace, lily beetles have now arrived at the Priory. Did they smell the perfume from across Margaret's fields and home in from some distant garden? Smacking … Continue reading Of Flowers And Foes
Bird Feeder
I am a self-employed gardener and that suits me just fine. But it does mean that I don't get certain benefits. No work pension. No sick pay. No holiday pay. No pay if I just feel like lying in bed, eating lemon bon-bons. And no work-chums. But hey, you weigh things up and you make … Continue reading Bird Feeder
Slug Feeder
This cool, wet "summer" has been fabulous for our slug and snail chums. And I've learnt that I'm really good at something. (What a relief that is). I'm simply brilliant at feeding slugs. I can grow a constant supply of slug food; my repeated sowings of radishes and salad leaves have been much appreciated … Continue reading Slug Feeder
I Turn My Back For Five Minutes
We've been on a city-break to Antwerp. Thought I'd better scrub up a bit first, so I had my monthly bath a couple of weeks early, scoured (most of) the ingrained grime from my hands and scraped (most of) the soil from under my fingernails. I even had a haircut, a shave (radical, I know), … Continue reading I Turn My Back For Five Minutes
The Anxious Gardener 