One day I will leave the Priory for ever. My fingers will be prised one-by-one from the greenhouse door frame and I will be dragged, yowling and shrieking, to a waiting white van. And on that day, I would like to think that one of my legacies to the gardens, will be the sheer number … Continue reading Not Quite Thirteen Ways Of Looking At Crocuses
English Country Garden
Beaky and the Nest Boxes
I'm back home safe and sound from my winter walking adventure in Yorkshire and Cumbria. It'll take a few days more to sort through all the photos and come up with some wordsandwordsandwords. In the meantime ..... A few weeks ago, I posted some photos of blue tits using the bird feeders at the Priory. … Continue reading Beaky and the Nest Boxes
A River Runs By It
I scampered over to the northern edge of the Priory grounds the other day. (I do quite a bit of scampering when no-one's about). Here, a small river forms the boundary to the estate. In summer it can dry up almost entirely, leaving just a broken line of deep, shady pools; in winter it can … Continue reading A River Runs By It
A Year Of Blogging
The Anxious Gardener is one year old! Hardly seems possible - but it is. During the dark and cold days of January 2011, I began to think idly about starting a blog. Didn't know why particularly ... still don't. But I did think that it might help my brain from atrophying (jury's still out on … Continue reading A Year Of Blogging
Desuckering Alders and Pollarding Willows
At this time of year, I have to remove all the suckering growth from the alders and the willows that ring the ponds and line the ditches. The suckers grow from the base of each of the alders ... ... in the Priory gardens but they also grow from the stumps of felled trees. These … Continue reading Desuckering Alders and Pollarding Willows
I Love My Seed Boxes
There I've said it. Does that make me weird? Well, so be it. It's just that they hold such promise. Such potential. Opening one is always a pleasure and a reminder of what can be (and conversely, of what wasn't to be). But I do find that the seed box itself has to be interesting … Continue reading I Love My Seed Boxes
Mosty Frorning
I mean ... oh, never mind ... you know what I mean. After a warm, wet winter here in Southern England, last week we were finally hit by some hard and decent frosts. I like frost. I like how it punctuates the year and zaps all that can't survive freezing temperatures. I like the scrunchiness … Continue reading Mosty Frorning
The Anxious Gardener 