... is foolhardy and best avoided. (I could end this post now, I suppose ... but let's press on for now). Over the summer, I've been fascinated by wasp nests in the grounds of The Priory. One is visible enough to avoid treading on by mistake. The nest, like most in the garden, is in … Continue reading Strimming A Wasp Nest …
English Country Garden
A Garden Tour: The Priory In July
Summer has almost passed me by and, oddly, I haven't posted any photos of The Priory since the spring. So as a belated companion piece to my recent tour of The Old Forge, here's a look at The Priory during July - if only two months late. We'll start off in the car-park, again, … Continue reading A Garden Tour: The Priory In July
A Garden Tour: The Old Forge
I don't feature The Old Forge very often but not because it isn't worthy: it's simply that The Priory is the main star of my blog and a jealous one too. Nevertheless, in late July on my regular Tuesday visit, I took some snaps and thought I'd give you a short - if incomplete - … Continue reading A Garden Tour: The Old Forge
A Pumpkin In My Compost
I've taken an obvious break from blogging recently but I wanted to quickly show you a pumpkin plant because ... well, have a look. It's content, isn't it? I didn't have space in the veg beds so rather than throw away six gift plants, I planted them in a compost bin. I watered on first … Continue reading A Pumpkin In My Compost
The Bedraggled Kestrel
Old, dilapidated and long overdue for renovation, The Priory garage and workshop is a magnet to birds seeking a home. Robins, blackbirds and wrens hop through holes in the rotten doors or missing window panes, to build a nest and raise chicks. A family of robins left in the past few days and I miss … Continue reading The Bedraggled Kestrel
Birdsong And What To Do About It
In a previous post, I mentioned how the midday hoot of a tawny owl - and my thwarted attempts to see him - had driven me nuts. But that was nothing ... nothing ... compared to the song of a certain bird which has sent me doolally. This unidentified bird sings a simple refrain, over and … Continue reading Birdsong And What To Do About It
A High Wind In Sussex
It is with trepidation that I drive to the Priory after or even, like this morning, during a gale. Storm Katie caused havoc across Southern England and the thought of a large oak or ash lying on its side gave me an anxious twitch as I drove to work. Carefully dodging branches and a few … Continue reading A High Wind In Sussex
The Anxious Gardener 