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
Gardening
New House, New Garden: Introduction
After a seven month house sale and purchase, we finally moved into our new home in mid January. This is what we bought and how it looked on our first viewing last September. It's a flint and brick, terrace cottage; built - according to the estate agent - in the 18th century. Neglected, victim to … Continue reading New House, New Garden: Introduction
Win A Copy of ‘Gardens of the Italian Lakes’
On 5th May, Frances Lincoln publishes 'Gardens of the Italian Lakes' by Steven Desmond, with photographs by Marianne Majerus. Here's your chance to win a copy, smoking hot off the press. But first, a little about the book from Frances Lincoln. The Italian Lakes are a favourite travel destination with gardens around Lake Como and … Continue reading Win A Copy of ‘Gardens of the Italian Lakes’
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
Pollarding And The Zest For Life
Flowers are returning to the Priory ... after selfishly leaving me all alone for long dank months. Still, no hard feelings. There are cautious whispers and murmurings as my fair-weather friends slowly heave themselves out of bed. Beneath large oak and ash on the meadow, small pockets of snowdrops have returned. I did wonder whether … Continue reading Pollarding And The Zest For Life
Win A Copy Of ‘Shakespeare’s Gardens’ By Jackie Bennett
As 2016 is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, here's the perfect book to hunker down with (until decent gardening-weather returns). ‘Shakepeare's Gardens’ by Jackie Bennett hasn't been released yet but Anxious Gardener Inc. (East Sussex) has a shiny new copy up for grabs. If you’d like the chance to win it, I’ll tell you … Continue reading Win A Copy Of ‘Shakespeare’s Gardens’ By Jackie Bennett
A Frosty Pause
After my last doleful post, winter got her act together. For a couple of days last week the rain stopped, the skies cleared, temperatures plummeted, mud froze, and, at long last, it was shiveringly cold. Not on a Siberian or Alaskan scale but at -5°C, Sussex was cold. My first chore on arriving at work … Continue reading A Frosty Pause
The Anxious Gardener 