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
Wildlife
A Watery World
A few short weeks ago, I was bemoaning the lack of rain at the Priory and how very low the water levels were. (See "My Pond Leaks ..."). But not any more. Over the past couple of weeks, we've had some seriously heavy downpours here in East Sussex. The west pond (with it's leak) … Continue reading A Watery World
What’s for Lunch?
I'm finding work hard going at the moment. However many leaves I rake up there always seem to be more. I look up at the oaks, sigh, rub my back and realise that there are still so many more leaves to come. So many, many more. Oaks hang on to their leaves longer than most … Continue reading What’s for Lunch?
Snipping Amphibians …
... is, I imagine, an unpleasant experience and one I try to avoid. Common Toad - Nov 2011 The gardens at The Priory are watery. They contain two large ponds, lots of drainage ditches and are bordered on one side by a mighty, broad river. (Or a little brook - depending on how big you … Continue reading Snipping Amphibians …
The Watcher
Yesterday, I was working in the greenhouse and gradually became aware that I was being watched. I glanced out of the windows to see whether any of Margaret's sheep or cows were out there doing that chewy, starey thing. But no. No visiting workmen either; eyeballing me through the door, noses pressed up against … Continue reading The Watcher
Priory Picture Post # 16
Still got plenty of ... ... to collect. So have to spend a lot of time over at the ... ... trying to make more space. But whenever I do a local busy body ... ... turns up. Uninvited. Getting in the way, making a nuisance of himself. Turning the compost had exposed a wriggly … Continue reading Priory Picture Post # 16
A Security Breach
Have you ever gone into a garden centre and asked for advice on 'rabbit proof plants?' Well, don't bother because here's the answer: there is no such thing. Behind the counter at the garden centre where I worked, we kept a folder. In the folder were information sheets: plants for shade, plants for sun, … Continue reading A Security Breach
The Anxious Gardener 