The first frost has struck the Priory and the tropical bed wasn't happy. Dahlias were disheveled, discoloured and crumpled when I turned up for work (bright as a shiny new button) on Monday morning. I bundled all that dahlia top-growth off to the compost bins and wrapped up the banana (Musa basjoo) in hessian. This … Continue reading Away Awhile Again
My Pond Leaks …
... and I should like to fix it. (That's a phrase straight out of a 1970's Hungarian/English phrase book; in the Socialising/Dating section). But sadly, I don't know how. I have tried. I asked Reg (his real name) to fetch his implausibly big digger and help me. He dumped a huge digger bucket of wet … Continue reading My Pond Leaks …
Gunnera manicata
Now that I've decided on gardening glasnost (see 'To Make A Gardener Anxious'), I can tell you all about one of my less resounding successes. (Plenty more of these to come). A large garden, with expanses of water, The Priory was just screaming out for Gunnera manicata - giant rhubarb. Growing two to three metres … Continue reading Gunnera manicata
The Ten Minute Gardener – Book Review
I was asked a week or two ago to write a book review by those lovely folk at Transworld Books. Even though the request came by e-mail, I still found myself looking idly over my shoulder (Mr Bean like) to see who they might be asking. But, it was me and a few days later, I received … Continue reading The Ten Minute Gardener – Book Review
To Make A Gardener Anxious
I always try to show the Priory off at it's best. By posting photos of it looking (hopefully) alluring and interesting and beautiful. It seems impolite somehow to do otherwise. It is, I think, a very special place and I started blogging, partly, in order to share it's charms with others. Of course, by framing … Continue reading To Make A Gardener Anxious
Let’s Build A Compost Bin!
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the compost bins at the Priory (see "Composting the Priory") and was inundated with one request for more information on how I built them. So, for what my carpentry skills might be worth, here we go. A couple of years ago, I picked up a copy of … Continue reading Let’s Build A Compost Bin!
The Chelsea Chop
There is only one plant that I always administer the Chelsea chop to. Come rain or shine, without fail, and that's sedums. Except this particular one which, come rain or shine, I didn't. Looks nice though, doesn't it? Beautiful, dark coloured flowers on a plant in my own garden (unchopped and overlooked due to all … Continue reading The Chelsea Chop
The Anxious Gardener 