I'm trying to catch up after all my time off. Serves me right, of course, for going away at such a busy time of year. The grass is growing like billyo and needs weekly cutting now. In the greenhouse, seeds are germinating within a couple of days of being sown and much is ready for … Continue reading Blooming Priory
And Back Again
So. You go away for a few days and when you come back half the internal walls in your house are gone. You've got no bathroom, no kitchen, no heating, barely any ceiling and the only running water is a hosepipe sticking out of the middle of a concrete floor. The one safe, semi-liveable-in room is your bedroom but even here every available inch of floorspace is … Continue reading And Back Again
Away Awhile
I'm going away for a few day to walk in a circle. It's quite a big circle otherwise I needn't leave the warm confines of the greenhouse. It's a 150 miles of circle. It starts in Scarborough and finishes in .... well, I would hope you can guess. When I planned the walk back in December, it seemed … Continue reading Away Awhile
Margaret’s Lamb
The other day (after my elevenses at ten o'clock), I stepped out of the greenhouse and looked to my left; this was what I saw: These are hoggetts; one year old lambs. They are the brothers and sisters of the baby lambs currently being born up on the farm. And they are ready for slaughter. … Continue reading Margaret’s Lamb
Suckerin’ Succotash
I spent yesterday taking the suckers off of alders and willow. It's a job that takes up a great deal of time, but I finally tackled the last of this sucker-fest over in the north-east corner of the garden. It's an area of the grounds that is relatively untouched. The flower meadow ends here where … Continue reading Suckerin’ Succotash
Oak Killer
Despite banging on about how much I love oaks, I plan to kill one. The Priory oaks add real structure, permanence and sheer weight to the beauty of the estate. (Rather like shrubs can do in an herbaceous border, I suppose). As well as oaks, we have other big trees here: enormous ash trees (including … Continue reading Oak Killer
Super Evolving Foxgloves
So. Having burnt my foxgloves (moderate oven, 72 hours), I re-sowed some fresh seed into the same half tray, watered them, popped the tray in a plastic bag and placed on the floor under the bench (away from the heater). And when I looked yesterday there were three young foxgloves still alive! How did that happen? … Continue reading Super Evolving Foxgloves
The Anxious Gardener 