Can you believe it's been over six years since Jim and I cycled along the Rhine from Mainz to Cologne? Why, we were practically children. Just one of countless castles on the Rhine, summer 2016 On that occasion it was the sheer number and variety of castles that stick in my mind. And on the … Continue reading The Romantic Road: Cycling Across Bavaria
Summer Flowers
The Priory In June
I will be leaving Sussex and The Priory very soon. And if I'm excited about my future life in a different part of England, my lower lip trembles sometimes at the thought of leaving this garden; a garden in which I've spent hundreds and hundreds of my days. (By a rough calculation, more than 1500). … Continue reading The Priory In June
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
The Tropical Border – 4th Year
When I started the tropical border in 2012, it was hardly deserving of the name but a year later it looked more the part. And by 2014 many of the plants were enormous and the bed did have a whiff of tropicality about it. This year it has continued to mature and, on the whole, … Continue reading The Tropical Border – 4th Year
The Tropical Border And How I Learned To Hate Soaker Hose
Like last year, I gambled on a fine spring by planting up the tropical border early. In mid-April, to a comb-and-tissue-paper fanfare, I dug up the big red banana (Ensete maurelii) from its winter-greenhouse-home and wheeled it into position. And then I did the same for the 'small' one. Each year I add a deep … Continue reading The Tropical Border And How I Learned To Hate Soaker Hose
A Gravel Garden For Free
Behind some outbuildings at the Old Forge is an oil tank and an expanse of gravel. For three long years, I weeded that gravel until, a couple of years ago, I (finally) realised I was being stupid. Instead of weeding, why not fill it with plants? Drought resistant, hardy plants of course but there would … Continue reading A Gravel Garden For Free
The Anxious Gardener 