With the first hint of autumn, the garden is looking decidedly tired in places but the tropical border at least is putting on a show. It doesn't come into its own until quite late in the season and during this hot, dry Sussex summer it has needed almost daily watering. I added plenty of well-rotted … Continue reading The Tropical Border – 2nd Year
Tropical gardening
The Gardens In July
We cut the beech hedging last Monday - the hottest day in the UK for seven years. I normally cut it in early August but by then there will be a houseful of guests so I thought I'd get the job done now. Wielding heavy petrol cutters and long-reach trimmers was slow, exhausting work in … Continue reading The Gardens In July
The Tropical Border Revisited
Back in April, I told you about the new tropical or hot border I was developing (see 'Planning for the Tropical Border'). And I promised to let you know how it turned out; unless, of course, it was a humiliating disaster in which case I most certainly would not. Well, actually it hasn't been too … Continue reading The Tropical Border Revisited
A Priory Pause
I'm about to toss my blogging beret (with ostrich feather) to one side; take off my blogging smoking-jacket (burgundy with faux-ermine trim), lay down my blogging cigarette-holder (fake ivory with diamante inlay) and flick-out my blogging monocle. Yep. Time for a break from the blogging treadmill. At least for a while. But before I go, … Continue reading A Priory Pause
Where’s Spring?
Early April was so hot and so sunny that I screened the south-side of the greenhouse with netting. The nine automatic wall and roof vents cool it a little but it still gets terrifically hot in there. Of course, as soon as I finished stapling the netting into place, the sun slid behind ... ... … Continue reading Where’s Spring?
Planning for the Tropical Border
In between mowing and planting and fretting, I've been cracking on with the tropical border and the two completely new beds (see - 'Busy, Busy, Busy'). I finally finished cutting the turf (on either side of the path) for the two new beds; rock hard soil didn't make this task any easier and yep, I've … Continue reading Planning for the Tropical Border
Busy, Busy, Busy
When not gallivanting around the north of England, I've been gardening frenetically these past few weeks. Why, I've barely had time to file my nails and flick through 'Hello' magazine. Some jobs are annual tasks, such as ... ... the mulching of the beds. I normally try to get them all finished during the winter … Continue reading Busy, Busy, Busy
The Anxious Gardener 