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Renewal and Renovations
A deluded daffodil. The rest have not even broken ground yet. I have about three acres of land here but I ‘garden’ about half. The initial division of the land into garden and field is interesting (and not of my making). The shape of the garden proper resembles a leg of mutton with the long…
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The Last Days of the Supermoon
I am rather pleased with this dramatic effect which happened when I tried combining the last dog walk of the evening with a photograph of the moon. Who knew that a torch could be so effective. When I first read an article by Mick Kelly the founder of ‘Grow it Yourself’ about growing garlic I…
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A Sting In The Tail
I am too busy looking after my trees, shrubs and vegetables to plant a lot of annual or perennial flowers. However, who needs them when you have tiny wildflowers thriving in the cracks of the dry stone wall. This is one of the moon jellyfish occupying my swimming place at the moment. I believe that…
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Hints of Summer
At this time of the year much of the garden looks very dull and this year it is also waterlogged with the appropriate squelching sounds to compliment the scene. One has to admire the plants that continue to pretend that it is high Summer, like this Lavatera. New flowers are appearing all the time and…
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Colour – In Spite of Everything
Regardless of the weather there is one truly sheltered spot in my garden – behind a shed. The only acer that is truly thriving resides there, where I placed it on a temporary basis when I moved into the property, but it is now there to stay. My less successful attempts have led to some…
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Four-Legged Garden Pests
The yearly cycle continues as various small animals try to set up winter homes in my raised beds providing endless entertainment and exercise for my dogs. They don’t ever catch anything as the creatures are ‘savvy’ enough to pack their bags and move to safer headquarters. I used to try and stop the dogs but…
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Winter Colour
3 DECEMBER 2022 There are always surprises each winter when a few flowers appear out of season. These roses at the bottom of the drive are just some of the many blossoms that are popping up all over the garden. There is usually just one bunch per plant but it is enough to brighten up…
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Autumn Colours
The autumn colours have been very impressive this year, as this young blueberry bush demonstrates. However, they lost their leaves very quickly as they were exposed to the series of storms that have battered the garden on and off for weeks. By next year, I am hoping that the hawthorn hedge that I have planted…
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Fantastic Fungi
It has been a very strange autumn in the garden. In the last few weeks bumble bees, hoverflies and even the odd butterfly have made the occasional appearance on sunny days. The holly offers plenty of food but some of my catmint plants have started to flower again and are equally popular. Even the Eleagnus…
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New Beginnings
I have a love-hate relationship with the Inula Hookeri which dominates whatever part of the garden it inhabits. Its flower is interesting from the moment it appears, but it spreads rapidly and will quickly push out anything growing near it. Each winter I have the arduous task of containing it, muttering under my breath as…