Helen

Cut it out!

The thing I love about my gardens in May is the almost overwhelming green-ness and lushness of everything. In stuffed gardens like mine, though, it can become almost too much. So while I do go around and mete out the rather daftly named ‘Chelsea chop’ on one or two herbaceous victims, thereby stalling their growth in mid-surge,Continue reading “Cut it out!”

A teaching post

Last week saw me swanning up the M1 with my roof down (glorious weather shone upon us for a whole week) to stay overnight at Coton Manor and teach the following day at the admirable Gardening School there. This is something I have been doing more or less regularly twice a year for the pastContinue reading “A teaching post”

As long as it’s green…

I have been having a go at my dandelions. My lawn is dreadful – basically a bit of weedy, mossy (mostly) green stuff that was in a terrible state when I took it over two years ago because of neglect, shade, too many tree roots, compacted clay soil… all the usual problems. Just by mowingContinue reading “As long as it’s green…”

Helen Dillon’s Libertia

Without a shadow of doubt, the most beguiling plant in my garden in May is Libertia ixioides. The version I have grown for several years, in both my new and my old garden, came from the Great Dixter nursery. The original – which I decided to leave behind when I moved here – was describedContinue reading “Helen Dillon’s Libertia”

Solomon’s Seal sawfly

Confined to my desk by wet weather, I realise that the planting around my pond is the most important in my whole garden because I sit and look at it all the time I am ‘working’. Every leaf matters. Currently the Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal) is powering upwards with almost visible speed in its allotted spaceContinue reading “Solomon’s Seal sawfly”

Rhubarb…rhubarb…rhubarb…

Apart from the last few of last season’s leeks, that’s about all there is on the allotment at the moment. Evil cold wind, unpredictable weather, a week ‘off sick’ and another one recuperating have meant that I’ve done little since I installed my new raised beds.

No show this week

I had the rather surreal experience of opening up The Telegraph this morning (Saturday) and not finding myself there – for the first time ever in 6 (or is it 7?) years. There have been some weeks when I have had a half-sized column, when the Suits decide to ‘shrink’ the Gardening Supplement into theContinue reading “No show this week”

Of kamikaze chaffinches and robins in kilts

It’s April and I can’t believe how cold it is out there. I am still feeding the garden birds. The finches and tits get sunflower kernels, and the container is invariably raided by the local squirrels who are doing their best to gnaw through the plastic.

Well here goes

Easter Saturday, and the sleet is horizontal outside my window. Even the little wagtail hoovering up the scraps left by the blackbirds – male ‘Raymond’, female ‘Biddy’ – Blackster that is, (sorry, I have a bird thing) where was I , yes, even the little wagtail is looking a bit chilly, wagging at half mast,Continue reading “Well here goes”

Hello

This is a brand new thing for me. I shall eventually start writing about what I am doing in my garden and on my allotment. My son (a first class geek) is helping me to get this up and running. In the meantime, you may like to read my stuff in the Saturday Telegraph GardeningContinue reading “Hello”