New Plants At The Watch House: August 2019
Reading time 13 minutes
Both gardens were overflowing with plants long before August arrived. There was a point at which getting from the garden gate to the front […]
Perennials
The Watch House NGS Open Weekend 2019
Reading time 11 minutes
And relax! After several weeks of intensive preparation, another National Gardens Scheme open weekend lies behind us. Rather like Christmas there’s an almighty build-up […]
The Diary of a Plant Addict
Reading time 17 minutes
If my blog did not already have a title, ‘The Diary of a Plant Addict’ would be a strong candidate. I’ve had the most […]
Violet Time
Reading time 5 minutes
One of the many frustrations of having flu is that everything tastes and smells odd. Apparently viral particles linger longer in the nose and […]
Winter Heliotrope: Petasites fragrans
Reading time 5 minutes
What better way to start the New Year at The Frustrated Gardener than with a plant that flowers through the darkest, coldest months. The […]
Autumn Spice
Reading time 3 minutes
The problem with owning a garden dominated by evergreens and tropicals is that I don’t really get to experience autumn colour at home. My […]
How to Grow Ornamental Gingers in UK Gardens
Reading time 24 minutes
Ornamental gingers – we’ve admired them whilst on holiday in tropical countries, or seen them curated in the glasshouses of botanical gardens, but […]
TALES FROM THE GIN & TONIC GARDEN, Part II
Reading time 9 minutes
It’s almost 15 months since the Gin & Tonic Garden first came into being. My compact, 20ft x 20ft courtyard is still occasionally referred […]
Plant Profile: Dahlia ‘Nicholas’
Reading time 5 minutes
I should have predicted it. I take a holiday, I unwind (sort of), and up creeps the dreaded tonsillitis. It happens every time, […]
Hunting Brook Gardens, County Wicklow
Reading time 14 minutes
It was raining as we arrived at Hunting Brook; a light, steady drizzle filtering through opaque air. The lanes leading to the garden […]
The Final Countdown
Reading time 12 minutes
Twenty days to go and the countdown to my NGS garden open weekend is well underway. In truth the garden does not need another […]
Reflections on a Busy Week
Reading time 10 minutes
What a rollercoaster ride last week was. It began with visits to two very fine private gardens, open by appointment for the National Garden Scheme, […]