The life and loves of a time-poor plantsman
At a show on the scale of Chelsea picking out just ten plants which really get you excited is a tough job. Every year there are clear plants of the moment, which this time happened to be Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’, Enkianthus (a bit of a surprise), peonies (especially blousy white varieties) and Aquilegia in every […]
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The far south east corner of Kent is frequently overlooked, regarded by many as nothing more than the down-at-heel gateway to the delights of France and continental Europe. Yet behind the white cliffs of Dover lies rolling countryside dotted with sturdy Saxon churches, pretty weather-boarded villages and the romantically crumbling former defences of the realm. […]
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Sound the fanfare, here he is, His Majesty William Rex, King of the Spring. After a disappointing year last year, when all my bulbs came up blind, he’s back on regal form. Despite his personal odour issues, (it wouldn’t be polite to point them out) spring just wouldn’t be the same without him!
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After almost four weeks away from our coastal garden I am back in the driving seat. For a fleeting moment this morning it felt like spring was really here – warm sun on my back and birds singing in the trees. The warmth brings out the foxy odour of Fritillaria imperialis, which I find strangely […]
Read MoreIt’s now or never for me in terms of planting spring-flowering bulbs. As with most things in gardening there is the text book time to do it and the way things really happen. I’m a bit late for planting daffodils (Narcissus) and a tad early for tulips, but come rain or shine (currently rain), the […]
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Right on cue, the lovely people from Avon Bulbs delivered my order yesterday – a box packed with lilies, tulips, crocuses, Narcissus, Iris, and Alliums. With it came the promise of new varieties and exciting colour combinations to experiment with. The timing could not have been better, leaving me four weekends over which to plant them before […]
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