Only 4 weeks till the Summer Show and one class that even those who hate gardening can enter is class 59 – a limerick or haiku themed “Spring”. Haiku is a short form of Japanese poetry – an “epigrammatic Japanese verse form in 17 syllables”, according to my dictionary. The 17 syllables are usually divided into 3 […]
Haikus & limericks Read More »
In many ways, dandelions are the perfect plant: bright yellow flowers for much of the year, if you deadhead regularly, popular with pollinators and seed-eating birds so good for wildlife, very attractive seedheads that are fun for children to play with, striking evergreen foliage you can even eat them. And yet … it’s hard to
In Defence of Dandelions Read More »
Jill, Alistair & the Greenhouse Team had another very successful plant sale on 12-13 May. Thank you to everyone who helped with setting up, selling and tidying up afterwards and to everyone who shopped. So successful was the sale, that we completely sold out of most varieties of cucumbers, courgettes and squash, plus spinach, leeks,
The 2017 Plant Sale Read More »
The RHS has just published a report called “Gardening in a Changing Climate”, in which it brings together the latest scientific evidence and sets out the likely implications for gardeners. Climate change is already happening, affecting weather patterns around the globe. 2016 was the hottest year on record – the second and third hottest were
Gardening in a Changing Climate Read More »
Like many thousands of people, I went for a walk in the country at Easter (the Monsal Trail in the Peak District – carpeted with wood anemones and alive with birdsong) and it occurred to me what an amazing debt of gratitude we all owe to the people responsible for making and maintaining these paths.
Three cheers for pathmakers Read More »
