Garlic scapes
Updated: 21st May 2024 Garlic scapes grow on Hardneck Garlic, and occasionally on Softneck Garlic (usually only if stressed). If you aren’t sure what type of garlic you are growing, if it starts producing a scape, it’s most likely a …
Purple reign
Purple. It’s my favourite colour. And I love it’s different shades, from lilac to aubergine, blue-purple, pink purple and deep purple. Here are some of the many purples reigning in my garden from Spring to early Summer. Allium hollandicum ‘Purple …
#Florespondence: Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’
For years I’ve been meaning to grow blue Camassia’s and finally, voila! As you can see, it’s very attractive to bees and the purple-blue star-shaped flowers are very attractive. I’ve planted the Camassia under the Quince tree, along with early …
#Florespondence: Osmunda regalis ‘Purpurascens’
It’s quite possible that this, Osmunda regalis ‘Purpurascens’, also known as the ‘royal fern’, is my favourite fern. It’s certainly regal. It’s utterly enchanting, from the moment it sends up its fronds and begins to unfurl. It’s in a …
#Florespondence: Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Havran’
When I first got interested in gardening, about 18 years ago, I was lucky enough to come across the Christopher Lloyd book, Colour for Adventurous Gardeners. It brought together colours that you might not consider go together, and showed you …
Growing asparagus: a little story about the triumph of hope over experience
I’m certain it’s not meant to be quite this hard to grow asparagus. I mean, I know it can take up to four years from when you sow the seeds or young plants, before you can start harvesting. But for …
#Florespondence: Clematis ‘Eleanor’
Did you know there are alpine clematis? Well, I didn’t, and when I came across this little beauty, Clematis ‘Eleanor’, at a plant fair last year, I was very taken with it. Eleanor grows to only 30cms high and …
Photo essay: Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire April 2019
Carew Castle I love castles, just love them. They are such fun, and fascinating historically. Wales has a lot of wonderful castles, but not surprisingly, a lot of them aren’t that accessible for people with disabilities. Which isn’t a complaint, …
Photo essay: Solva Harbour, Pembrokeshire, April 2019
The head of the harbour at Solva We recently spent about 9 days down in Solva, Pembrokeshire. Solva is only a few miles away from St David’s and it’s a quiet and sweet little village. We stayed at Caswell House, …
Daily Perennials: 22nd to 28th April 2019
Daily perennials this week.Monday 22nd April – Fragaria x ananassa ‘Samba’It might not look like it, but this is a strawberry flower! This has smaller fruit than the typical strawberry, however, it also flowers and fruits for a much longer …