In The Garden

Although it’s the back end of the year and we’re starting to get everything tidied up for winter, it’s also a time to plan ahead. Now that the temperatures are dropping, it’s the perfect time to plant two types of bulbs, garlic and tulips. Garlic planted in autumn gets a head start and makes a […]

Foxglove tree in bloom! I’ve always admired the “Foxglove tree”, Paulownia tomentosa with its lilac coloured flowers that hang in clusters and when I was at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival earlier in May I saw a fantastic specimen in a garden that was full of flower. Paulownia come from E. Asia and although they […]

This year was a good apple crop and by now the fruits should have all been picked from the trees. It you are storing some, check the fruits every week or so and remove any that are starting to rot, otherwise it will spread to the other apples. In a cool, dark place many varieties […]

Make sure that your onions are in store now after drying in the sunshine. They should last well into the winter – or try making Jill’s onion marmalade with the short keepers! Penstemons don’t like cold, wet winters so as a safe guard it’s a good idea to take a few cuttings now just in […]

Mid-summer and the garden is looking good with plenty of colour and interest. I still think one of the best ways to add colour to the garden is with a few hanging baskets and planted containers filled with summer bedding plants. When positioned around the house or patio the bright colours and lush planting really […]