July 2011

Just a few days ago, I penned a post questioning how to keep one’s borders looking fresh and new for the summer. Thereby, ensuring that the seasonal transitions, run smoothly for the herbaceous borders. Fortunately for me, the telly proved not just entertaining but refreshingly informative, providing some of the much needed answers. Thank you Gardeners’ World, and in particular, thank you Carol Klein. Carol’s infamous Glebe Cottage garden is [...]

A talented fellow blogger, from across the pond, wrote recently that the start of the summer is nothing but depressing. I thought at the time, that this was a rather odd statement, particularly for a gardener.  Moreover, the mighty Monty, echoed this sentiment on the recent episode of Gardeners’ World, where he acknowledged that as the garden enters a new season, July and August can be pretty tricky months. Though, [...]

The joy of planning a trip to the Hampton Court Flower Show is just that, no need to plan. Ticket purchase, is a relaxed affair, without the months-ahead-or-be-sorry Chelsea style booking procedure. Tickets can be purchased throughout the show week, providing ample flexibility, either online, by phone or at the gate. My only condition; it had to be a week day, to avoid the larger drum of the weekend crowds. [...]

Four and half weeks have passed since braving the Chelsea Chop on some of the summer- and autumn-flowering perennials in the Greenhouse borders. Since, their drastic crew cut, it has been intriguing to see how the individual plants have responded to this infamous border maintenance method. Just under five weeks ago, the Asters, Sedums, Eupatoriums, Veronicastrums, Chelone and Phlox all had the Colin-Crosbie-50%-off short back and sides treatment. Regrowth varies [...]