Gardening Diary

How to plant the crown jewels

How to plant the crown jewels

Friday, June 14, 2013

GARDENINGQUEEN Victoria’s consort would almost certainly have approved of the gardening being conducted at Osborne House at the moment — even if she may have not been amused.

Walls are at risk from this pretty destructive plant

Walls are at risk from this pretty destructive plant

Friday, June 7, 2013

GARDENING VALERIAN, whether it be red, pink, or the less common white, was a plant I well remember in my youth — growing in the crumbling mortar joints of old stone walls.

Dreadful weather has some beautiful benefits

Dreadful weather has some beautiful benefits

Friday, May 31, 2013

GARDENING THE harsh winter, wet early season and alternate sun and chill in the air seems to have really suited blossom this year.

Does it matter where the wild things grow?

Does it matter where the wild things grow?

Friday, May 24, 2013

GARDENING “WEEDS are just plants growing in the wrong place” is an adage borne of the pragmatic gardener.

Good crops from a 40-year-old bag

Good crops from a 40-year-old bag

Friday, May 17, 2013

GARDENING TO PLANT out or not to plant out, that is the question at this time of year — and this May, in particular, it is a knotty one.

Beans means runners

Beans means runners

Friday, May 10, 2013

GARDENING AS REGULAR readers will know, I have grown my old father’s runner bean varieties, salvaged from his shed long after his death, for more than four decades now — faithfully harvesting seed each autumn to keep the strain going.

The abbey habit is growing

The abbey habit is growing

Friday, May 3, 2013

GARDENING IF EVER a project deserved to be blessed, it is Quarr Abbey’s gardening idea.

Unexpected delights of cheap gardening

Unexpected delights of cheap gardening

Friday, April 26, 2013

GARDENING GARDENING for free, or for pennies, is the very best sort.

Gorgeous trees with year-round appeal

Gorgeous trees with year-round appeal

Friday, April 19, 2013

GARDENING SPRING may have sprung — at long last — and as the trees and hedges green up, we can allow ourselves the luxury of thinking summer may actually happen.

Chainsaw sculptors to battle for trophy

Chainsaw sculptors to battle for trophy

Friday, April 12, 2013

GARDENING TIME was when garden tree sculptures were a rarity but they have really caught on here to the point where I reckon we have more per head of the population in private gardens and public spaces than most other places.

Return of the giant pumpkins

Return of the giant pumpkins

Friday, April 5, 2013

GARDENING THIS week, there is a fruit and nut double act tale of the very large and the diminutive.

Crimson emperors and pink flamingoes

Crimson emperors and pink flamingoes

Thursday, March 28, 2013

GARDENING FROM the now distant days when the flowers were a decorative, and peppery, addition to dainty tea garden sandwiches at Dunnose Cottage, nasturtiums have been a firm family favourite.

Tender pink stems of spring delight

Tender pink stems of spring delight

Friday, March 22, 2013

GARDENING IT’S all too easy to become disheartened when you start gardening. The best laid plans can be destroyed by mice, disease, the weather — all sorts of things.

Gardeners look to past glories

Gardeners look to past glories

Friday, March 15, 2013

GARDENING JUST at the time ambitious plans were coming to fruition to restore a little green oasis in the centre of Ryde to a Regency reflection of what it once was, I was busily hatching my own scheme a few yards away.

Look after your soil and it will look after your plants

Look after your soil and it will look after your plants

Friday, March 8, 2013

GARDENING THE answer to good gardening really does lie in the soil.

Time to get ready and start with spuds

Time to get ready and start with spuds

Friday, March 1, 2013

GARDENING AFTER the “dead” month of January, late February has kicked off the gardening year.

Now's the time to adopt a garden

Friday, February 22, 2013

GARDENING For those who are frustrated spring is just around the corner as they do not have a growing space — try The Footprint Trust’s Adopt-A-Garden scheme.

What has happened to Wordsworth’s daffodils?

What has happened to Wordsworth’s daffodils?

Friday, February 15, 2013

GARDENING CRIKEY! William Wordsworth would not have much to write home about these days if he looked in my garden for his material.

A flavour-filled future to savour

A flavour-filled future to savour

Friday, February 8, 2013

GARDENING ONE of the many great things about gardening is looking forward to the taste of the seasons to come — and one of the best of those tastes is the tomato, gracing a salad with dressing and basil.

A huge stage for colourful blooms

A huge stage for colourful blooms

Friday, February 1, 2013

GARDENING YEARS ago, there was real rivalry between the dahlia grower and chrysanthemum cultivator over which was best.

More Features

Friday, June 7, 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013