Elder (Sambucus nigra) Elders are large, bushy shrubs or trees, and can grow up to six metres. They grow in both the city and countryside, favouring hedges, footpaths, motorway banks, railway lines, derelict land and domestic gardens. Elderflower blooms are flat-headed sprays with the most wonderful flavour, that start to bloom in late spring. From … Read More
December is a very busy time in the garden! Berry fruit are ripening, plants are growing fast and the first of the stone fruit are ready. Regular weeding and watering are most important at this stage if we expect to get the best from our flowers and vegetables. Once the tops of the spring bulbs … Read More
Unfortunately Covid-19 is still restricting us from meeting. As I write this I do miss the personal contact at the monthly meetings, but the plants carry on regardless! One advantage of the restrictions is we have plenty of time to spend in the garden and be up to date with every thing that needs to … Read More
Rosemary The plant’s botanical name used to be called Rosmarinus officinalis but it was decided by the RHS in 2019, the plant is now to be called Salvia rosmarinus, following research that shows it’s a salvia (in the sage family). Rosemary is the herb of remembrance. The scent of the needle-like leaves seems somewhere between the tang of … Read More
We are now well into spring and the weather has been typically varied from warm to cold to windy. The longer days mean that the plant growth will be rapid but so will the weeds. Preparation for the main planting/sowing for the summer must be well under way. The soil is now in a good … Read More
Edible Flowers With spring blooms starting to colour our gardens after winter, and many of us planting seeds for the coming season, I am excited to propagate a very special set of edibles in my garden – flowers. Edible flowers have seen a revival in interest in recent years as celebrity chefs and home cooks … Read More
It is that time when overwintering pests are starting to venture out. One pest that is not affected by seasons is the common indoor plant annoyance, the sciarid fly or more commonly known as, a fungus gnat.
A bouquet garni, which is French for a “garnished bouquet”; is a bundle of more pungent or “robust” herbs which release their flavor during a slow cooking process. It is mainly used to flavour soup, stews and stock. In contrast, “fines herbes” are a combination of fresh chopped fragrant herbs, such as, parsley, chervil, tarragon, and chives. Fine … Read More
Although I have all ready started some early spring work in the garden, this month really is the start of the busy time as the days get longer and warmer. Plants are beginning to grow out of their winter dormancy with fruit trees in full bloom along with spring bulbs and many ornamental trees and … Read More
August, is it spring or still winter… the annual debate! Most of the work in the garden this month is about completing the winter pruning and spray programme. Later in the month is preparation for early spring work. For gardeners who have a green house with a heat pad early seed sowing may be started. … Read More