ruminate vb. to chew (the cud)
Photo editing programs allow you to manipulate colours within photos, toning down everything except red perhaps. That's exactly what todays weather is doing, everything is dull except for the reds, which seem stronger than ever. Every component of my water harvesting system is getting a thorough testing and while I've made a few small alterations…
It's been a week of dodging showers or just ignoring them and getting wet. I managed to plant some wood anemones and a few bulbs, about ten, small ones. Bagged my first Camellia picture of the season too, though this is the wrong blog for that and it wasn't one of mine, unusually. I was…
Water harvesting, that is. We are often urged to try and minimise our use of mains water, with the added incentive that many of us are on a metered supply and stand to save money if we do. Save the world or save some money; it sounds good but I don't have high hopes for…
Two Camellia articles that I am supposed to be writing fall due in October so I've been willing it not to arrive since April. Didn't work, I'd better get writing. It's a funny time of year in the garden; part of me wants everything to go on flowering and looking good for as long as…
The slow downward spiral into autumn continues, slowly this week, a little quicker next week if the forecast is accurate. Soon it will be Camellia season, which always keeps me busy through the winter months. I have buds on new plants that I cannot wait to see in flower. Still lots of colour around though,…
There are lots of groups of plants that divide opinion, genera containing a wide diversity of plants are almost bound to. Even genera with a narrow range can get caught up in disputes, take Cyclamen, among the straight species it is almost inconceivable you could love one but loathe another; but bring in the all…
It's one of those beautiful bright mornings where you go out, take a deep breath and go back in for a jumper. I intend to spend time on my allotment; Monty says it's time to prune my Blackcurrants, not that I watched GW. A bit of weeding wouldn't go amiss either and I should dead…
The cats away and the mice have been playing. Sue gets back on Tuesday and I have a project on the go that needs to be finished and the mess tidied up before then or I'm in trouble. Most of what I've done in the garden proper this week is move things around, by which…
When Cyclamen, Hedychium and Crinum commend themselves for inclusion you know where in the year you are. It'll soon be Nerine season. Last week I included my new shed as an item. This week I emptied the much bigger shed it is to replace and have an empty space for the new glasshouse that arrives next Thursday. Much…
It’s not uncommon to hear gardeners lamenting the lack of colour in their garden towards the end of summer. I’m quite pleased at how much colour I have still and confidently expect it to carry on for some time yet. Let me set out my approach and the principles I follow. Parks departments, and to…
garden ruminations 