Thugs you might like.
There is a scattering of delight in the garden just now, and has been for weeks. It’s a flower; a geranium:
Weeds, some questions…
Gardeners very rarely really think about this, being more likely to recognise something simply as a bad plant, which must be got rid of.
Down with weeding: how living with weeds can make us better gardeners.
How many of us love the outdoor housework known as weeding? Is this why we turn eagerly to the gardening pages every week – to discover what boring chores we should be tackling? Unfortunately, for many garden housework haters like myself, our efforts, or lack of, may be on very public display (unlike the state of our bathrooms, for example). The gardens to which we are all exposed in magazines, RHS shows and on television don’t help.
Bindweed, yes or no?
I went to a lot of trouble earlier this year, sticking canes in for bindweed to grow up. I had an evil plan involving plastic bags and POISON! Then somehow there was a lot to do. Or it was raining. Or it looked like a lot of effort…. The bindweed stayed. And...
Throw the Hoe
I’ve never used a hoe. I bought one originally, thinking it was sort of necessary, a gardener’s necessity. Since when it has just taken up space in the potting shed, like the equally useless riddle. It’s no good mulching and then trying to hoe in the mulch – and...
Wild gardening, Veddw style.
At this time of year I make a point of getting away to see what other people are doing in their gardens and it always prompts a great deal of thinking. One thing I got preoccupied with this year was tidiness and the wild. I cheerfully say to visiting coach parties...
Weeding
I did some hand weeding the other day. I know. I know. First time since never…. All the better to learn something then. And I did – see if you agree. It was the creeping buttercup curse. I used to think I would never get on top of this. I have had colour...
Cleavers
I do wonder as I’m pulling out streamers of cleavers ( Cleavers, Clivers, Goosegrass, Stickywilly, Stickywillow, Stickyjack, Stickyleaf, Catchweed, Robin-run-the-hedge, Coachweed, Bedstraw) which break off as I pull – would I do better to be patient, let...
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Recent Posts From: thinkinGardens
Otherworldly Gardens by Mary Keen
“The question to ask is, ‘what is here that is true, that is underneath the superficial things? What is here that matters?”
Autobiography of a Garden by Patterson Webster: a review
Autobiography of a Garden is about the garden making, Pat’s life, the history of the land, the ideas, the art, the plants and the devouring deer.
Garden regionally, get inspired globally by Marianne Willburn
But to dream, and perhaps more importantly, to innovate, we should inspire ourselves globally:
Chelsea or Chaumont? by Catharine Howard
“Have issue. You were so adamant that you wouldn’t go to Chelsea again. Discuss, please”.
Gifting the Ephemeral
. And now, knowing we won’t live forever, we’re thinking about what will happen to the house and garden when we die.
Hadspen aka The Newt in Somerset, by Anne Wareham
The garden is actually interestingly old fashioned. It’s not just the bedding but the relentless inclusion of every garden cliché, however brilliantly executed.
Politicising Plants
I don’t imagine you expected the world of horticulture and gardens to escape the decolonising agenda. But if you have concerns …
Tradition
“Maintaining tradition is only really helpful when the result is positive…”
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