Ravendale House

The other day I wrote about the strange goings-on in our field, well today it got stranger and grizzlier.

(more…)

Having a big garden means that as well as producing fruit, veg and flowers, we also produce a lot of rubbish. By this I mean weeds, prunings, hedge trimmings and the like, most of which we compost, but some we have to burn. On average we have a bonfire twice a year.

(more…)

Many years ago, when the plant buying part of our gardening bug was at it’s height, we bought 7 azaleas in the sale at a local garden centre. It was before we moved here so must have been over 13 years ago.

(more…)

As the title suggests it is now 3 years since we bought our shed, Billy. Each year, around this time, I give him a lick of paint just to spruce him up and so far this strategy is working, because despite our original misgivings he is wearing quite well.

(more…)

Today I thought I’d have a look back at my gardening year, highs, lows and everything in-between. It’s not been the greatest year due to the poor summer weather and my bad shoulder, but here goes anyway.

(more…)

They say a weed is just a plant growing in the wrong place. Whilst I would argue there are some exceptions to this, I do think it perfectly describes the Speedwell that grows in one part of our garden.

(more…)

Yesterday it rained from the moment I got up, to the moment I went to bed. What a miserable rotten day, and August too. However, they say every cloud etc. etc. and so it was yesterday.

(more…)

In my experience August is normally a quiet month in the gardening calendar. The weather is usually settled, dry and warm. Plants and seedlings have been planted out, vegetables and fruits have been gathered in, stored or preserved. Most of the garden birds have packed their red and white spotted hankies and gone to visit friends. (Where do birds go in August?) All is well with the world. So why not sit back and simply appreciate all your hard work.

(more…)

Today I had another ‘proper’ gardening day, that’s the second in 2 days. If I keep on like this I’m in danger of becoming a proper gardener!

(more…)

After a tiring day yesterday we went for a short walk before tea (which thankfully Peter was making.) We hadn’t gone far when we spotted something neither of us have ever seen before. Sadly it was dead.

(more…)