*Something a bit different from me today* These are humbling times and there are many heroes out there at the moment, from those keeping our food chain going, maintaining our home energy supplies, caring for our relatives & friends in residential homes and many of the day to day equally essential services that we often take for granted. We were all super proud in our house the other day when we saw my husband's best friend Colonel Ashleigh Boreham on TV, being interviewed about his role in the building of the Nightingale Hospital in London. The ability of some people to step up in ..read more

Now if you're gonna Google 'all about bees' then let me save you the time. Grab yourself a copy of Jean Vernon's new book 'The Secret Lives of Garden Bees' and everything you'll ever need to know will be there and more! The Secret Lives of Garden Bees simply oooooozes passion.  Jean's love of bees runs, like honey (see what I did there...lol), from page to page.  The book is a large 7 x 10 inch hardback that you'll go back to time and time again and is packed with information about the different types of bees, how to spot and how to help these precious creatures. From bee behaviou ..read more

With all the doom n' gloom in the world right now, the garden and allotment have become even more special to me. Somewhere to escape the insanity & fear every time you turn on the TV, radio or step into a supermarket.  It's funny how some people's attitude to health & well-being have suddenly changed overnight to simply needing more 'stuff'...loo rolls, soap, canned food, pasta, water, blah, blah, blah... Before the Coronavirus, where was the fear of all the other health conditions, that on a daily basis take so many people before their time? Why weren't people panicking t ..read more

Image courtesy of Burpee Europe Allow me to introduce the stunning Verbascum 'Snowy Spires' from Burpee Seeds - Europe. I introduced Verbascums to the Tidy Garden last year and was blown away by just how long their flowering period was, how elegant they looked and, most importantly, how much insects loved 'em. So I'm thrilled to be trying out the beautiful 'Snowy Spires' this year.  You can sow indoors now or straight into the garden in July / August.  Burpee do not sell direct to the public so I have listed details of UK suppliers down below. Image courtesy of Burpee Europe Up nex ..read more

Tomato 'Veranda Red' image courtesy of Burpee Europe Seed planning for the year ahead is in full swing here and I'm delighted to introduce to you a selection of tomato seeds from Burpee Europe, who will be selling at a number of outlets in the UK this year. First up is Tomato 'Veranda Red', launched at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in 2019 and making it's debut in the Burpee Europe 2020 catalogue. Veranda Red is an excellent choice if you're short on space as it's perfect for growing in small pots (even pots as small as 11cm!!), on a balcony, patio or red veranda (see what I di ..read more

Ahoy & welcome back! 2020...can you believe it? Back in 2000, at the start of the millennium, 2020 seemed ages away. Time sure does fly by. Anyway...here we are at the beginning of a new gardening / allotmenting year and I for one can't wait. I have big plans for up the allotment.   One of those plans is to increase the number of compost bins. I have 3 already, one of which is now a year old, and if you'd been up the plot when I emptied out the contents, you'd have heard an excited 'SQUEEEEEAAL' as my first ever pile of homemade soil was revealed.  Who'd have thought compost could b ..read more

I can't believe another year is drawing to an end already.  Where the flamin' 'eck have the days gone? It's been another fabulous year of work and home gardening, with the added bonus of becoming an allotment holder.  At the beginning of the year I took on Plot 38a and continued to look after the neighbouring one, Plot 38b. From January both plots will officially be mine. I'm over the moon...YAY! Nothing beats homegrown... yes you have to flick off the slugs, wash off the mud and pick off the manky bits...  ...but knowing it's chemical free is all that matters to me. Not ev ..read more

This year has probably been one of the best years ever in the ol' garden. Usually the heat of summer tires the garden quickly, everything gets that washed out look. The vibrancy of spring long gone.  But this year has been different. Yes we've had a hot summer, thankfully not the intensity of heat like last year, but everything has remained intense, lush, healthy and alive. Here we are now, fast approaching October and the garden is still going strong. I'm sure we've had 3 flushes of delphiniums this year.  I can't remember if I mentioned that I re-edged the flower bed ..read more

Spring 2019, so far, has been glorious.This is definitely my favourite time of year. Everything has a zing of freshness about it, everywhere you look there is new life...I love it! Last autumn I planted a whole heap of inexpensive tulips from Wilko and The Range.  I have been so impressed and will add more to the garden this year too, especially more of the frilly varieties.      Of course, if you're a regular follower you'll know that it's now Auricula season, so brace yourself for the first batch of blooms from the Tidy Garden. Meanwhile up the allotment, HUGE amounts of work have been ..read more