We have, as you can see, fully embraced ‘no mow May’ and are now well into ‘no mow June’. The decision was not hard as the two mowers I have are both electric and have both sat out in the rain for the last three years so were highly unlikely to have worked. However, I …
Himalayan balsam
Pretty, isn’t it? And it looks lovely when it lines the route of a railway line or a river. But… In the Himalayas, from whence it hoves, balsam is kept reasonably under control by rust fungus (Puccinia komarovii var. glanduliferae for those who want to be technical). But in the UK the rust fungus is …
Rhodies, handkerchiefs and candelabra
A quick paean to the glories of Kenwood in May – the rhodedendrons and azaleas and the handkerchief tree. The big lawn to the west of Kenwood House is entirely surrounded by mature camellias, magnolias, rhodedendrons and azaleas – so in April and May it is a delight to behold. Apart from the surrounding trees …
Heath Hands happenings
I realise that it is a long time since I logged any of our Heath Hands activities – but that certainly does not mean that we have been slacking. Indeed, I have just returned from the Hill Garden where the pieris to the east of the pond was in full and glorious flower. I was …
Early May garden
I had been planning this morning on getting out onto my big patio at the back of the garden, stripping off the table covering and giving the whole thing a good scrub. But sadly, this morning the sun has disappeared and we are back to grey chill, so here I am at my desk. But …
Unearthing graves
The current policy in Highgate Cemeteries is to do battle with the ivy and brambles which ran riot over the cemetery during its many years of neglect and reveal its graves. I must admit to a certain degree of ambivalence over this. I understand the desire to actually see the graves of the star studded …