Planting wood anemones
Today I’m planting wood anemones, a first for my garden. Wood anemones provide beautiful carpets of early-spring blooms and, provided there is access to sun, are ideal for planting in semi-shade under trees and shrubs. Many woodland plants have bulbs or tubers that store food until it is needed to produce new growth. The two varieties of Anemone nemorosa that I’m planting (the…
Compost composition
Today, in between the rain showers, I dug out some compost to add to the flower beds. I found quite a decent amount of composted material at the bottom of the bin, but to be honest it is more slimy than crumbly. I’ve done some research, and discovered I’m being too green! ‘Greens’ and ‘browns’ Ideally, compost should be a 50:50…
Fleet Pond
This gallery contains 14 photos.
Last Sunday dawned crisp and sunny, so we decided to take a walk around Fleet Pond. I guess, because of its name, I’ve always envisaged this local green space to be a large ‘pond’ covered in duck weed, bordered by a few weeping willows and home to numerous bread-scavenging mallards. How wrong could I be! Fleet Pond is actually Hampshire’s largest…
Simply …
Sometimes it’s good to simply be in your garden, so I’m laying down a challenge. It’s an easy one! Forget the weeding and the pruning. Go out into your garden and stop, look and listen. I promise it will be 15 minutes well spent.
First-time leaf cuttings
The best time to take leaf cuttings is mid-spring to summer, but it’s still possible in autumn. Here’s how I made some new marguerites in a few simple steps.
Mahonia on the move
Moving established shrubs is never easy, especially when they’re as prickly as a Mahonia. But follow a few simple tips to minimise the trauma and it can be done.
Lunchtime mill stream meander
Determined to get out for 15 minutes of green, despite the drizzle, this lunchtime walk in Abingdon took me through Abbey Gardens, along the millstream and up to Abingdon Lock.
First tweet
A lunchtime walk through Abingdon Abbey Gardens – formal bedding, autumnal foliage, squirrels and swans. All worthy of a first @15greenmins tweet.
Back on a bike
A highly recommended offroad mountain bike ride in Hampshire, starting from New Alresford. Suitable for beginners, with gentle hills, shady bridleways and lovely farmland landscapes. Plus some mud and deep puddles!