It's snowing outside. Heavy. Not quite a blizzard but it only takes a minute or two of walking in it before you are a snowman. Eyes almost frozen shut. And When you can see; everything is monochrome. And it's a struggle to find the footpath from the road. I'm at work this afternoon, but this [...]
The Beauty in the Bleak.
Driving home after a few days in the New Forest, the image on my Sat-nav tells that I am surrounded by field after field of the cheeriest of bright yellow. Fully blooming Oil Seed rape. At the time, these satellite images were probably taken with the bluest of sky above. The perfect combination. But that [...]
Apple Week at Beningbrough Hall.
I’m currently on my way home from a visit to the final day of ‘Apple Week’ at the National Trust’s Beningbrough Hall. The second Apple Based Sunday in a row for myself, having visited the Autumn Fair at my local park last Sunday. We’ve been looking forward to this event since late summer, having seen [...]
Eggleston Hall Nursery & Gardens.
Eggleston Hall Walled Nursery and Gardens lies in the heart of Teesdale, on the upper course of the river Tees. Which means technically, living a bit further down the Tees, I could get to the gardens via rubber dingy. But in the end I (my partner) decided it would be easier just to take the [...]
Meteors and Ghosts.
Astrophotography is something I've dabbled in before. ( Not that it's a taboo or anything.) Let's be honest: We've all dabbled in it, even if it's just trying to capture a full moon on your smart phone whilst walking home from the pub. #guilty Despite not having the best equipment, I've sometimes managed to get [...]
An evening stroll.
'Greening Grey Britain' isn't a campaign that I think my local town really needs. It is already colourful, in both it's buildings and its characters (how cliche.) But where Gardening is concerned, our town doesn't do to bad either. There's Some wonderful gardens in the side streets and the wynds and under the arches of [...]
Dreaming of Dreaming in Autumn.
Summer isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Don't get me wrong. When it's good, it's second to none. But for me, this year at least, it's been a season of disappointment in a lot of things: not just the weather. But if you're clever about it, It can also be a season of [...]
A Long Overdue Plot Update.
We're nearly half way through July. How did we get half way through July? I mean all I did was blink! How? HOW? Despite probable neglect, things in the garden seem to be happening, whether I want it too or not. (I mean HOW? Last I remember we were still in the aftermath of Christmas. [...]
The Rhododendrons of May and more, at RHS Harlow Carr.
The day started as I wish it always would; an English Breakfast, delivered to our room, with this view. https://twitter.com/plotno12/status/865854059651244033 The trip to Harlow Carr was a spontaneous decision; after struggling to decide which National Trust property to visit ( a bit like arguing over what to watch on Netflix) we turned to the local [...]
Photo Gallery – Alnwick Garden and Beningbrough Hall.
I thought I'd share some photos with you that were taken over the bank holiday weekend at two gardens over two separate days. The first, on the last day of April, my Birthday, was the Alnwick Garden, roughly an hour north from where I live. The second was Benningbrough Hall, roughly an hour south, on [...]