Joff's Garden Notes

For me the appearance of oriental poppies always signifies the start of our meteorological summer.  Spanning the end of May and the start of June their arrival always reminds me...

Some plants stand out.  Whether it’s for their beauty, rarity, or performance we all have our favourites and one that’s crept onto our list over the last few years has...

An evening dog walk a few weeks ago gave me the opportunity to spot my first hawthorn flowers of the year.  Now that we're well into May the hedgerows are...

The problem with committing plants to your ‘top ten desert island list’ is that within days or weeks, along comes a new contender ready to knock something off the list. ...

Once again, another trip around the sun has brought us to April, a month when the hedgerows and meadows begin to awaken with life bursting out reassuringly from the ground. ...

Flowering quinces have long played a part in my life.  I remember in the early 70’s a huge tangle of growth emanating from the garden next door.  Abutting our treehouse...

Lovers of snowdrops, The Galanthophiles, will be starting to accept that their busy time has peaked and it will be another nine months or so before they get to admire...

Onions are a staple of the vegetable garden, one we take for granted but one that would be sorely missed if production was suddenly halted.  Indeed, during World War II...

Several years ago we grew an ornamental carrot ‘Purple Kisses’ in the Genus garden.  I can take absolutely no credit for its success.  I don’t remember planting it or sowing...

I’ve done it.  You’ve done it.  I suspect everyone has done it at some point.  Searching through the shed, the garage, or the boot of the car you come across...