Note: As of 17 August 2017, the trial has still not happened three and a half years later. The ‘shooter’ escaped twice and was subsequently shot and killed in July this year. We wait to hear what happens to the remaining 4 who are still in custody…. This doesn’t make easy reading, nor was it […]
Dandelions – weed or not?
Dandelions – Taraxacum Weeds, to me, have always been plants that, for whatever reason, I don’t want in my garden. This could include rampant ground covers like For-get-me-nots (myosotis) or Carpet-of-Snow (alyssum) as well as things like Dandelions. All the individual ‘petals’ on a dandelion head are actually florets, they each then go to seed, reproduce […]
Dogs – who is the owner of who?
Each time I go to visit my baby girl, Bronwen and her family, I drive through a little ‘village’ – Pontrhydyfen – famous, actually, as being the birthplace of Richard Burton, amongst others. Yesterday, I was again driving through this village and saw, as I often do, three Basset Hounds out for one […]
Basking Sharks & Sea Eagles..
Isle of Mull from Oban in Search of the Holy Tail – Sea Eagles and Basking Sharks I have started listening to that long-standing radio soap-opera, The Archers… yes, I know, something hard to confess to, but once you do, you’ll be surprised how many other people do too! Anyway, I always play it on […]
Hallowe’en
All hallowe’en – All Saints’ Eve Today has been a beautifully warm, sunny, late autumn day. Last weekend the clockswent back, supposedly day-light saving (introduced in the UK during the First World War) making the days seem so much shorter and the nights so much longer! Today is also the last in October, making it, […]
The Christmas Cactus – Schlumbergera
This pretty succulent plant is one that to me, should almost be called the shrimp plant, or even prawn! Because the prolific blooms that are borne on it late autumn to early winter really do resemble those sea creatures… I once saw one in water on its own and really thought for a moment it […]
Update on my Aartappels
To my utter amazement, my potatoes seem to be doing OK. So last week I decided I had better earth them up – I think that’s the right phrase… Anyway, I covered as much of the growth as I practically could whilst leaving the growing shoots free to […]
Another Coral Tree for Gumby!
Gumby, for those of you that don’t know, was a keen gardener, with very specific interests. When he came to the UK to stay the last time, it was to study horticulture, so that he could get his RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) certificate and to hone his skills with a view to establishing a nursery […]
Wow!
Wow! What a descriptive word! It conjures up thoughts of unimagined delights & surprises, things that amuse, amaze or astonish us. These are moments that we treasure at the time, but with everyday life being so hectic, are apt to be forgotten, often not thought of again, or even shared with others. Last Sunday was […]
DIY Compost – so easy you definitely should bother!
Compost Hmm. Not the most exciting subject but one that serves many purposes. Here in the UK, recycling is the order of the day in most towns. We are given bins for paper, card & bottles, a bag for plastics, cans & food packaging, a bin for food waste and then, an occasional bag for […]