How very beautiful are old-fashioned aquilegias, or colombines. They are also known as granny’s bonnets. Bees love them. Here is an interesting piece on the plant’s name, published in 1927; A new explanation of the derivation of the word “aquilegia” has been advanced by Rev. G.H.
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Lily-of-the-valley (convallaria) is surely the most ethereal of the spring flowering bulbs, with a delicate fragrance. The botanical name is from convallis, which is Latin for valley. It thrives in a cool, semi shaded position. Here is some cultivation advice published in 1930, but which is just as relevant
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Because much of my garden is in at least semi-shade I grow lots of the shade-loving ground-cover ajuga. Its bronze foliage contrasts well with silver grey lambs ears or dusty miller. It will thrive in the most challenging of locations. It’s serendipity that ajuga flowers at the
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EARLY DAYS AT THE BOWER It was mid August when I first spotted a satin bowerbird’s boudoir in Memorial Park, Blackheath. I was very impressed by the location. It was secluded and private, but just a short flight to the village shops and cafes. The bower itself
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WARNING…..INCLUDES CONFRONTING SPIDER PICTURE! It wasn’t until my friend Dianne told me about her battle to get rid of ivy in her new garden that I realized my own ivy problem had become super-serious. Stupidly, I had deliberately spread the variegated variety around. I’d considered it more
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A few days of rain and mist followed by two warm, sunny days and voila……it’s SPRING! Impossible to stay inside. Let’s pop up to Blackheath village. Mr and Mrs Wood Duck were taking a stroll as well. Soon they will be looking for a tree hollow to
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SPRING, WHEN A BOWERBIRD’S FANCY TURNS TO …. Well, spring is well and truly here now. I have watched the blossom come out above Mr Bowerbird’s home in Memorial Park at Blackheath. I don’t know what sort it is; some sort of prunus. With a bit of
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What could be better than a shrub that flowers in mid winter and has one of the most heavenly perfumes imaginable? Well, it is better if the flowers match one’s dress. Milly insisted I include this little poem; All about the daphne bush the happy fairies went,
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FOR THE BEGINNNG OF THIS STORY CLICK HERE 31/8/2018 Mr S. Bowerbird’s magnificent home in Blackheath’s Memorial Park was almost wrecked yesterday. Two (illegally) unleashed dogs tore through the middle of it before I could warn their owners. How they missed crushing the bower itself is
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Let me introduce a famous Aussie dog by the name of Coil. Born in the late 19thC, he was a slate blue and tan Australian Kelpie with a ‘fox brush’ tail. He was a champion performer in sheep dog trials. Just look at that proud stance in
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