Can't believe I have reached my limit of 10,000 words in my first G Spot Blog. Can I really write that much! Phil told me recently that he hadn't realised that I was updating my blog every few days and I said I am sure no one ever read it-but he assured me loads did!
So what is new at the G Spot? Well, apparently the French have found it!! Then they have lost it again! Enough said on that, now onto my G Spot which of course is all about Gardens!!
It has been such a funny month. It has started in fits and starts all due to the weather.It is difficult just to know where you are at the moment. My Ugg boots don't know whether they are out to stay or back for another year in the cupboard. Toffee is equally confused.
One day he gets a long walk and the next he is just allowed a quick sprint round the square. Poor thing. As for Michael, he is allowed out at times! In fact I am sending him on a fact finding mission without me! Can he manage ? He is off to do a survey on a garden which I have seen and I can honestly say is a really difficult job as the access is a nightmare.
The next few days will be up and down motorways looking at availability in nurseries and a looking at paving products.Then it will button down the hatches as Michael and I will be in deep design mode battling out the difficult access garden.
February 27th
We have been hard at it ! Beavering away like the moles that keep delivering piles of new earth for me every few hours.
Fascinating as it is to watch the earth move, I would rather the little blind creatures did it somewhere else!!
But to be sensible for a second, Michael and I worked away, doing the survey and design ready to show our new client and his difficult access!
Designing a garden which has awkward features that need to remain is always a challenge but one which is also worth the challenge. Ask me in a few months how it is going and tell me I said that!! Hmm.
The week has been a misreable one weather wise and the weekend seems will be even wetter.I think we should all be thinking of ways to live like the Venecians soon. Instead of getting in cars we will soon be paddling around in boats and eating ice cream in the heavy rain. Forget rain harvesting and droughts- we need to find ways of transporting our water to outspace!
March 4th
It seems there is more water than thought before on the moon so I guess they won't be wanting any more of ours! Although it has stopped raining for a while-god is the wind cold.
Michael has taken to his wooly hat again- I have decided to leave my hair frizzy and put the irons away! What a site we are to behold.
I am tempted everyday to go and drive to nurseries and see what is 'looking good' as they put it but whenever I get that sudden rush of cold air round my neck I give up. Instead, Michael has been beavering away pricing a couple of jobs and I have been - well suffice to say Lazy!
Pricing jobs is never easy. If only you could churn out the same document for every job, life would be some much easier but every new project has different requirements hence different estimates. I am not sure that clients fully understand the amount of time that is involved in this.
I know that every time I go and look at a job, before I leave I get- 'So what will it cost?' and I still get all tongue tied after all these years. I think I am going to do a recorded answer and when I get asked the question , I will press a button and out will pop the answer. Any guesses what it will be?!!
March 9th
Think my daughter has the right idea- ' Why don't we go and live in Barbados?' she said recently after a hockey tour there!! God has it been cold again. The ground is hard, topsoil is still wet and can't even be picked up until at least another week if it stays dry- what is an ugg wearing gardener to do?
Well shop!! I bought some lovely suede Timberlands in a dusty chocolate colour. So practical! Not! I wish I could swap them for a pair of flipflops but one can dream.....
Tomorrow, it's off to a nursery in Kent right near the channel tunnel. Perhaps I should forget the nursery and hop on a train-wishful thinking me thinks.
Despite the cold and all the rain we have had-pots are drying out in the garden due partly to the bitter winds. The grape hyacinth ( muscari) are coming up from last year-bulging through the pots ready to flower. Tulip leaves are getting taller by the day and the crocus at Wisley are magnificent.My pictures on my phone don't do them justice.
Why is is when you see colours like bright yellow and purple they normally look awfull but when you see them in a wave of tiny nodding crocus heads, they can't fail to bring a smile.p>February 21st
March 13th
Mother's day is upon us and the shops are full of bunches of flowers with certain blooms that should never be combined! Clashing colours and extra bits of strange sprayed paper and wooden things sticking out everywhere. Oh dear just had a thought- I might get one!
Out in the garden though and on the edge of roads are magnificent snowdrops-huge drifts of them. I think they have really benefited from the cold snap-at least something has!
I got lost going to the nursery (typical!) but once there I was greeted by a very friendly face- Nick Coslett. He is marketing manager at Palmstead Nursery and they are a great company to deal with. I know I am small fry to them ( they have just secured the herbaceous side of plants for the Olympics) but , they know how to look after their clients.
After walking round acres of nursery , I came back to the office frozen from the bitter wind and had a cup of coffee and Nick and I discussed the industry.
It was quite amusing when Nick said he read my G Spot. I thought only Graeme did!! Also when you write a sort of diary you never imagine meeting someone that reads it- warts and all!!
After Kent it was off to the Cotswolds the following day , so lots of driving and sourcing things for jobs.It is not only plants I source but also Architectural features. So I am often found in salvage yards, antique shops, timber yards etc... I can't complain- I am fond of an old thing or two!!
March 15th
Made it past mother's day for another year and didn't get any flowers with bits in! I did cut my foot and burn my arm though so I won't forget this year for a while.
Hooray-sunshine and I do believe I saw blue sky? I zoomed off to another nursery today which had a 20 per cent discount and the whole place resembled a garden/landscaping vultures picnic!
The place was crammed full of plants and people and I normally never bump into anyone but today I met Roger Platts who is a great gardener/ nurseryman and designer. He is doing a large show garden at Chelsea this year having been away from it for 8 years. He did do an indoor garden last year at the show and is still a judge for the RHS, but he hasn't done a large show garden for a while.
What I want to know, Roger is- why were you buying so much Thyme ?!!
Loaded up with a few goodies, back to the big smog to unload and place my loot. Tomorrow I will beaver away and plant , do some spring planting and then probably regret it as we will probably get snow next week again!
March 28th
Gosh time really does fly. Easter is just around the corner and snow is forcast! Typical, as soon as the school's break up , the weather decides to turn again.
It has been a long two weeks. The Hard Landscaping Show in Coventry went well and it was an interesting show for a female! Lots of men talking Hard Paving! Nevertheless, I loved being involved bringing true craftspeople to a trade event and being on the judging panel for competion entries. I met some really nice people and made good contacts.And I didn't wear my Uggs!
Back to reality and into the daylight-I went to The Country Living Show the day after Coventry. I like to see what people are buying and what is new in all areas of gardens and homes.
When you go away for a few days, you come back to masses of letters and emails and it take sa while to digest everything. Outdoors, daffodils are only just coming out as are the muscari. I know the tree pollen is around though as my eyes have started to water and my face is swelling again. I am allergic to birch and beech pollen! Great for a gardener.
The nurseries are filling up with plants and I have seen trolleys loaded up with bedding and bags of compost. I just hope there are no more frosts but I think there will be as the magnolias are just in full bud and that means , mine will suffer again.
Off to Wiltshire next week to look at a moat I have been looking at and will need some work soon. I would love to fill it with lillies but I fear with the amount of wildlife on it , they will be destroyed despite trying to protect them. Talking of wildlife, I am so excited by the amount of frogs and frog spawn on a pond Michael and I put in not long ago in London and my own pond which has been altered to allow wildlife to use it more easily. So wonderful to see new life beginning. Just have to shoot the Heron!
So much to do -so little time.....
April 7th
The sun has shone despite the grim forcast and hasn't it been glorious. Birds are singing and the days are long . Yippee, Spring has sprung.
After three days gorging on chocolate, I have decided I need to start marathon running- no , I don't think so, but I need to do lots of work outside to shift my choc belly!
I visited a few garden centres over the easter weekend and they were heaving despite the news that they had not done much business. I fear the restaurant side of them may have fared better than the plant sales perhaps. I wish I had taken Micahel with me as the average age was predominantly around 103! Only joking Mr M!
But I must admit , it has been great to get outside for a whole day without rushing for cover and do some serious cutting back and reshaping. Planting up pots and containers also gives an insatnt lift to a dull corner and seeing everything just bursting through is so uplifting.
Driving throuh country lanes and stopping to look across at the Downs in Sussex is wonderful at this time of year.
I sent Michael on a task that wouldn't tax his abilities too much-all he had to do was cut out the joints between existing york stone paving and re-point. He started but hasn't finished as is he swaning off to sunny Scotland to look at building a security wall. I give him a nice simple, enjoyable and relaxing job and he wants to go and build massive concrete walls-thanks Michael!
April 13th
I suppose 13 is lucky for some but unfortunatly not me. Eight years ago my father died but apart from feeling sad today, I am blessed with knowing that it was him that set me on the path of turning a hobby into a career. That year , 2002 I was asked to do my first show garden and I then went on to do 6 more. Everytime I did one and gained a medal, I felt him looking down on me and that gave me great comfort.
At least it has been a warm day , despite a bitter wind.I have kept Michael busy fiddling! I left him battling with a pump and pond whilst I set off in search of plants yet again. I swear I spend so much time on motorways and in the car that I think that my new title should be 'Plant Chauffeur'.
So as the 'Plant Chauffeur' arrived back with her passengers, lovingly driven from Surrey to clients back garden in London, Michael was nowhere to be seen! But I shouldn't have worried. He was carefully herding a small army of frogs! The pond we had put in in the autumn for our client is alive with hundreds of tadpoles and their parents have taken over the garden!
So exciting to have so much life in the pond-just not so easy trying to work with wildlife in every bush!
April 22nd
What a time I have had lately. After all the wildlife in London, I headed off to Wiltshire for a few days hoping to stay with my sister while I did a course and visited some gardens for work. My sister however is 'stranded' in The Maldives due to the no flight problem and an Icelandic Volcano. I told her that I would gladly swop with her but funnily enough , she said she was quite happy staying put! Funny that.
So off I went deep into Wiltshire-no uggs needed this time. I have been beavering away on a botanical course driving myself mad trying to remember what it's like to draw. The weather has been incredible and en route I stopped off with a friend who has a magnificent village garden tucked deep in a very pretty part of the countryside.
Despite the wonderful weather, i have suffered greatly with runny eye and nose with the worst hayfever I have had in years. Battling on, I was wisked away mid course to look at two prospective projects with a fellow designer who I may team up with so that we can work together on some things. So Michael, belt up cos we are off to the West Country soon!
April 30th
The end of the month-can't quite believe it. Nurseries are bursting with colourful displays and just when you think you can leave the uggs boots in the cupboard at last- it gets b..... freezing!
Typical April weather but on the last day of the month-so what will it be like in May? Next week is the Malvern Show.It starts the same day as voting. Great- that means I will race into my local school where they hold the big event and then race off again , up and down the motorway to get to Malvern. No doubt it will be pouring with rain and my already huge thick hair will take on another new style.
The last week has been somewhat strange-I have been unwell but have still had to do some work as people don't seem to understand when you are ill!
I have dragged myself out of bed a few times to the drawing board to do some design work and also to visit a client but I have also had to cancel a lot. When I started seeing three of everthing, I knew I had to stop!
Ground elder seems to be taking over everywhere I go and I can see that I will be fighting a losing battle this year with some gardens.Never mind-we gardeners are made of tough stuff-well, I like to think we are anyway.
May 10th
Another month and the year is whizzing by. I have just returned from a few days in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside. I went as my post on LJ has reported to the Malvern Spring garden Show and enjoyed every minute of it despite the cold wind . I just wish I had taken my ugg boots. I wish too that I was a cider drinker or a Perry drinker as it was on offer everywhere and all over the county there are signs for farms offering tastings!!
This county is really underrated. The amount of nurseries is staggering let alone the beautiful rolling hills and orchards full of sheep.
At the show despite finding wonderful artisan products made by local craftsmen, nurseries which had plants I haven't been able to source locally, I met up with a group of bloggers from all over the world that had met at Malvern for the first ever bloggers' get together!! I even ended up staying opposite them in an eco barn in a beautiful lane , in the grounds of an old timber framed house.
The best thing about going to shows and travelling round , is you get up to date with what is happening on the ground.You network- I met up with Tim Matcham again from the garden network, and you meet the people growing the plants and making the garden structures you hope to use in your work. You find new places to visit and end up a lot poorer as you spend money on yummy food and products!!
So , I have returned fatter-tired but full of excitement - just wish the weather would settle so I know if I am able to be seen without the black bag over my head which seems to be my new attire!
May 15th
Back to the grind stone and lots to do with designs and planting. At least the sun has come out and the black bag is in it's rightful place-the bin.
I have unbelievably joined twitter-having resisted for so long, I just had to see what all the tweeting was about. I thought I couldn't quite call it the G Spot so put the full name of The Garden Spot in to see if anyone can be bothered to follow the allergic ugg wearing at times frizzy haired lady!
Being in London today, it is clear that all the shops down the Kings Road are getting ready for Chelsea Flower Show next week.Their window displays will soon be competing with the show gardens, to win a coveted prize as the best 'dressed' shop display.
Everything is bursting into bloom with the sun and the lawn moers are all going every week now. Some things have still suffered from frost pockets last week, so I have had to replace a few things for clients.
Michael has been busy building walls-in Scotland, god that really is North! He says they have toy money up there! Any money would be good at the moment! I had a dream I won the £84 million on the euromillions. So did everyone else I know!
I am off to visist some nurseries next week in Surry and Sussex as I have a formal garden to plant up for a client who is having a party and wants it all to look perfect. Let's just hope it doesn't rain-I am more worried about me being seen in black plastic again rather than the garden being wet for the party!
May 24th
Well the plastic bag never made another appearance thank goodness or it would have melted. What heat-shouldn't complain,better than the alternative.
The weekend was very exciting.After pounding teh streets with my daughters on Saturday, on Sunday I was invited for a sneak preview of Chelsea Flower Show. Some gardens were ready and finished and others were frantically being planted and touched up while camera crews and photographers were all over the place like ants.
I chatted to a few friends on the site, Mark Gregory ( Children's Society Garden) and Roger Platts( M&G Garden) who had both finished their respective gardens and managed to take lots of pictures of the others that I could get close to. A very interesting show this year. A lot of big names competing for Golds and Best in Show and a few I may feel will be a little dissapoint. More colour this year though despite the early bad weather.
It is great to see the gardens at this stage-seeing the exhausted faces-I know what it's like and I know how the tension is building for all the designers. A lot of large structures feature this year, more traditional planting but less exciting planting combinations which is a shame.
The atmosphere despite the mad rush to finish was very subdued.Alan Titmarsh looked very relaxed in bare feet and pink shirt!
I had trouble getting in at first-being so hot I thought I would try and get in weariing sandals but was promptly refused and had to go back to the car to get flat trainers and a hi-vis jacket. Didn't go at all with my linen look!
I left the show happy to have seen it but melting away as my hi -vis had sleeves and was much heavier than the other type. I then went to see a client about her pond and fixed a pump with tadpoles stuck to the filter! I love putting my hand in ponds-never know what you get stuck into or what comes up from the bottom on your fingers!
June 1st
Can you believe it. Ist of June already and yes it's raining, but then why be surprised! Everywhere is so lush and green at the moment and I have visited some really lovely gardens which were open under the National Garden Yellow Book Scheme. A real must for anyone interested in gardening and even designers too as you get to see some wonderful ideas and what grows well in a particular area.
You also meet some lovely people. I talked at length to a photographer/gardener Louise Adams who works for a sussex newspaper and has just started making Shepherds Huts by sourcing everything locally. Indeed, there seems to be a real trend for these wonderful'sheds on wheels' and every county now has someone making them. They look lovely in meadows and by ponds and you can have them with log burning stoves,beds -in fact the works, at a price that is!
My little cat has been equally busy killing anything that moves. I find it very hard picking up dismembered bodies and hate it when she gets birds,especially young fledglings.
My pond is a hive of activity.The kingfisher is around ,the tadpoles are gettig legs, the dragon flies are coming in thick and fast and Toffee is fascinated when I feed the fish that all seem to be pregnant-must be something in the water!
The buxus hedges are all needing a trim now , some I have left to grow and others had a small trim after all the frosts, but they are starting to get too thick and the balls on the end of some of the hedges look too untidy.So it's shears to the ready and prepare to chop-just have to watch out for my fingers,as last year I got carried away on a job and went right through my glove-ouch!
June 19th
Gosh-been ages since I have written my blog. I have been bogged down with allergies in my eyes, driving all over Englnad,celebrating my daughter's 20th birthday ( God that makes me feel old) and even more scary than that, trying to oust a bat from my bedroom at 1 am!
It was a calm , quiet night-all was fine and I was enjoying my much needed sleep when a strange noise came from the direction of my bedroom window. Not the usual clomp of my cat who having climbed up the wall , and had managed to manoevre her way backwards through my window up high with some poor vole in her mouth ready to be left half dead on my floor or in piece scatetered around for me to tread on in the morning-no indeed, a different noise was heard....
A bat had found it's way into my room and started to swoop up and down and circle over my bed. Terrified I screamed of course,woke my younger daughter up who also screamed not knowing why her mother was jumping around next door screaming. I hid under my covers and after 8 attempts to leave the room , I took half my bed with me and escaped into hers.
We both peeked through the connecting door, glued to the spot unsure how to rid ourselves of the unwelcome visitor. I went to get a torch,god knows why and a plastic container-again god knows why. I shone the torch to try and get the bat out of the window (mad or what) ran in the bedroom,screamed while the bat nose dived towards me and hid behing a my curtains trying at each dive to lure the bat out.
After an hour and a half the bat had had enough and found the open window. Light back on, I found my bed covered in little black droppings and had to change my sheets. At 3 am, I crawled back into bed,torch and plastic box thrown to the floor, firmly shut the windows and attempted to try and get back to sleep.
I now enter my bedroom at night with trepidation, not know what may be lurking or deciding to enter unanounced. I think I am going to buy a miners hat with a lamp on-just the thing to go with my uggs!
June 27th- Badgers at Dawn
Well that miners hat would have been really useful lately. I have had a really strange run of animal encounters lately. The other night a loud noise came from one of the bushes and I was worried my little cat was being attacked by the huge black Tom cat next door which was a stray but adopted my elderly neighbour and her home.
When I went out to check,torch in hand and nervous at what I might find - a Vast badger was ruining my garden and obviously trying to escape from another Vast badger the other side of the fence. It raced around the back of the beds and opened my wooden gate itself to go out!
Shocked by what I saw, I nearly trod on a toad on the lawn ( done that before-yuk!) and headed back to get a stiff drink!
As if that wasn't enough drama, the next day I was potting up containers for a fair which I did in Barnes yesterday ,and I heard another strange noise from next door. I went round to find what I thought was another animal in distress, only to find my 88 year old neighbour flat on the floor in her garage. After lifting her up and taking her in ( she is a big lady and fell again) I had to stay there for four hours, making sure she didn't get sick or collapse again.
Paramedics turned up and she went off to hospital. I then had to feed her cats and make calls to relatives etc.
Garden Designer? When do I get to do that bit?!!
July 2nd
God is it hot-luckily I have spent a lot of time in a lake. Unluckily I have burnt areas of my body and I look quite a picture. At least I seem to attract the wildlife as usual.
I think the dragon flies have mistaken my pink areas for a water lily and decided to do their business on me! I keep worrying the fish too who must think I am some pond whale, or should that be pink whale.
Despite the weather , I have developed a cold and feel a bit off colour, literally. I am still feeding the cat next door, and finding little presents from my cat. Work is busy with people deciding at the last minute they all want a new garden immediately.
Lots of deadheading to be done,watering and spraying when the bees have gone to sleep. The vegetable garden is growing like mad and I am looking forward to an arbour from Fenland Phil as well as a rustic gate from a little carpenter in Malvern.
Off to pick more strawberries and scare off the rabbits which of course prefer my garden to the acres of farmland all around. Oh forgot-my drive is melting too! Anyone else have that problem?!
July 13th
What a month so far. Blazing heat and parched lawns.Herbaceous plants that think it is late summer.Ponds, rivers and lakes all looking low, then the promise of some rain down South and only a dribble. I suppose if I wasn't a gardener I would have loved the heat wave but unfortunately it has it's drawbacks.
With school holidays here and one of my children just about still there due to age I might add not bad behaviour!, it is hard trying to balance everything in the summer months.
I have nbeen working on a large project near Bath which has been very challenging and if it goes ahead it will be an engineering nightmare.
This is where designers sometimes have many hats to wear. Engineering, design,artist,graphic designer,plantsperson,project manager,co-ordinator,employer,accountant,client liason officer and tea maker. Hmm....why do I do this again? Oh I remember , cos I love a challenge!
July 27th
Busy times recently.What with another birthday, gosh they seem to come every year? Missed my cake from Graham.
The wildflower meadow sown in April has been incredible. Such an abundance of blooms and different species popping up.
I cannot believe how long it has flowered- for weeks on end and the noise the crickets make is deafening. It's funny, the estate near me in Sussex took years and a small fortune to clear the common so that the crickets would come back, it took me a few weeks and some seed!
Last week I was invited to judge Indoor Plant of the Year. I was the only female and that was daunting! But I shouldn't have been worried as my fellow distinguished judges ( Adam Pascoe, editor of Gardener's World and Mathew Appleby from Horticultural week to name two) were very kind and it was fascinating to discover what a huge and very successful market exists for Indoor plants.
Apart from running round up and down the country sourcing, I have been designing two other gardens to start next year. Both exciting and with water my speciality, so it's going to be a wet one next year for me anyway.
August Something!
Can't believe it's August and it's pouring with rain-well that bit I can believe.
The last week has been hectic. A long drive up to Cambridgeshire to collect a wonderfully made arbour by Fenland Phil. It just fitted in the back of the pick up. Can't believe I found the Industrial estate without phoning a hundred times as I normally do. It's great to actually see where a handmade product you commission is made and it has arrived safely back to Sussex where it now has to wait until I have the energy and strength to assemble it. Help Michael , come back from Scotland quick.
Then it was off to Southwold to look at a job and a stay in a Mill which was fun but a bit noisy.Wish I could say it was water making the noise but the Mill turned out to be on a busy road. One side of the bedroom was noisy from traffic and the other from ducks and swans. There is no pleasing some people!
Loads of wind turbines in Suffolk. Competition for me! Went to a lovely vineyard at Wyken. Nice teacakes!
Tomorrow it's off to deepest Devon for a few days. A sort of busmans holiday. A bit of rest tied into looking at jobs and gardens.
I suppose I may just be able to sneak in a few Devon cream teas if I'm lucky-god I am becoming such a little piggy. Oink oink.
August 15th
Devon was lovely - Salcombe in fact which I had to share with Alan Titchmarsh! Was he following me?! Everywhere I was, he popped up! We even, both hired a boat on the same day.
Luckily there was some good weather in Salcombe in which to enjoy tea and scones and lots of lovely ice cream. But today apparently, we have seen the last of the sunshine until November!! Oh my god-I am going to have to get my Uggs out before the end of the year.
Going away from one's own garden for a while can be a wrench and especially when you come back and find sweet peas all but over, tomatoes that have become like puree and rasberries which have supplied all the local wildlife.
Never mind, there is still plenty to harvest and some good apples soon to pick for all those crumbles and pies. And if it does rain until November, I think I will be in the kitchen more than in the garden.
Another problem of going away is coming back to mail and emails etc and the realisation that there is a pile of work to get through. There seems to be an increasing number of trade shows to go to and requests to review products. Apart from that design work to complete and products to source.
Today , in the last of the sunshine I went to Goodwood Vintage, which was quite some spectacle. Everything from cars,fashion,food,music etc from past eras.
Michael would have felt right at home! I am too young of course to remember the 'old days'!
August 29th
Another wet Bank Holiday-no surprise there. I have just returned from the baking heat in Turkey. 46 degrees to be exact. What heat , but then again how wonderful to know everyday what the weather will be, unlike here at home.
I wasn't sure what to wear today-I settled on a very odd combination and had to resort to a wooly jumper and socks-in August!
It is so wonderful to be able to have a week away though in a totally different climate and see how gardeners in different parts of the world cope with their various weather and soil conditions.
In the baking heat it is hard to think of even moving let alone doing any gardening. Never mind wilting plants- I was gasping for water half the time and spent ages in the sea turning into a prune when I came out.
Southern Turkey has a wonderful mixture of scenery. It is mostly built on rock but the area is completely self sufficient , immensely fertile with every crop immaginable. Oranges, Olives, Aubergines, Bananas, Peaches , Chilies etc . Herbs grow in abundance too as well as chickpeas, lentils,figs,hazelnuts,cherries and much much more.
Junipers, Carob,myrtle, holly oak and the strawberry tree grow out of the rocky hillsides and in spring hyacinth, cyclamen and anenomes grow in abundance.
All these wonderful plants encourage lovely insects too as well s many wild mammals.
Watering is constant and luckily there is no shortage of it and there are many watering systems in place as well as very brave men who clamber up rocks to dribble water from hoses onto plants that are constantly thirsty.
As I ponder the dreary weather here and the dull green in many gardens at the moment, I could quite happily see myself throwing my uggs and bulky winter wardrobe away in favour of sun and a massive 'food garden' in the south of Turkey. Dream on Mrs, dream on....................
September 16th
Well it is certainly that time of year. The month of trade shows up and down the country. I have been driving like a lost hare dazed by lights glaring at me on motorways. Up and down the breadth of the Uk visiting exciting places like Birmingham and even further North!
Then it was down West and South , zigzaging across the countryside and trying to find a halfway decent place to stay or eat. I think I am going to do a guide on where to stop when you don't fancy a Little Chef or Burger Van , which can be hard on Motorways.
This week I have been in Wiltshire on a course perfecting my botanical drawing skills as well as poping in to see Michael who has been hard at it waist deep in a moat we are working on. Poor Michael, as I sit and stare for two days at an apple and try to get it on paper, he is beavering away, in glorious mud and silt pulling weeds out. Actually, I am quite jealous of him!
Next week it is back to Birmingham for Glee to see if it has changed direction as promised from last year, down to Kent to Palmstead for a day of seminars then back up North to Malvern for the Autumn Show at the weekend.
Despite all this travelling , I have just about had time to collect seeds from many plants for next year, trim a bit of buxus here and there, do a quote, walk the dog , drop a daughter at boarding school which is proving a very emotional decision, take another to Uni, eat a bit here and there when I can, re pot some plants and visit three nurseries, two gardens and eventually get some sleep.
When people ask what I do , I smile and think quietly to myself shall I tell them the truth or just say - pretty things?!
September 23rd
Sleep has not been on the agenda the last few days but a bad neck and lots of driving has. Glee was not all it was promised to be. A disappointing show with little or no interesting 'new' things to grab the attention or the pocket. I left uninspired and thought about taking shares in a readymix concrete or plastic injection company!
Back down the motorway and another stop at a wonderful service station (which was also full of plastic goods as well as food!), I headed South to Kent.
Palmstead Nurseries held another good day of Seminars featuring respected and informative speakers. About 300 delegates from all sections of our varied industry enjoyed a day of talks which featured dynamic planting as it's theme.
Andrew Wilson and his cousin, Mathew Wilson ( only joking-they are not cousins) spoke about using perennials in public and private spaces along with Sarah Price who spoke on the Olympic Park and Bert Griffoen who talked about his methods of perennial growing and palnting.
Nick Coslett from Palmstead , organised a great day and during the breaks there was the opportunity to mingle and exchange ideas with fellow industry people.
These occasions are always welcome to be able to meet fellow designers,landscape architects,council officials and maintenance contrators outside our normal busy schedules.
Leaving the Ashford International Hotel, I was confused due to exhaustion at which way to turn.Right to France or Left to London. Regretably I turned left!
Today the weather was less than inspiring and Mr Coslett I am frantically looking for 'My Furry Wellies!'.
October 5th
Will it or won't it. Today has been one of those days when you are not sure if you have to run and take cover to save the frizzy hair growing bigger or 'wait and see' if you can see through of the frizzy hair!
Not a problem for Michael who decided to 'part' company with a large proportion of his hair years ago!
Toffee has had a field day- after a long walk, he dicided the 'maize' field was a real 'maze ' and made me run up and down frantically searching for. I gave up trying to locate him by means of watching the maize moving in the wind as he was small enough to run between the stems.
After half an hour he came back muddy and exhausted. As for me, I had a glass of wine and he had a hose pipe!
On to all things garden. More design work came today. A large vegetable and fruit garden so it's back to West Dean for more inspiration and also off to Great Dixter before it closes for the season.
More driving on the cards and more discussions with experts in their field. The good thing about this business is that people are so enthusistic and willing to share knowledge and help if they can.
Just like this site!
October 18th
Arctic winds on the way-yipee! Been out covering tender plants whilst being invaded by hundreds of ladybirds.Foreign ladybirds too-they came in the warm winds last week. Swarms of them.I suppose with the cold air they will all disappear. It was quite a surreal experience seeing all these black and red tiny missiles heading towards me.
Toffee was very confused by the little creatures and twix spent hours leaping up in the air performing circus leaps as she tried to catch them. Loads settled in the house and wandered round in circles.Outside between the clouds of insects, pheasants have been using the field for gatherings. This is more more to Toffees liking. He rounds them up near the fence and exhausts himself running up and down deciding which silly pheasant he will go for. The joys of having animals.
In the gardening this week , it has been more and more cutting back and collecting leaves. The colours on the trees look so pretty in the morning light and early evening. With the frost on the way, the colours will probably get more beautiful.
If possible try and visit any gardens which are still open until the end of the month. It is good to see just what is in flower and the many various combinations exist with grasses for example. Many well known gardens have open days and talks at this time of the year and it is worth checking to see what is going on.
For me, it's off to Devon this week to see Kerry Jackson about an exciting project he has been working on. Helping each other out is what this business is all about and I have been very fortunate to have made some good contacts like Graeme Mann ( my birthday cake supplier!) and Karl ( my tea merchant!). Now I have to find a good hairdresser! Anyone good with shears?
October 23rd
Whilst everyone around me is glued to the X Factor , I am thinking about all the places I have been to during the last week
After doing some work in the garden at the beginning of the week and connecting an arch supplied by the lovely Phil Cumberland, I headed off in lovely October sunshine to Devon to see Kerry.
En route I decided to divert and go into Axminster. I would never need to go back there mind or needed to have gone in the first place! Unless I needed a good carpet perhaps-but the reason I took a left turn was to visit the well known River Cottage Canteen.
You know what it's like when you have always fancied going somewhere and wonder if you ever will but get disappointed when you eventually do? Well, this was one such time!! The other was on the way back from Devon when I took another diversion off to the right and went to the famous Knoll Gardens.
Anyway, back to Hugh's much talked about cafe and deli.Food was ok, ambience was hmm - lacking and overall impression dissapointing. I love his simple cooking and a fan of organic and good honest ingredients but Axminster itself is a little bit dull and the cafe didn't bowl me over. Shame as there is so much potential.
Back on the road and it was down to deepest Devon. I stayed in a lovely pub but despite asking for a quiet room which I was given at the back, the church bells rang every hour on the hour and the man next door snored so loudly I had little or no sleep!
The next day , it was off to meet Kerry and his new project. Kerry is so full of enthusiasm it is infectious and he is understandably very excited about his work and plans for the design of a very unusual concept - the rammed earth maze. We discussed the project at the site and he very kindly took us back to his home for tea.Many thanks to him for his kindness and I am looking forward to working with him.
I know Kerry I joked - are you on anything!! It's only beacause I am jealous of your energy and passion!
Leaving Devon, I headed for Dorset and Knoll gardens which I have wanted to visit for ages and ever since Cleve west had joined forces with the great Grass man. I was dissapointed by the gardens to some degree which seemed a bit in need of maintenance but the nursery area was interesting and the courses seem appealing as all the rage at the moment seems to still be -prairie style planting with grasses.
Back East , after parents evening last night for my youngest daughter ( all good news-phew!) , it was off to the LJ meet up in Surrey. A nice informal meeting of some juicers and a big thank you to Graeme for his organising it and his cream cakes- even though he ate most of them!!!
But then again- we need to fatten him up for Christmas! Graeme thanks again and good to meet everyone there-some old and new faces and as I'm so bad with names you can all remind me in the forum! And tell me off too!!
November 4th
When the sun shines and the air is still, the Autumn colours are just wonderful and I am always grateful to mother nature. The prairie style of planting looks stunning with tufts of long grasses swaying in the breeze.
The colours of the trees are magical and I am out at every opportunity with my camera taking pictures wherever I go, sometimes stopping suddenly in the car to rush out and snap a picturesque scene.
Tommorow the air will be filled with huge burning bonfires and fireworks will light up the nights sky. People will huddle round drinking mugs of tea and perhaps have a sausage or two, wrapped up in thick jumpers and delighting in the smell and magic of the burning wood piled high.
This time of year in the garden can be so rewarding even though we know winter is around the corner. Like the Spring clean, the Autumn tidy is just as rewarding and allows us to contemplate the seasons ahead and plan for the following year.
I have been busy thinning out some trees and piling the branches on the bonfire. My neck looks more like one of the branches I have cut off! I am aching all over and feeling my age. Lucky we don't have rings on our bodies like trees-think I would be horrified.
But the good news is that Spring apparently is arriving 11 days earlier than 20 years ago- can't wait!
December 1st
It's been a while now since I put finger to laptop. The year has gone by so fast and we are all gripped in a state of frozen frenzy.Down South we feel a little left out watching the TV and the deep snow up North.
For many of us gardeners it is difficult to get out and carry on much needed clearing etc and unless we learn how to drive a snowplough it is depressing being locked indoors.
For my part I have not been in the best of health so tucked up inside is not a bad thing but I watch everyone going about their daily business and feel sad I can't be out there too ( I am under the covers with a wooly hat and uggs though so not such a pretty sight!) - and poor toffee looks longingly out, face squashed against the glass desperate to chase leaves.
TV is so boring when you are stuck at home- endless car boot sales, property programmes and cookery. I have become so adept at knowing what's on which channel, I am going invent a Christmas quiz about it all and I am sure to beat anyone that tries to contest me.
I suppose the only good thing about this weather is reading all the garden books I have on the shelf which I have bought but only ever flicked through. You often buy books because you are drawn to a picture or because it is new out and you just have to have it to cram into a bulging collection - but you never really go through them properly. So I have now decided to get small sticky labels and write down which book has specific ideas or plants I have liked. This takes away all the 'oh my god, which book did I see that in again - I'm sure it was this one , no it wasn't it was that one- no it wasn't ........' Well that is the theory-let's see how long this lasts!
December 15th
Writing all the christmas cards is usually a chore but with the cold weather it is quite relaxing! It is hard knowing whether to leave shrubs outside that look a little sad due to the weather but the best thing is just to tidy up and keep the fleece on.
Last night I attended a Bali dinner. I was a bit nervous never having been to one and also when I was put on a table with all men! My fears were soon put to rest as I was lucky to sit with a humorous bunch of proffessional landscapers. It was also interesting to hear the advances made by the organisation and their aims for the future.
I plucked up the courage to ask questions at the end of the dinner-telling all the room in jest that I was driving past at eight o'clock saw a room full of people and thought that looks nice,think I will join in. But it was a good evening and a good mixture of proffessionals all with the same aims and objective.
For the nurseries it is going to be a tough time with this cold weather and we will have to see if many plants will survive and will be available for us next year to put in our schemes.
For now it's keeping an eye on the weather something we Brits are very good at!
December 24th
Best wishes to everyone for Christmas and many thanks to you if there is anyone at all still reading my blogs!
I hope you can enjoy a few days respite and have some good food. It has been a hard year for some but let's hope that being with family and friends gives us courage and make us grateful that we have each other.
In two days the streets will be filled again with bargain shoppers but I am more excited at seeing buds appear despite the frost and snow and I looking forward to longer days.
The cat is busy destroying the christmas tree and getting tangled up in bows whilst toffee has his eyes on the large turkey which is far too big for 5 people!
January 22nd 2011
I cannot believe how time flies and when I first started to write the G Spot - I have aged another two years!
Well as we gardeners know too well, we are in an ever evolving proffession. What is so exciting living in a temperate climate is the changing landscape and seasons. I wouldn't say no to a job in Barbados though for six months of the year! Oh , ok for a few years then!
Nevertheless, it will be a more taxing year ahead for many of us and the competition for work will be harder. For those that are lucky enough to have work planned already for much of the year ahead, costs will still inevitably be higher especially with higher fuel prices.
So as we enter the new season there are the beginnings of new growth on the horizon. The bulbs are stirring in the ground, the buds are beginning to swell and the days are getting lighter by the minute.
Every day brings a new challenge but with that new vigour and excitement.I say this as Toffee is looking at me longingly with huge eyes waiting for a walk whilst I am sitting in front of the fire with a mug of tea , quite happy and toasty warm! Time to get a remote dog walker me thinks!
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