Kate's Cuttings

The alstroemerias have been wonderful this year, they seem to have love the wet weather. Mine are ‘Indian Summer’ with fiery reds, yellows and oranges that go well with day lilies and red crocosmias and a little purple salvia for contrast. As you may have guessed, I love the bright colours and especially this time of year! I’ve been taking some cuttings. It’s really satisfying to get more plants from you own garden for free and now is a good time to give it a go. Make sure you find a good healthy plant and try and find a non-flowering shoot if you can, but it’s not crucial, just nip the ... Read more…

It’s blossom time again!  You really can’t overdo blossom, Monty Don says it best in ‘The Ivington Diaries’  ‘Here to a blossomy infinity would not be too far’. To have a beautiful tree close by that you can admire all year round that also flowers is for most of us I guess one of the real pleasures of living where we do. Of course some have already done their thing: the earlier cherries, the native blackthorn and the Mahonias that bless us in winter and early spring. And aren’t they a welcome sight on a grey day and some bring a lovely scent to awaken our senses too. Flowering early Apri... Read more…

I can’t imagine a Spring without primroses. As far back as the Middle Ages they were clearly much loved and praised.  Both primroses and cowslips have been used medicinally from way back. Leonardo da Vinci reckoned they were good for stones in the bladder but I’m not suggesting you try that! We lived on the Isle of Wight for a few years until we moved to Charnwood  in 1987, and I brought a few primrose plants with me.  These are of the pale creamy yellow kind, not the more vivid colours frequently on sale now;  I know they are all loved by someone and I have indulged in a little multi co... Read more…

Looking out of our study window as I write in mid-January, the view at long last looks less like a swamp and more like a garden. So, I can soon get onto the borders and clear them of the claggy mess that the storms bequeathed us to let the spring bulbs come through.  One good thing I guess is that at least everything has had a good water! I will still be leaving some of the old stems and seedheads for the wildlife. Last time our garden was under water we eventually lost several trees that presumably had had their roots in the suffocating wet for too long, preventing them breathing and th... Read more…

When we were moving back up to the Midlands in 1987, the housing market was such that we were struggling to find our perfect home.  The house was important of course, but the garden was too.  When we drove into the garden at Charnwood we pretty much knew straight away that this may well be the one for us. Hard though it is to say exactly why we had that emotional connection from the start, I think the beautiful mature trees were the main reason. Wandering round the garden now it still brings me joy.  We have had to say a sad goodbye over the years to some of the old trees, but we have pl... Read more…

I’m writing this in mid October and the garden looks as well as it has almost all summer.  It’s hard to imagine that winter is on its way but certain as death and taxes, winter will come, so it’s worth getting ready for it. As much as anything else a bit of planning and toil now will not only get your garden looking tidier, but it can also make sure you have a good show next year. Having said ‘tidier’, one bit advice I’d give is don’t be too tidy! It’s a well -rehearsed mantra that wildlife likes a few weeds, leaves and general messiness to eat and live in.  Apart from that, if you are t... Read more…

The soft fruit has been amazing this year. Greengages were delicious and redcurrants hung like little translucent red jewels in their thousands. Courgettes are currently  in full swing, we’ve taken to picking them small, cutting them in half lengthways and marinading in a little oil, lemon juice, garlic and herbs on the barbeque.  I couldn’t get a decent crop of tomatoes ripe for love nor money but the few we did get were tasty.  I’m going to be making a load of chutney by the look of it, the apple trees are laden! Salvias are still the star of the show and have been throughout the summe... Read more…

If you want to make some more plants for free, now is a good time to take cuttings. Penstemons, Rosemary, Lavender, Geraniums (pelargoniums, not the hardy herbaceous ones), and Salvias all root really quickly at this time of year and it’s not difficult.  If in doubt, have a go, it really is easy and fun! All you need is a pot of free draining compost and a small pot. Add plenty of grit if your compost is on the heavy side, especially for geranium cuttings as they hate damp, claggy soil.  Cut a piece off around 10 or 15 centimetres long, chose a stem with no flowers if you can, cutting ju... Read more…

Many years ago I bought a little Paulownia from an open garden plant sale. Also known as the foxglove tree because of its gorgeous flowers, I waited and waited… the tree grew to about 4 metres tall, shading everything out of the border but no flowers.  Eventually, and with a heavy heart, we cut it down.  I never like to cut a healthy tree down but this was really adding nothing to either the garden, or the resident wildlife. However the tree was not going to give up. Last year some huge grey felted leaves (see photo)  started to emerge across the whole width of the previous tree canopy. ... Read more…

The June garden speaks to me in roses. My new favourite rose is ‘Champagne Moment. This has large, creamy white flowers all summer blooming elegantly on a really healthy bush. I’ve seen it listed both as a shrub rose and as a hybrid Tea, but whichever it is, it is a lovely thing. Peter and I visited Biddulph Grange, a National Trust property famous for its dahlias in 2011. The rose that carries its name is a shrub rose with bright red single flowers with white centres and yellow stamens. A repeat flowerer and still going strong after rather a savage prune last year, it stays really healt... Read more…