Dave

Cheers Catherine 😀👍🏼

Good morning folks, the transformational power of sunshine & light has never been more apparent to me.
There’s glorious Spring colour bursting through the garden at the moment. Give yourself a moment to pause, to take it in, … to breathe
Have a good day whatever you’re doing 😀👍🏻
#springinthegarden

… the best is yet to come 👍🏼

Good afternoon folks …
One of the exciting punctuation points in my gardening year is the “freeing of the pots” - those late winter days when I take emerging flowers from their greenhouse pots & begin to arrange them on the lower deck & the screen garden.
Have a good day 😀👍🏼

It’s all a bit of a mess out there … however, nature will find a way. It’ll be so different in a month or two (with a little hard human graft!)
I couldn’t let the daffs & crocus die at the bottom of a compost bin so I’ve relocated them to one of the new raised beds.
Have a good one folks 😀👍🏼

Good morning folks …
There’s a “clutching at straws” feel to the weather in terms of sunshine at the moment, but hang on in there.
Nature will deliver …

Lovely work Carol … my compliments to your hub! 👍🏼

Things are beginning to happen folks …
Words like “promise”, “anticipation”, “resilience” & “tranquillity” are punctuating the dull & the damp.
The ephemeral glimpses of sunshine are reminding us of what’s to come (hopefully!).
Have a good day 😀👍🏼
#bottomofthegarden

Amendment to my previous post. The bird in question is a Goldcrest and not a greenfinch. 👍🏼

There’s no narcissism at work here, more likely it’s some form of courtship/curiosity. Either way, they are lovely birds (greenfinch), totally distracted, so much so I could almost touch them!
It’s all chirp & mirrors.
😀👍🏼

Good morning folks, thanks for all the good wishes & welcome back messages yesterday! Much appreciated.
The sun was out & I managed to get my first job of the year done. I enjoy working with these 1200mm garden sleepers.
A small blank canvas has been created.
Have a good one 😀👍🏼
#futureproofing

Cheers Carol! 😀👍🏼

Well hello 2026! It’s been a while folks … & I’ve missed you.
I’m hopefully saying goodbye to some health challenges & engaging with some exciting garden challenges. Not least of which is a flood at the #bottomofthegarden hmmm 🤔
Lots of other garden developments to share with you!
Have a good one 😀👍🏼

Good morning folks … & what a lovely one it is!
Almost December & the Dublin Bay is still providing rich, deep red blooms for our appreciation.
I’ve had this rose for over 25 years. It’s never let me down. There’s still life in the other roses too!
Have a good day 😀👍🏼

Good morning folks, well, well, well, perhaps naively, I wasn’t expecting this!
Snow, here, in Bristol … how very dare you!
🤣😂👍🏼

Well that went surprisingly smoothly! Not a single prick … (no jokes please).
This baby has been with us for about 20yrs. I’ll probably be gone before it needs another pot!
If only plants could talk …
Have a good day folks 😀👍🏼

Good morning folks, can you believe it, Nov 5th! There’s still leaves on trees, flowers in bloom, a gardener in a t-shirt (me), & as ever, loads to do in the garden. It’s “let’s put the garden to sleep” time. A busy couple of weeks ahead.
Whatever you’re doing have a great day👍🏼

Good morning folks, it’s chilli time! Using the dehydration mode on the air fryer to create a years supply of spiciness. These mixes will need to be used with caution given their inherent heat. The “Demon Red” (pic 4) Will be the last batch … until next year.
Have a solid w/e 👍🏻

Good morning folks … in a break from my well established “whisky” focus, I shall be exploring the world of “gin” this weekend. I admit to being somewhat nervous but I can see negronis & martinis on the horizon 🤣😂👍🏼

As the much needed rain falls steadily, the flora clings on, perforating the dour greyness with flashes of welcome colour.
Whatever you’re doing today, have a good one.
😀👍🏻

Some real beauties in this years crop.

Another season of tomatoes has ended. It’s been a good one! The Only the chilli harvest to be done in the greenhouse before planting up & storing the spring bulb pots in the now vacant space.
Green tomato chutney to be done tomorrow.
Have a good day folks. 😀👍🏼

Good morning folks,
Some Monday colour for you. The Jerusalem artichoke is flowering nicely & offering a timely resting point for a somewhat late in the year butterfly. Planning for next year in the garden is well underway.
Whatever you’re doing, I hope the week ahead goes well for you 😀👍🏼

A “from this to this” progress report on my raised bed garden future proofing project. The latest 3.6x1.2m bed is now in place (another layer of sleepers to go on raising it further). 3 of the 4 beds should be reading for Spring 2026 planting.
Have a good days folks 😀👍🏻

One of the things I’ve learned about my relationship with the garden is that I love seating areas. This will be very useful when I get to the age where I can’t walk the length of the garden without a rest break! 😂🤣🤣👍🏻
Have a good day folks 👍🏻

Good morning folks, if I were a more ruthless individual, when clearing the pond, I would simply rip out the excess foliage & compost it. But no! I lift the plants individually & wash the roots, making sure that I don’t throw away any dragonfly or newt life. It has to be done!
Have s good day 😀👍🏼

Autumn colours in the ascendancy today. A cooler, crisper feel to the clear September day in the garden. I’m looking forward to the pre-Winter work to be done … another raised bed built, summer bulbs lifted & separated, spring bulb planting, new garden section designs, horticultural whimsy etc
😀👍🏼

Just back from Warrington for my Aunties funeral. She was the last of my mum’s 5 sisters. While I was there, my niece (now 56!) told me that her farewell speech at the service was, in part, inspired by a poem I wrote after my mum’s passing.
Thought I’d share it.
Have a good day👍🏻