Doug Stewart

Rather excited to be running a wildlife gardening Garders' Question Time this weekend at the Robin Festival.

This week involved a walk around Potteric Carr Nature Reserve...

Pluteus cervinus (Deer shield)
Lycorperdon pyriforme (Pear-shaped puffball)
Armillaria possibly ostoyae

All spotted enjoying the damp, dank autumn air....

I had to go back and visit her, as if caught in her web.
Here she is.
Pure malevolence
(Solanum atropurpureum)

Doing its thing in the early autumn sunshine, meet Succisa pratensis. Perhaps the most unlikely member of the honeysuckle family.

I suspect there is only one place that love comes from.

I deny any knowledge of this

There could be trouble ahead...

My first attempt at fermented hot chilli sauce...

What could possible go wrong?

What is your new camera?

A heavy clay soil is what roses dream of, their favourite place to be in all the world.

Education changes lives
Education creates opportunities
Education builds confidence
Education nurtures potential
Education sparks curiosity
Education encourages creativity

Most of all
Education is the key that unlocks possibilities

Congratulations to all who graduated yesterday.

One of the things I love about my career (adventures) in horticulture is meeting new plants, like this rather amazing Pyrus communis 'Pysanka'...

Every day is a school day...

Little pet....

One day, Victory will not just be a cat

Today has been about:

allotments
community
joy
celebration
gardening
and sustainable food

Judging at Newland Avenue Allotments in Hull

Thank you so much for such a lovely comment… A lot of planning…

Where did it all go wrong, when I went to college I got a grant, and there were no fees to pay, I had a post grad degree paid for by my employer, I bought a house with a mortgage 2.5 times my salary. I have had it so easy compared to young people today.

Looking good!

10 years of developing a climate resilient soil. is paying off, no irrigation for over 10 years, and lush bountiful growth abounds...

I think I need to find a new series of summer activities…

Impossible to find places in London…

Today I located

Meet Hydrangea serrata ‘Kiyosumi’ which takes its name from Mount Kiyosumi in Chiba Prefecture of Japan, a serene, wooded region known for misty mornings, Buddhist temples, and ancient trails.

Perfect for woodland gardens.

Spotted in Oakwood at RHS Garden Wisley.

Have you met Calliandra Sur. 'Dixie Pink'

Fantastic for pots and sunny spots...

Calliandra has been linked with fairies, woodland spirits, and magical transformation due to its delicate, ethereal flowers. Children in some communities believed the flowers were combed by fairies at dawn...

Pure joy

...and sadly Victory is still a cat.

But we are with you.

Our Research Projects - SongBird Survival's studies Learn more about our current and previous scientific research projects on UK songbird declines and ways to reduce further declines and promote ways to help songbird recovery.

This may, or may not help...

www.songbird-survival.org.uk/what-we-do/r...

Tank you for your post Nick, I was unaware of Songbird Survival's past. They have a new CEO who I know, and who appears to be focused on academic research relating to songbird survival. I note that Colin Steel is no longer a trustee. However I cannot say what their stance is now...

Today the SongBird Survival Garden was declared open.

The garden won a silver gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and is now allowing people to connect with nature in its new home in Hull.

Well, they say it is the best policy...

I thoroughly enjoy my wanders through London, and popped in to the Brunswick Centre for a coffee this week...

Plant make a space, even in a concrete development more human, more intimate, more welcoming.

However I did avoid the bench!

Yes, they only fly on warm still days… Hope you survived