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LATEST ARTICLES ( 126 )

• Something for the Birds

  

  This year I’m hoping to encourage more wildlife into my garden.  I do put out feed for the birds but squirrels have made light work of many of the feeders I’ve... Read more

  Posted on 15 January 2013 DRINK, GARDENING

• Cocktail Anyone?

  

  I haven’t managed to decide on a suitable New Years resolution so my answer is I’ll just carry on with last years as it was such a success.  Cheers to another... Read more

  Posted on 11 January 2013 DRINK, GARDENING

• Raspberry Planting

  

  Finally I am getting round to planting up my fruit garden, by that I mean my raspberry canes, blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberry bushes. Read more

  Posted on 06 January 2013 DRINK, GARDENING

• Happy New Year and Happy 1st Blog Birthday!

  

  Firstly a Happy New Year and may you have a year full of plants, soil and hopefully harvests better than 2012! Secondly, Happy 1st Birthday to my blog! Read more

  Posted on 02 January 2013 DRINK, GARDENING

• Merry Christmas!

  

  Well the big day is almost here and I would like to wish all my readers a wonderfully merry Christmas! The cranberry vodka I made 6 weeks ago had a test run... Read more

  Posted on 23 December 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Christmassy Cranberry Cocktail

  

  I appear to be galloping head first into Christmas.  It happens every year. I look forward to it and then before I know it, I haven’t put the Christmas tree... Read more

  Posted on 07 December 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Christmas Wreaths

  

  The weather is successfully thwarting most of my attempts to garden so I am trying my hand at a little wreath making to boost Christmas funds. Read more

  Posted on 06 December 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• December Jobs in the Garden

  It’s that time of year, mince pies, mulled wine, log fires, fairy lights.  It’s official I really am like a big kid when it comes to Christmas and now I have tw... Read more

  Posted on 03 December 2012 GARDENING

• Planting a Bare-root Beech Hedge

  

  Now is the perfect time for planting and there are lots of bare-root (these are plants sold in their dormant state with their roots exposed) bargains to be had. Read more

  Posted on 19 November 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Peachy Cranberry Cocktail

  

  The week is over and after being contorted by a physio and tortured by my dentist I have to say I’m glad and so to celebrate here we have tonight’s cocktail. Read more

  Posted on 16 November 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Cranberry Vodka

  

  Ho Ho Ho! The festive season is nearly upon us, I am a lover of all things Christmas so I apologise in advance for the Christmas chatter that is inevitable! Read more

  Posted on 13 November 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Root Cuttings – Anemone Japonica

  

  Like all methods of propagation taking root cuttings seems to give novice gardeners the willy’s.  But like all methods of propagation it’s simple and you just... Read more

  Posted on 13 November 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Passion Fruit Cocktail

  

  I have had a bottle of passion fruit liqueur sat on what is now a heaving (in fact slightly bowing) shelf of spirits. I got it originally for a cocktail I... Read more

  Posted on 09 November 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Straight Talking

  

  Brrr… baby it’s cold outside! During the decade or so that I was designing gardens it was all about structure and there is no other time of the year when this i... Read more

  Posted on 06 November 2012 DRINK, GARDENING, HOME

• November Jobs in the Garden

  The leaves that are still clinging to the trees will be falling this month leaving the skeleton of the garden on display. The days are shortening and the... Read more

  Posted on 01 November 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Happy Halloween

  

  I know it’s not Friday but it is Halloween so time for a spooky cocktail. Eyeball Martini 30ml Vodka 15ml Orange liqueur 15ml dry vermouth 60ml cranberry juice... Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2012 DRINK

• My Day with the Wildlife Trust

  

  I saw an article in the local paper about a volunteers taster day with the Wildlife Trust at Lower Smite Farm and decided to give it a go. Read more

  Posted on 22 October 2012 GARDENING

• Nesting Pockets

  

  I came across this idea a while ago and I have been meaning to try it for some time. I regularly feed the birds that visit my garden but I have never really... Read more

  Posted on 15 October 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Strawberry & Pineapple Crush

  

  Happy Weekend! Strawberry & Pineapple Crush 3 Strawberries 3 Pineapple rings 60ml rum 30ml pineapple juice from tin 7.5ml fresh lime juice 7.5ml sugar... Read more

  Posted on 12 October 2012 DRINK, GARDENING

• Vine Weevil

  

  The Evil Weevil! I haven’t personally been plagued by these annoying little critters but some of the gardens I work in most definitely have. Read more

  Posted on 09 October 2012 DRINK, GARDENING