David Marsden

LATEST ARTICLES ( 161 )

• Almost Wordless Wednesday: That Darn Owl

  

  I don’t see him very oftenbut when I do, the Priory tawny owl brightens up my day.He’d be so much easier to photograph if he roosted in a less twiggy tree. Read more

  Posted on 17 February 2016 GARDENING, HOME

• A Frosty Pause

  

  After my last doleful post, winter got her act together.For a couple of days last week the rain stopped, the skies cleared, temperatures plummeted, mud... Read more

  Posted on 26 January 2016 GARDENING, HOME

• Blight, Rain and Flood

  

  A winter-ish sceneThis is a rubbish winter.  No snow, no ice, barely a frost,just rain.  Lots and lots and lots of rain.Day after day of tedious,... Read more

  Posted on 10 January 2016 GARDENING, HOME

• Google Search Terms

  

  Four years ago, I wrote about the unusual, odd and funny search engine entries that –  often mystifyingly – lead visitors to my blog (see – ‘Anxious Hog‘). Read more

  Posted on 11 December 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Garden Media Guild Awards 2015

  

  Here’s a quick, belated thank you to the Garden Media Guild Awards for awarding me Blog of the Year 2015. I was astonished to learn that I had won – if a... Read more

  Posted on 29 November 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• A Walk From Seaford To Berwick Station

  

  With my gardening enthusiasm washed away by heavy rain, here’s a post about something else.On a sunny Saturday in September, I walked into Seaford to meet my... Read more

  Posted on 24 November 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Grass Cutting – Again

  

  (I’ve written about cutting the two meadows before but as it is such a big part of my working life at this time of year you might forgive me for revisiting the... Read more

  Posted on 05 November 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Win A Copy Of Great Gardens of London

  

  Who doesn’t like a big bumper book of gardens?  Well, me for one.  And if you do too here’s a fine portrait of 25 London gardens.‘Great Gardens of London’ by... Read more

  Posted on 23 October 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Almost Wordless Wednesday: House Martins

  

  I’d forgotten about some house martin photos I took in July at the Barrowburn Tea Room in Harbottle, Northumberland.  This seems as good a time to use them as... Read more

  Posted on 21 October 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Gardening Dangers

  

  My recent post,  Aconitum Anxiety, led me to think on the possible hazards I face at work – as any report of a gardener’s sudden death is apt to do. Read more

  Posted on 16 October 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Win A Copy Of Garden Design Solutions: Ideas for Outdoor Spaces

  

  As summer wanders off, weary and a little distracted, you might want to curl up on the settee with a mug of tea, a large plate of biscuits and seek gardening... Read more

  Posted on 01 October 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Aconitum Anxiety

  

  I started growing aconitum after seeing it in a neighbour’s border.  I was nosing over the garden wall (a favourite past-time) and asked Mary about her tall... Read more

  Posted on 27 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• The Tropical Border – 4th Year

  

  When I started the tropical border in 2012, it was hardly deserving of the namebut a year later it looked more the part.And by 2014 many of the plants were... Read more

  Posted on 13 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Almost Wordless Wednesday: Bee Swarm

  

  (A swarm of wild honey bees flew overhead today as we cut the beech hedging.  I followed them up the drive where they landed on an apple tree to form a large... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Win A Copy Of ‘Oxford College Gardens’

  

  After several months, it must be time for a book give-away.And this is it.  ‘Oxford College Gardens’ by Tim Richardson, is published today by Frances Lincoln an... Read more

  Posted on 03 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Astrophytum Myriostigma

  

  My brain buzzes with thoughts of my new house: a new kitchen and bathroom to plan; a small (hurrah!) garden to design; installation of a woodburner and log... Read more

  Posted on 30 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• The Farne Islands

  

  I’ve been a little too busy for blogging.  I sold a house, I bought a house and I’ve endured all the fun-filled, stress-free hours that involves. Read more

  Posted on 15 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Transplanting Oak Trees: An Update

  

  The Priory oaks are impressive. Huge, ancient, gnarled, neck-craning impressive. They were the first thing I noticed and the last I shall say good-bye to. Read more

  Posted on 27 July 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• The Tropical Border And How I Learned To Hate Soaker Hose

  

  Like last year, I gambled on a fine spring by planting up the tropical border early.In mid-April, to a comb-and-tissue-paper fanfare, I dug up the big red banan... Read more

  Posted on 21 July 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• A Gravel Garden For Free

  

  Behind some outbuildings at the Old Forge is an oil tank and an expanse of gravel.  For three long years, I weeded that gravel until, a couple of years ago, I... Read more

  Posted on 25 June 2015 GARDENING, HOME