Can I just say quietly, at the outset, that I have relationship issues with roses ? In my head, I see these beautiful flowers as the preserve of 'proper gardeners', and I don't fall into that category (being slightly more haphazard in my approach and infinitely less knowledgeable). And so I don't have any in…
Our front garden is a tiny affair - approximately 8x7m. When we first moved into our bungalow, it was just a patch of boggy grass. After a few years, I figured I couldn't look at the grass anymore and we hired a local landscaper to do some work for us. Tony was a friendly chap…
On Easter Monday my dad and I took a drive to Portglenone Forest, approximately a 45 minute drive from Belfast. It's a place I'd never visited before but it's been on my 'must visit' list for some time. Thankfully, this year, good weather and a day off combined perfectly to allow us to make the…
It seems, when other cherry blossom trees have flowered and faded and their petals lie strewn on the ground like confetti, that the one in our garden is only getting started. I'm not sure why that is exactly, but I kind of like it so. And although the spectacle comes round reliably every year, it's…
Last Saturday the sun shone all day. It was glorious, if a bit chilly. And for a little botanical pick me up, I jumped in the car and took the short drive to one of my favourite places. With just my camera for company, I went for a walk arounds the grounds, enjoying the sunshine,…
As is the tradition in March, the weather has brought us sunshine and showers. And just when we might think we have seen the last of winter, the snow arrives to remind us it's not quite over yet. Apparently, spring advances at a speed of approximately 1.9 miles per hour so living where I do,…
In recent years, snowdrops have grown hugely in popularity. Perhaps it's because they are so pretty, perhaps it's the Instagram effect. Perhaps it's simply because in the dark days of winter , when clumps of their delicate white flowers start to emerge from the undergrowth, they are so welcome. In response to their increasing popularity,…
