Eventually every garden reaches the stage where the distinguished patina of age decays into senescence. This probably applies to the croft gardeners too, but in the summer of 2021 it was evident that parts of garden were in need of some care and attention. Over the years we have learnt that, in our harsh environment,
It is just over two years since a severe storm wrecked our polytunnel in February 2021and we have spent the intervening period repairing, renovating and redeveloping the vegetable garden. Some Covid restrictions were still in force, but a friend helped us take down the roof and we eventually managed to get a skip to remove
Day Seven: 6 December 2022: Bishops in the Orchard This is one of the last plants to flower in the garden. I have never been too enamoured with dahlias, but the Bishop of York is quite stunning. The small bright lemon flowers with orange centres are the perfect foil for the dark purple leaves. I
Day Six: 5 December 2022: A rugged, wrinkled rose In an ideal world, cottage gardens should overflow with a sumptuous abundance of perfumed plants, but achieving the ideal on the exposed western coast of the Outer isles is perhaps over ambitious. I have finally a managed to persuade some honeysuckle to tumble over the garden
Day Five: 4 December 2022 I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:There sleeps Titania sometime of the night Our common wild honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) is the only climbing plant that