Fox droppings

The foxes of East Dulwich are particularly well fed. I can tell this for sure, because I have been able to examine, very closely, what comes out of the other end of the fox.

Gardening mistakes

It is a good moment to look back on the triumphs and disasters in our gardens and to make notes so that we do not make the same mistakes again.

Planting spring bulbs

Spring bulbs don’t just provide us with a burst of colour to remind us that summer is on its way. They provide insects with nectar, which is essential for feeding them up again…

Growing tomatoes outdoors

I don’t often grow tomatoes outdoors, but this year I planted out leftovers from the greenhouse, which became massive and hugely productive.

Growing zinnias

Why is it that you rarely see zinnias in summer bedding displays? Do they give the impression of being an old-fashioned flower?

Growing aubergines

This year … I decided to pit three grafted aubergine plants against three plants grown in the conventional manner (from seed, on their own roots) to see which would ‘win’.

Dead thrushes and the bloody nose beetle

To Soicherons, Villars-Dompierre, in the Cote d’Or region of France for two weeks and the wildlife here is subtly different to that in East Dulwich.

Gardening books: holiday reading

[...] a holiday is not really a proper holiday without a couple of books to while away moments of idleness. May I suggest a couple of excellent garden-related books for your consideration?

Artificial grass

When the news broke that sales of artificial grass are soaring, it struck me that a fake lawn might have been a better option for my small patch…

Birds, wasps and fruit

The peaches (’Avalon’) cropped brilliantly, producing the biggest fruits yet, but as soon as they approached ripeness, the wasps attacked.