Behind the water collection barrels in the NW of the garden some additional concrete is added to the base remaining when a greenhouse was demolished some years ago. We intend to add an additional 2000 litres of rainwater collection storage which will need sturdy support.
(18/02/2014)

The industrial tanks have a few inches of black molasses still in them. We drain this out by upending them before connecting them upright to the water drainage pipe from the roof guttering. Molasis is recommended for feeding a garden and so this small amount in the water storage supply will not be problem.
(24/02/2014)

There are a lot of Poppies appearing and the first are starting to flower.
(29/05/2014)

Once again the Phacelia is attracting the pollinating insects.
(29/05/2014)

Once again the Phacelia is attracting the pollinating insects.
(29/05/2014)

A larva of the Seven-spot Ladybird - Coccinella septempunctata - the most common ladybird in Europe. The species derives its name from the Latin septem (seven) and punctus (spot).
(29/05/2014)

The rill is painted and awaits a pump. Many frogs have discovered this new water feature but will need a way of escaping.
(30/05/2014)

This time of year brings such a lot of colour to the garden.
(30/05/2014)

Poppies make great subjects for a photographer.
(30/05/2014)

I have a lot of Poppy photographs.
(31/05/2014)

A baby Sparrow. The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds - Passeridae. They are primarily seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects.
(31/05/2014)

Poppies and Marigolds.
(31/05/2014)

The ground between plants is mulched using waste cardboard, wood shavings and shredded office papers.
(31/05/2014)

A carefully placed tree stump was positioned near to the bird feeding stations to offer a 'photographic studio' for recording our visitors - using a telephoto lens and the house as a bird hide.
(01/06/2014)

More than likely a Shield Bug.
(01/06/2014)

Snails collected from the garden, purged and then cooked with onions, garlic, oregano and bay leaves. (See edible Forest Garden pages).
(02/06/2014)

Hardy Geranium. (The term "Hardy Geranium" is often applied to geraniums to distinguish them from the Pelargoniums). Colourful and photogenic ground cover.
(03/06/2014)

Campanula medium - common name Canterbury Bells.
(06/06/2014)

Different Poppy varieties flower at different times.
(06/06/2014)

There is no shortage of choice for the visiting pollinators.
(06/06/2014)

A camera with a 'macro' facility helps capture the majesty of the Poppy's structure.
(06/06/2014)

Euphorbia is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants in the spurge family - Euphorbiaceae).
(10/06/2014)

Poppies.
(20/06/2014)

Passiflora, known also as the Passion Flowers or Passion Vines, is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants, the namesakes of the family Passifloraceae.
(25/06/2014)

A pair of Eurasian Collared Doves - Streptopelia decaocto.
(25/06/2014)

Penstemon - the Beardtongues - is a large genus of North American and East Asian flowering plants that was placed in the Scrophulariaceae family - and now placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae. Native Americans long used Penstemons as medicinal remedies for humans and animals.
(25/06/2014)

The Sea Holly - Eryngium maritimum.
(25/06/2014)

Two more bird boxes from existing materials. The hole sizes vary and encourage different species to each.
(26/06/2014)

Cardoon with an infestation of Black Ahids.
(02/07/2014)

Acanthus and Allium. Chosen for their purple colouring.
(09/07/2014)

The Allium proving very popular.
(15/07/2014)

A view from the roof.
(15/07/2014)

The plant is Achillea millefolium - known commonly as Yarrow. (Other common names for this species include Gordaldo, Nosebleed Plant, Old Man's Pepper, Devil's Nettle, Sanguinary, Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Thousand-leaf, and Thousand-seal).
(18/07/2014)

Robin Roose-Beresford has an remarkable 'Open Garden' called 'The Haven' in Station Road, Minster. He has been a great help to us in choosing and positioning trees.
(29/07/2014)

Taking advantage of the scaffolding erected against a neighbour's property to get an overview of our work so far.
(29/08/2014)

A Red Admiral Butterfly with its wings folded. (Vanessa atalanta).
(19/09/2014)

Osteospermum. It has been given several common names: African Daisy, South African Daisy, Cape Daisy and Blue-eyed Daisy.
(20/09/2014)

Dahlia. The tubers were grown as a food crop by the Aztecs, but this use largely died out after the Spanish Conquest.
(20/09/2014)

The Jerusalem artichoke - Helianthus tuberosus. Is a species of Sunflower, also called Sunroot, Sunchoke, Earth Apple or Topinambour.
(30/09/2014)

Because of many new plantings added to the North Garden this year, a very dry September saw us empty our rainwater reserves. We decided to use the rill water, rather than mains water, as our solution to the drought.
(30/09/2014)

Cabbage White Butterflies produce two broods of larvae per year (three in a favourable summer) and cabbages and other brassicas are the favoured food plants. The larvae accumulate mustard oil in their bodies which makes them unpalatable to most predators. It's worth providing feeders and nest boxes to encourage insectivorous birds such as House Sparrows, Goldfinches and Skylarks into your garden. Butterfly-proof netting is the best prevention.
04/10/2014)

Tropaeolum tuberosum - Mashua. A species of flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae, grown in the Andes for its edible tuber.
(06/11/2014)

Miscanthus. One of many ornamental grasses we have introduced into the garden.
(06/11/2014)

Our gardens have been judged to a gold standard by the Kent Wildlife Trust.