Category Archives: gardens

Garden Notes No 35, 2021, Echiums (the pain, the glory, the jealousy etc)

Posted on March 15, 2021 by jonathan trustram

I’m still looking for signs of life, finding it hard to believe that it’s dead. But every day it looks deader than the day before. The damage was done during that cold week in february, but at first it seemed … Continue reading →

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Olympus 3 Dracunculus, tortoise, the monastery, Dresden, garden notes, etc.

Posted on February 6, 2021 by jonathan trustram

Just outside Litochoro, right by the road, I came across a dracunculus – literally little dragon. When you’ve only ever seen something once it takes on special importance. I was driving slowly but you’d see it even if you flashed … Continue reading →

Posted in gardens, mountains, flowers, landscapes, my life, walks | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Olympos 2 – and garden notes

Posted on February 1, 2021 by jonathan trustram

When I wrote that last post, about the Papa Rema valley, how could I have forgotten this? It might have been suddenly discovering again the Italians and their search for Albania that drove it out of my head, even though … Continue reading →

Posted in gardens, in Greece, mountains, flowers, landscapes | Tagged | 1 Comment

For the future and the past, snapshots including dog

Posted on January 2, 2021 by jonathan trustram

Some photos with notes Homework first. This is a geranium. Got that? 2020 what a great year in the garden. Practically invisible on this phone. Look on a computer if you can. The photo of the echium is one I … Continue reading →

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a celebration

Posted on November 26, 2020 by jonathan trustram

I remembered a trip to the shore of the Thames with a few of the Putting Down Roots volunteers. We went to get stuff for our new rock garden in St George’s churchyard in the Borough, near London Bridge. See … Continue reading →

Posted in community politics, gardens, my life | Tagged | 1 Comment

now and then, november 19th

Posted on November 19, 2020 by jonathan trustram

They’re a bit like a row of prophets or saints high up in a cathedral. And they all appear to be of the same person. The words spell out the message THIS IS MY PARK. ? The ever changing series … Continue reading →

Posted in crude satire, gardens | Tagged | 3 Comments

the robin, herbivores in the garden, patriotism, utopia

Posted on October 27, 2020 by jonathan trustram

Bryn Terfel was on R3, a little caption speech for Mendelsohn’s ‘Elijah’ which he listened to at a concert years ago with ‘tears rolling down my cheeks’. I don’t think they roll, do they? not in the sense of turning … Continue reading →

Posted in gardens, history, politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

garden notes 34, 2020, Nerines

Posted on October 27, 2020 by jonathan trustram

Just before the flowering of the ivy the nerines open, and go on for weeks. They like to grow in pots, where they slowly multiply.  The leaves fade in late summer so the flowers  appear on an empty stage. They … Continue reading →

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garden notes 33, ivy, words of warning, pruning clematis, an apology

Posted on October 11, 2020 by jonathan trustram

I’ve mentioned events in the garden before. Like when the snowdrops open. Events which mark a particular moment in the year and often carry emotional associations. For some reason I’ve been more aware of them this year. The last one … Continue reading →

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garden notes 32 pruning

Posted on October 4, 2020 by jonathan trustram

I’ve been avoiding the subject of pruning. I know many people find it difficult. But here’s a start: It always comes down to: don’t try to learn about gardening, learn about plants. Gardening is too often reduced to silly rules … Continue reading →

Posted in gardens, hilarious | 6 Comments