Category Archives: gardens

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, Geranium psilostemon Got that? (geraniums are nearly all hardy, pelargoniums are nearly all tender.) 2020 what a great year in the garden. Practically invisible on this phone. Look on a … 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

In the autumn, shortly before ivy flowers, 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 like … 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

garden notes 31, giving up the inula, salvias patens and uliginosa, scientists, Heathrow, myrtle – old wood and new wood

Posted on September 5, 2020 by jonathan trustram

 At Heathrow airport, in Terminal 5 departures a series of glass cases show artefacts and copies of artefacts which were found during the building works. One of the biggest archaeological investigations in history. Obviously, since Terminal 5 goes on for … Continue reading →

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garden notes no 28, inside the lily: naming of parts

Posted on July 24, 2020 by jonathan trustram

Here are the pollen laden anthers of a newly opened flower of Lilium longifolium. They are attached to a slender thread called a filament. (I’m writing this out to teach myself as much as you.) Together, anther and filament make … Continue reading →

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