A new study by the Pesticide Research Institute indicates that the presence of neonicotinoids has fallen by half in ornamental plants sold by major retailers. Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticide that is widely considered to be a major threat to the future of bees and other pollinators. The study tested plants purchased […]
Now that I have more time for gardening, I’m reassessing some parts of the garden to see if I can make improvements. First for this treatment is the Lower Garden in front of the old part of the house. It is tucked away in a corner and always seems to be bottom of the list…
OK, so here are the rest of our garden’s blooms taken this past Sunday.
Angels Trumpet-Picture by Ellen Zillin
Portimão, a city in the Algarve, is famous for the quality of its sardines. Our favorite place to enjoy the silver of the sea is Taberna da Maré (tavern of the tides), which opened in 1946. The current owner, Zeca Pinhota, restored the restaurant with great sensitivity and care, using the original floor mosaic, vintage furniture, and photos […]
I wanted to share a few pictures of the back garden that I took this weekend. I am keeping the wider views under wraps because I am still working on the paving, so there are various unattractive sacks of sand, piles of bricks, a displaced woodpile, and so forth, all ruining the aesthetics. You don’t […]
via The back garden is ready for its close-up — Edinburgh Garden Diary
Picture by Barry Simmons
I don’t feature The Old Forge very often but not because it isn’t worthy: it’s simply that The Priory is the main star of my blog and a jealous one too. Nevertheless, in late July on my regular Tuesday visit, I took some snaps and thought I’d give you a short – if incomplete – […]
We had a delightful trip to the west of Norfolk a month or two back; to the splendid medieval ruins of Castle Rising with its massive mounded enclosure and monumental masonry.
Equally fascinating was the village next door, where the old ‘hospital’ (almshouses) had a fantastic garden (including a large clipped box seat) and the Norman church featured some beautiful decoration.
A cricket match was underway in the adjoining field …the epitome of English country life (of old)! The sun shone, we strolled, and then took coffee in a great little cafe, where we also found a novel use for a redundant telephone box- a local lending library!
We shall definitely be back. The castle’s website says:
‘Castle Rising Castle is one of the most famous 12th Century castles in England. The stone keep, built in around 1140 AD, is amongst the finest surviving examples of its kind anywhere in the country and, together with the massive surrounding earthworks, ensures that Rising is a castle of national importance. In its time Rising has served as a hunting lodge, royal residence, and for a brief time in the 18th century even housed a mental patient.
The most famous period in its history was when it came to the mother of Edward III, Queen Isabella, following her part in the murder of her husband Edward II. The castle passed to the Howard family in 1544 and it remains in their hands today, the current owner being a descendant of William D’Albini II, the norman baron who raised the castle.’
Further information:
Castle website
English Heritage website
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