Jo writes: One of those days? When I can feel myself being pushed and pulled in every direction, when I feel the stress mounting, as we all do from a plethora of sources, I take some time out to enjoy one of my very favourite activities...

Joan writes: How lovely has the last month (on balance) been? September is my joint favourite month (the other is May). Daylight hours are still long enough to ‘get stuff done’, a wee bit of heat in the sun and if the temperatures drop enough and...

Joan writes: Sweet pea picking has slowed to a standstill, and my attention is now turning to the little piles of leaves that would now appear to be the thing needing picked! But, with autumn leaf fall comes the autumn activity of spring bulb planting. That’s...

Joan writes: Summer is drawing closer to its end. But! What a glorious 9 days we have enjoyed here in very sunny Ayrshire. Other than watering plants, cutting sweet peas and pulling courgettes, my garden activity has been very relaxing. Until yesterday that was, as I...

Joan writes: They say August is the month that we reap most benefit from our efforts in the garden from over the previous months. Flowers are blooming, crops are being harvested and the lawn’s growth rate is waning meaning less grass cutting to do = more...

Joan writes: Sadly though, this harvest is not mine. Our local farmers’ market was up and running today and a visit for me was a must. Fabulous local carrots, Ayrshire tatties and a bit further afield strawberries all made it home with me. Spurred on by...

or maybe today, the other way around! Joan writes: We have a little field that we have taken ‘haylage’ (a cross between traditional dried hay and fresh cut grass) from today. I’m so pleased because we are at the mercy of the neighbouring farmer to do...

Joan writes: Midsummer has been and gone, but thankfully I’ve not heard the dreaded ‘the nights are fair drawing in’ uttered yet! However, daylight does seem to have waned and the weather appears to have taken a semi-permanent turn for the worse with heavy rainfall and...

Joan writes: You might recall that I commented on what I considered to be the ‘earlier than usual’ arrival of swallows to our garden in the middle of April. Time has flown past with Mum and Dad Swallow having shipped out their first brood and this...

Jo writes: As National Insect Week (22nd-26th June) comes to an end, I thought I would share another lovely gardening activity to ensure that even the smallest of creatures can flourish in your outdoor space or gardening project. After all, as they say on the National...