Gardeners have different ways of thinking and doing. One gardener’s weed infested yard is another’s pollinator’s heaven. I’m the first to admit I’m a lazy gardener so I fall deeply in the latter category. This is my yard. I refuse to mow the lawn, that’s my husband’s job, but if it’s not done I don’tContinue reading “Bee Food”
Author Archives: The Flowerpot Pen
Therapeutic Horticulture
What is Therapeutic Horticulture? Who is Therapeutic Horticulture for? They’re the two main questions I’ve been asked when speaking to people about my professional focus over 2023. In a nutshell, Therapeutic Horticulture (or TH) is using horticultural practices to achieve therapeutic outcomes, and TH is for everyone. TH can be as simple as keeping houseplantsContinue reading “Therapeutic Horticulture”
Christmas Eve Eve
It’s the eve of Christmas Eve, that makes it Christmas Eve Eve in my book. It’s a time for a bit of calm reflection before the start of whichever emotions you will be dealing with on Christmas Day, both positive and negative. I’m reflecting on all the things I’ve done this year, a year fullContinue reading “Christmas Eve Eve”
Cherry Time!
One of the joys of tending fruit trees in the garden is getting to pick the fruit. This time it’s Cherry time! My Stella cherry is situated right where I park my car so it’s easy to keep an eye on the development of its fruit. Also to keep an eye out for those peskyContinue reading “Cherry Time!”
Backyard Birds
Every year Birdlife Australia run a series of seasonal citizen science events called ‘Birds in Backyards’ where we get to count and record the species and numbers of birds in our backyards. The results for the spring survey are in, with the top ten species sighted and counted listed in the first photo. Of theseContinue reading “Backyard Birds”
Simple Joy
There’s a simple joy in going out to your garden, cutting some flowers, then sticking them in a favourite vase. You don’t even need to spend any time arranging them if you don’t feel like it, just bunch them up and let them do their thing. Their beauty is in their forms, colours, scents, andContinue reading “Simple Joy”
Wistaria
That got your attention didn’t it? Wisteria or Wistaria? Both are legitimate. I once got into a heated ‘discussion’ on a FB garden group with a woman who was adamant she knew best. She had NEVER heard this gorgeous plant called Wistaria before, so it never had been. Quite apart from the futility and stupidityContinue reading “Wistaria”
Spring Dayz
Springtime here in South West Victoria, Australia is traditionally unsettled. True to form, we have had a variety of weather experiences lately. We’ve had warm, clear, sunny days, howling gales, cold, frosty or foggy mornings, rain, thunderstorms. You name it, we’ve probably had it lately. Things could be worse, we could be having the bushfiresContinue reading “Spring Dayz”
Blue
The colour blue is difficult to find in the flower world, there are more options for purple and lilac colours. Borage (Borago officinalis) is one plant with what I would call a true blue flower, Love in a Mist (Nigella damascena) is another. Thinking of the theory of how colour affects our moods, the colourContinue reading “Blue”
Weeds
What is a weed? I guess that’s a question that’s been asked since some plants were labeled ‘weeds’. The answer to that question differs between who you talk to. My usual answer to that question is: a weed is a plant growing where it shouldn’t be. Weeds in my locality include lots of pasture grassesContinue reading “Weeds”
The Flowerpot Pen 