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  • Interview with Amanda Banham – Essex Potter

    “The Potter who lives here in this house makes houses and shops, trees and rainbows all from clay which she raku fires in her garden. She loves dogs and never leaves home without at least two. She loves her family and friends, mashed potato, reading magazines, the Suffolk coast, rose wine and roast dinners”. (Amanda Banham May 2020) This is the first in a series about what makes an English…

    June 6, 2020
    What Makes an English Country Cottage?

  • June Roses

    One of the things I love about June is seeing my roses in full bloom. I have a lot of roses in my main garden and next year I would like to dedicate a bed in the cutting garden to them.  They are definitely one of my favourite flowers and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them as happy as they are this year.  I think this is partly because they are becoming established (mine are now three…

    June 4, 2020
    How To Create A Cutting Garden

  • What makes an English Country Cottage?

    The article in Period Living Magazine (May 2020 with ME in it…well, ok,the house…) has made me think about what makes “Effortless rural style” (Period Living May 2020 about MEEEEE…the house). I was quoted as saying: ” ‘I wanted (to create) an English country homewith lots of textures, fabrics, rugs, thick curtains and comfy, sink-insofas.’  Thankfully they didn’t misquote me or force me to take them to court fordefamation of…

    June 4, 2020
    What Makes an English Country Cottage?

  • Kale, kale everywhere!

    Eat your greens! Well, kale to be more precise. My veg bed is bubbling over with greenliness (is that a word?! If not it should be) and the most delicious (and the only one ready more importantly) is the most nutritious of them all, curly kale. Kale is packed full of all sorts of nutrients, namely vitamins B, C, E and K. It is high in the vitamin B folate which gives…

    June 2, 2020
    Pantry Recipes

  • Watch, wait, water

    It’s a strange feeling once you’ve planted up your cut flower bed and you begin watching and waiting for them to bloom. The work doesn’t stop here though, as there are a few things you can do to give them the best possible start. Keep your small plants or seeds watered and fed. I water every day, either with a hose on a very gentle setting or with a watering can with a spray end.  You need to be gentle as you…

    May 29, 2020
    How To Create A Cutting Garden