My arch enemy in the garden, munching their way through many a Hosta and with a particular taste for Campanula. I’ve tried many tips to help rid my garden of these pests, but have realised that I’m fighting a losing battle to rid them completely. By encouraging predators in the garden, I have managed to slow the […]
February Jobs in the Garden
February can often seem in the depths of winter, but this month, there will be signs of a fast approaching spring, with bulbs appearing and morning birdsong as light levels and temperatures increase. February is a month of preparation for the gardening year ahead with lots to do both inside and outside. Don’t forget wildlife; at […]
January Jobs in the Garden
Stepping out into the garden in January for me, brings hope and expectation, even in the midst of the dark days. Spring will awaken the sleeping garden in a matter of weeks and the bare bones of the garden will be covered in the lush green foliage that was snatched away last autumn. The weather, of course, […]
Florentines
Hands down, they’re my favourite kind of biscuit, which begs the question…why do I only make them at Christmas?! I like to make one batch for the family and one to give as gifts, wrapped in a brown paper bag and tied with ribbon. I have experimented with a mixture of different nuts, but I […]
Christmas Table Decor
I’ve hosted Christmas Day for eight out of the past nine years – last year was the first I didn’t host and it felt very strange not to be thinking about and planning my Christmas table throughout December! I’m always drawn to natural materials and my table from 2018 was my favourite so far and […]
Christmas Cake
This recipe is a seriously good one…and I don’t even like Christmas cake! With December just a day away, it’s still not too late to make your own Christmas cake and this recipe is easy and foolproof. The earlier you make it – the better it tastes, but by pre soaking the fruit, you can […]
Handmade Christmas Baubles
A few years ago, I saw some very expensive guinea fowl feather baubles in an interiors shop and always wished I’d bought some. As I wondered around Sostrene Greene, some little bags full of guinea fowl feathers caught my eye and I knew exactly what I was going to do with them! For these baubles, […]
How to Clean Faux Flowers
I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t been fastidious with the cleaning of my faux flowers and in particular, my orchids were looking terrible! I occasionally dust over them with a feather duster and wipe the leaves with a cleaning wipe, but the bright white flower heads were looking decidedly dusty. I tried wiping these […]
Ricotta Gnocchi
With Tomatoes & Chilli Gnocchi are a generally made with potatoes, wheat flour or semolina and eggs, but this version makes the Gnocchi super light and fresh and combined with the sweetness of cherry tomatoes and the heat from the chilli flakes is a perfect summer weeknight dinner. Ingredients 250g ricotta110g “00” flour plus extra […]
Beehive Composter
I’d been after a beehive composter for a while and once we’d finished our herringbone paving, I knew I wanted a pair of beehives either side of the bench that sits on this small seating area. Nervously, I asked the ‘facilitator’ if he’d have a go at making me some and he said yes! We […]