Some free advice...

From 1.30pm onwards on the 31st August Kathryn will be at Oaklands Nursery as guest Garden Designer. Come along to meet her and chat about your garden.

MyVeggieHaven - Update

As the days shorten now, the rate of growth is slowing down in MyVeggieHaven. But I have had some great fresh produce from a small plot measuring only 4.5 by 11 metres.

The quality has been excellent and has been such that I have had extra to give away and to sell!

See this aubergine pictured here, ready soon for a tasty roast vegetable meal.

On a sunny evening (when we have one!) the garden is lit by slanting rays back lighting the structure and form of plants. So it really has fulfilled the brief that I gave myself, when I started planning the experiment which has become MyVeggieHaven, and quite simply it was to see how productive a small garden could be and at the same time it had to be an attractive space to spend time in.

Greenspace project updates...

This week's good news is that I shall be guest garden designer at Oaklands Garden Centre & Nursery near Street, on a regular basis. You can come and meet me there and get some free advice on planting and design.

It has been quieter on the design front this year as the effect of the economic downturn takes hold. With people staying longer in their existing property they are extending and converting much more as a result so here's hoping that gardens will be upgraded next.

These pics show a garden that I have been developing for a client on the edge of the Mendips. They take advantage of the aftercare service I offer to keep their beds and borders maturing beautifully.

Herbal teas

If you like herbal teas, you can drink them totally fresh from your garden, Chamomile, Mint, Fennel, or St John's Wort easy to grow and dry for later in the year.

I have one beautiful aubergine, grown outside, more fruits forming and so fingers crossed for a warm and sunny September!

Beautiful and Productive...

MyVeggieHaven started out this year as a small patch of grass... now look at it. The original challenge was to create a productive yet attractive if not beautiful garden in a small a space of 4.5 by 11.5 metres (main area).

We have been self sufficient almost, for the past 2 months or more and it has grown enough salad to supply the local and very excellent greengrocers called 'Fruition' on Glastonbury High Street.
Tim at 'Fruition' pictured above prefers to supply locally grown food.
This garden is about 0.5 miles away or less, and so I may be Tim's nearest supplier - super fresh salad with a total of zero food miles because I go there on foot.

MyVeggieHaven Update - Summer Harvest

Summer seems to have returned, but for how long? The good thing about a vegetable garden is that whatever the weather it is still working for you even when you're not spending much time out there.
Yes, growth of salad leaves has slowed a little with the grey rainy weather, but just look at these fine fellas!
The runner beans have been prolific and I shall be digging out the potatoes soon. I love to add the mixture of flowering plants for colour. Some are flowering culinary and medicinal herbs in this garden. A small productive plot can be attractive visually too.