Natural Dyeing with Hollyhocks: Stunning Results from The Black Knight

As the temperatures soar here I thought it was time to get going with solar dyeing and what better place to start than with my amazing hollyhocks. I love hollyhocks and have grown them for years so you can imagine my disappointment when the first few hollyhocks planted here failed to thrive. I had been kind to them giving them both their beloved sunshine but also the relief of a little shade later in the … More Natural Dyeing with Hollyhocks: Stunning Results from The Black Knight

Compost diaries: Improving soil and gardening for a better world

Have you ever known anyone who keeps a compost diary? Well you do now; virtually at least! Composting is one of the most amazing things about gardening. It’s not the prettiest, or the most fragrant or those most immediately gratifying, but building the structure of your soil is one of the most import and rewarding things you can do as a gardener. I’m no soil expert, but I’ve been gardening long enough to see the … More Compost diaries: Improving soil and gardening for a better world