Author: Tess Young

Perennials are not just for garden beds; Knitting Barn-raising blankets for comfort

July 12, 2022

One of the key elements of planting a garden is, for me, building up the stock of favourite perennials. These are the plants that make your garden home, and as they appear a flourish each year feel like returning friends. While I’m still trying out how various long loved favourite plants will thrive in our new garden and experimenting with how new ones will cope with its harsh heat, in my knitting basket I have … More Perennials are not just for garden beds; Knitting Barn-raising blankets for comfort

Natural Dyeing with Hollyhocks: Stunning Results from The Black Knight

June 30, 2022

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

June 17, 2022

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

In the garden growing the stuff of life

May 19, 2022

We’re coming to that time of year when the blog can get sadly neglected and the garden takes over. As I start this post before I forget about it, I should really be preparing the ground for the cucumbers to go out, planting out my tomatoes, potting on seedlings and planting more seeds. I observed this tendency last years when I shared an overview of the garden towards the end of the season in September, … More In the garden growing the stuff of life

The turn of the year: back into cotton knits

May 12, 2022

Spring has, I think, definitely sprung. I did think much the same a few weeks ago but it seems that I was a little premature as we then had a week of rain (the first in months) and the temperatures dropped. This time I’m a little more confident that while it’s still a little chilly in the shade, the fierceness of the full sun means it’s here to stay. Other tell are signs include: having … More The turn of the year: back into cotton knits