God, but this endless rain is grim, isn't it? I've been rained in for the past three days; I really need to invest in some proper waterproof clothing and shoes this year. (A lament that I make every November and then fail to act on in any way. This year, surely, will be the year … Continue reading Leaf love
Author: Wolves in London
Kew’s tremendous trees
The hubby excelled himself with my birthday presents this year. Back in September, on the day itself, I got a gorgeous grey wool winter coat from the littles. (Who are still too little to choose their own pressies, I should note...) It makes me feel as if I've stepped into a moody French black and … Continue reading Kew’s tremendous trees
Inspiration from Beth Chatto’s garden: 9 tips for drought-tolerant planting
Our latest (and final) assignment for my garden design course this year is my favourite so far. We have to design a gravel garden, inspired by Beth Chatto’s, using plants that are capable of surviving without being watered. I am massively into the whole idea of "right plant, right place" – in other words using … Continue reading Inspiration from Beth Chatto’s garden: 9 tips for drought-tolerant planting
Kids craft: no glue conker spiders
I have to confess, I find crafting with the children a singularly stressful experience. When the sprogs were still babies, I eagerly looked forward to a time when we could make stuff together. Misty-eyed, I imagined rainy afternoons spent bent over the kitchen table, glue stick in one hand, paint brush in the other, as … Continue reading Kids craft: no glue conker spiders
Poems for boys
Something I particularly love about having boys is their unswerving fascination with natural history, aka bugs, snails, slugs, caterpillars, moths, butterflies, flies, bees, wasps and whatever other hapless creature might crawl, slither or fly in their direction. Hours are spent out in the garden, closely examining what can be found by dislodging large stones or … Continue reading Poems for boys
Three ways to plant a terrarium
You know the string of hearts plant that I bought last week for my sister’s birthday and then fell in love with so much I became reticent to give it away? Well, I needn’t have worried, for she is a sister of excellent taste and – at our joint birthday celebration last weekend – she … Continue reading Three ways to plant a terrarium
Tomato, tomato, tomato: a season’s growing notes
Of all the veg and fruit that I grow, there is no doubt that I have most success with tomatoes. Tomatoes love me and always grow well for me. I love them right back and am always ridiculously over-proud of my tomato-growing achievements. And this year is certainly the pinnacle of those tomato-growing achievements so … Continue reading Tomato, tomato, tomato: a season’s growing notes
Notes from a summer: Regent’s Park sunshine
A few Fridays ago, I had the most blissfully relaxing day I have had for some time. Possibly for three years, in fact. The thing about living with small kids, I find, is that no matter how many wonderful, cute, endearing individual moments there are, day-to-day life can feel a lot like a repetitive slog. … Continue reading Notes from a summer: Regent’s Park sunshine
Share your serenity: 4 things that keep me calm
Quite some time ago, the lovely Sarah of A Life Less Physical asked me to #shareyourserenity. To create a little collage of four things that make me feel calm and peaceful. In truth, there has been little serenity around here these past few months; highlighted, no doubt, by the fact it’s taken me more than … Continue reading Share your serenity: 4 things that keep me calm
Urban Jungle Bloggers: plants and art
I’m sure you’ve all come across Urban Jungle Bloggers, a monthly series about living with plants, organised by Igor and Judith, that aims to: “highlight the beauty and benefits of houseplants and other greeneries in urban spaces." As you know, I’m something of a plant fanatic, so the only surprise is that it’s taken … Continue reading Urban Jungle Bloggers: plants and art
Wolves in London 