The paddocks have been cut and bailed, the summer heat taking its toll, the hills are looking dry. The countryside is getting that late Summer parched look. In the garden the transition from Summer to Autumn is becoming more apparent. We started cutting back the spearmint, applemint, fennel, lemon balm and bog sage outside Lil’s […]

Every night with our evening meal we pick a colander full of greens, herbs or smallish/baby veg to chop up and sprinkle on top of the meal. One colander full for 3 adults. Usually at dinnertime and sometimes at lunchtime too. A little bit of everything that is thriving, adds vitamins, minerals, different taste profiles, […]

Do you grow apples? The heritage varieties are beautiful. I just realised that I have more heritage apple varieties growing in the garden than I have shoes! This heritage apple blossom chart is one of the fine art prints soon available in the Fairy Wren Cottage online shop. Printed on museum quality paper, sent direct […]

Five things for this Monday. 1. I sent out the newsletter for January last week. A little later than expected, but filled with flowers and news I don’t share elsewhere. It is free and everyone is welcome. Click here to subscribe. 2. It is late summer, so many flowers at their peak, keep an eye […]

My shop opening is slowly coming together, I want to get things right, there is a lot to consider. Creating beautiful quality prints, making sure the buying process is a lovely experience and when you have the print displayed in your home or you gift it to someone, there is a sense of love and […]

I have been noticing the slightest, earliest shifts, as summer continues on but signs of Autumn start to gently flow through. It’s the way the flushes of growth have slowed down. Like the plant growth has plateaud and the plants are savoury these moments, the warmth of the sun. Does that make sense? Herbs are […]

Are you in the Jostaberry like camp or the Jostaberry dislike camp? We are all definetly tending towards the dislike camp but do like to taste some once a year, where as the birds in our garden are definetly in the like camp! Sorry birds, with the garden renovation the two huge jostaberry bushes in […]

Well, they are at it again and we really do need to up our game. The birds have been busy untying our double knots and 2 metre long lengths of string. That photo should look like three tee pees supporting Autumn Raspberry canes in a garden bed . We’ll take this opportunity to replace any […]

  Oh gosh this growing season is throwing some curve balls, how is it at your place? The pumpkins, zucchinis and cucumbers are slow slow slow. They just aren’t growing, usually we would have a freezer full of Golden Nugget Pumpkins by now, instead we have one flower on one plant! After I finish writing […]