Marc's Gardens

Mean Rice I remember my first visit to a motor racing event at Silverstone many years ago. We were going to stay in nearby Towcester: the first time I had been anywhere near the racing circuit in Northants. Anyway, although quite lost, and no doubt circumnavigating the town several times, I can recall stopping to ask folk if we were anywhere near Towcester, or ‘Toe-Chester’ as I was pronouncing it. Bemused locals simply shook their heads and looked at me as if I were an alien, and despite asking them - probably in the town itself - they still insisted that ‘no…. never heard of that place round 'ere.’ Then, luckily one bright local- yokel announced ‘oh you must mean Towcester’ – pronouncing it Toaster! ‘ Are you ‘aving a laugh ’ I thought! Are you telling me that I’ve been driving around this town (lost!) asking for ‘Toe-Chester’ and all the while not one of you had the wits about you to think I might simply be pronouncing the name, of your town, incorrectly? I do get angr

Asteraceae Heaven I love December! It always seems like quite a short month really. The days are short. The festivities of Christmas seem to remove at least a week from the month itself and no sooner is Xmas over with, than the celebrations of New Year commence. Also, my birthday is in December. So, whilst the month itself  launches us deep into winter 'proper' I never mind it too much.  Echinaceae paradoxa    But 'why' I hear you cry am I banging on about December and Christmas here at the start of September? Well ** tenuous link warning ** recently I went on a study day at Great Dixter. I visit Dixter quite regularly and have written about the place a few times in my posts. I've also attended quite a few of the study days there, looking closely at Exotic Planting ,  Successional Planting , and the Plants of the AGM - Award of Garden Merit. However, this time it was... drum roll please...... Daisy Day at Dixter ! A comprehensive look at t