On the evening of the eclipse, about twenty of us came into the garden to watch its progress. There were a similar number of garden volunteers on Wanstead Flats. In the garden, we had seats, tables and shelter. On the Flats they could watch it to the very end. In either place, the eclipse was a celebration, bringing people together …
Drought, Retting, Breaking, Brushing, Drop Spindles, Friday 31 July 2026
We have had no rain since 27 June. That’s 35 dry days. We are in a drought, as evidenced by our flagging plants. Lack of rain has been made worse by the hot weather where much of our watering evaporates before plants can use it. There’s a hosepipe ban, but at least we have our tap, and how necessary it …
Harvesting flax, retting it, and a little history, Saturday 18 July 2026
At the beginning of July, I harvested the flax, I had grown in the small raised bed, when all the flowers had gone and the stalks were turning yellow. This may have been too early as the seeds weren’t ripe. I left the flax in a stook to dry, in the hope there was sufficient moisture in the stalks for …
Wildflowers, garden flowers and hot days to come, Saturday 4 July 2026
In the wildflower bed are lots of marigolds which need dead heading to keep flowering. There’s wild carrot too. I am fascinated how when the flower head goes to seed, it folds and becomes like a bird’s nest. There’s corn marigolds, California poppies, white campion and nipple wort. The latter is in the dandelion family which has so many similar …
Our Tenth Anniversary Bash, Sunday, 28 June 2026
So many people! 500 perhaps, so difficult to count. We had three sites: the garden, the street and Durning Hall, with events going on in all the places. We teamed up with Forest Gayte Pride, which might have bemused the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, very identifiable in their whites, but they seemed in party mood too. We had eight blue …
The Garden Trail, the Green Fair, and Rain, Friday 12 June 2026
This is a busy month. Last weekend, we had the Garden Trail and the Green Fair. And at the end of the month, 28 June, we have our 10th anniversary celebration. At the Green Fair, I had a stall selling my local crime series, Jack of All Trades, and my children’s books. Next to me was Community Energy Newham. They …
Open Garden, spring flowers and making linen, Sunday, 17 May 2026
Today the garden is part of the National Garden scheme. The proceeds we collect go to charity. When I arrive, I am surprised by the number of children with their parents. It is good to see us busy. The ukulele players are not here today. They felt they would take up too much room but I feel it is a …
Water and Jack in the Garden, Friday 8 May 2026
A plumber has fixed the leak in the water pipes coming to our tap. So we have running water again, and don’t we need it. We have not had a decent downpour since early April when we had 3mm of rain. A dribble. It goes on and on, this dry spell. It was why we had running water put in, …
Frogs & cats, flax & blossom, Sunday 5th April 2026
It’s around 12 degrees but feels colder because of the chilly wind. The sun comes in and out of the clouds. We have been donated a few tadpoles. Yesterday, they were together, more of less, so very visible. Today, they have dispersed and are hard to spot. Tadpoles don’t stay together. They have no collective sense. They are fishlike and …
Equinox, Hazel, newts, and cats, Friday 20 March 2026
It is the spring equinox today, when we have equal night and day. After today, the days win out over the nights. From 12 hours at the equinox, the day length will extend to 16 hours by midsummer. Today also hails astronomical spring, as opposed to meteorological spring which began on March 1st. Where are the tadpoles? I search the …










