Kate's Blog
The Joy of Solitude
Gardening is often thought of as a solitary profession and I am sometimes asked if I ever get lonely ...
The Joy of Other People’s Gardens
There is nothing more joyful than visiting other people’s gardens. We are a curious bunch - we all want to see what is behind that garden gate ...
The wonders of leaf mould
There is no gardening substance so wonderful as leaf mould. It smells delicious - like a woodland floor, is completely free and it is also enormously useful ...
9,131 days
"I suggest we put each other on a month's trial to see how we get on" said Hew. I think we can safely say that we have passed as that was 25 years ago ...
Coccinellidae
How many ladybirds have you seen this summer? I have only seen one and that was when it landed on my arm ...
Swallows and Columbine.
The summer sky above the garden is busy - with dashing flight, shining blue backs and burst of twittering which sounds more like gossip than birdsong - there is no mistaking the most beautiful, agile and heart-lifting of birds - the swallow ...
Everything’s coming up roses.
This is the month for roses. Classic roses that adorn our walled kitchen garden are at their peak around the middle of June ...
We’re awash with cow parsley
For me, nothing celebrates the glorious month of May more than the wonderful froth of cow parsley ...
About the Author
Kate Elliott came to Columbine Hall in 1997 when she was sixteen. She is now head gardener but also helps with managing the property generally and in conducting guided tours.