Tag: Kew
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Tipping the trailer (Week 11, Friday)
The reason why you may not see all the diary entries published online yet is that I am preparing for my RHS Level 3 exam next week, not that I am working or learning any less (or having less fun). I am still clearing the middle bed of dead wood and overgrown plants, so that…
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Gallium aparine (Week 11, Thursday)
While pulling the Alliara, I found myself covered in cleavers (Galium aparine), another weed whose name I have just learnt, despite being familiar with the plant from the plot at home. Amazingly effective, cleavers, in, well… cleaving to whatever is at hand. Seed are not the only part of this plant of the Rubiaceae family endowed…
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Garlic mustard (Week 11, Wednesday)
The front of the bed Weeding week this week, and having done with the front of a bed, I decided to step inside, behind a wall of Spiraea… where I found what I can only define as a plantation of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) aka Jack-by-the-hedge! Just behind It was actually quite something: I had never…
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Weeding the tree circles in the South Canal beds (Week 11, Tuesday)
Team day, as usual, but the difference today was that we were weeding tree circles in my area: Malus, Pirus, Crataegus… I sat for a while under a large pear tree, pulling weeds from under its canopy. When I came out, my colleague went quiet and looked strange, his eyes on my back: “you have…
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The Pagoda (Week 10, Friday)
We visited the Pagoda today, such a symbol of Kew gardens! I remember a few years ago the Pagoda was open to the public for a short period of time and I wanted to go but then did not manage to… but today we had our very own special tour. The reason why the Pagoda…
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Neillia (Week 10, Thursday)
I was not familiar with the genus Neillia before I spent a whole afternoon digging ground elder from under one. That was an opportunity to become closely acquainted; I took the pictures below. There is probably a reason why I did not know Neillia, and it’s because there doesn’t seem to be much information around…
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Lawn-mowing for beginners (Week 10, Tuesday)
Tuesday team-working day today, we are weeding and mowing the lawn around the so-called “holly walk” – an area that has no dedicated gardener to it so is managed during team days. By the way, if you were wondering: how many gardeners in Kew? (a question several visitors ask me) The figure I got was…
About Me
M.Paola Andreoni
I got the first allotment in 2007 (in the UK) and started growing my own food for the first time. Learning as I went along was not enough, so I studied some horticulture. I am striving to abide by organic principles. Brexit gave me a new life in the Netherlands, and two new plots by a nature reserve.
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