Author: tessaparikian

I can measure the turning of the year by the shadows in my garden. If I sit on the terrace looking west I can see the weather moving over Streatham Vale up over the Hill towards me. The Sun comes from the other direction appearing over the house behind me and, depending on the time… Continue reading Creeping Shadows

Well, what can be said is that the last 12 months of weather have been interesting. Thinking back over the last year, in London, where I live and garden, Autumn 2017 didn’t arrive until well into November. The warm weather going on and on. There were frosts before Christmas but nothing that did much damage.… Continue reading Resilient Gardens

The last few months there has been one flower show after another. The big ones are the RHS showcase shows starting with Cardiff in April and at least one a month until Tatton Park at the end of July. In between these there numerous smaller events up and down the land. Of course the mummy… Continue reading Show Time!

I’ve been procrastinating about this latest blog post. I’ve been very busy and haven’t had the time to create the time to write. I first started to think about writing about six weeks ago when it was still cold and the evenings dark. The garden was only just waking up and my attempts at growing from… Continue reading Dirt under your fingernails

This year the weather has been a serious topic of conversation. When is it not in this Island of ours? It is either too wet. Too dry. Too hot or too cold. And cold is what I want to talk about. Since the New Year it has been very cold. Some might say unseasonably cold. We’ve… Continue reading Baby it’s cold outside

I love trees. I have realised that they are fundamental to my wellbeing. My emotional response is visceral. As you know I am an urban gardener for the most part. We have parks near by with Sweet and Horse Chestnuts and Oaks. The roads are lined with Maples, London Plane, Cherries and Acers. I am… Continue reading The Noble Tree

I went to the allotment today. I haven’t been for at least three weeks. Maybe longer. January has been busy. I have been planting up my first design proposal. The client lives in North London so my daily trips across the river have taken up a lot of time. Not that I am in any… Continue reading Plot 470

Yesterday I went out in the garden for the first time since late December. I have been looking out at it through the rain, frost, wind and snow of the last few weeks but have not felt the inclination to go out other than to get the Christmas Tree into its clever pot on the 23rd… Continue reading The Christmas Lull

I’ve been thinking about Gardens. At this time of year, although there is still work that can be done in the garden, and at the allotment, it feels like a time for reflection. To think back over the gardening year and review what has worked and what not. This reflection allows me to plan ahead… Continue reading Garden Memories

I am by nature an optimist. A very glass half full type of person. When things are going wrong around me I will find the positive in the situation. I am sure that I am one of those people who can be a little annoying in my cheeriness. I blame my mum. She was a very… Continue reading The Autumn Pessimist