Chelsea Gold Medal 2013 | BBC Gardener of the Decade 2008 | BBC Gardener of the Year 1999

The Five Dials Inn, Horton, Somerset

the tables after the borders have been planted

new borders either side of the tables

the view from the fire escape shortly after completion in 2013

the new palm and tree fern garden with a bar planter

an exotic pub garden with spotlights on the pergola in Somerset

a transformation of the Five Dials Inn garden in Horton, Somerset

Interested? Lets discuss your project today or Call 01460 53284 to get started

Interested?
or Call 01460 53284

Invisible vegetable mince. Good as spaghetti bolog

Invisible vegetable mince. Good as spaghetti bolognaise, and then shepherd's pie base. On the 3rd day add can of red kidney beans and as much chilli as you can handle. Stretched a pack of mince a long way. Feeds 4 to 6, freezes well.Half a kilo of mince and 2 chopped onions into the skillet or wok on medium heat. Fry. Works even when you forgot to take the mince out of the freezer.Add 2 cans of tomatoes, lashings of garlic, 2 Oxo cubes, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, a bay leaf, some tomato puree, a can of water, 1 cup of pearl barley, half cup of lentils, 1 grated carrot. Simmer.While it is cooking, add an assortment of other chopped veg, this has 2 sticks of celery. Add mushrooms, unless your kids have the magic power to spot the tiniest bit from outer space whereas they can't find their school shoes in the morning.You can add a slosh of leftover wine....don't be silly...you drink it. That was only a small slosh. Open another bottle. Another slosh, this time in the skillet. You know what to do next.Courgettes and peppers also work. Nothing from the brassica tribe, not nice long cooked...which you are now going to do very slowly for at least an hour with the lid on. Check and prod in passing, add more water if it starts to catch on the bottom.For vegan version, no mince, double the pearl barley and lentils, Marigold vegetable bouillon instead of Oxo. Enjoy!

First barbecue of the year. Texas dry rub beef rib

First barbecue of the year. Texas dry rub beef ribs.

Can anyone translate the characters on this old br

Can anyone translate the characters on this old brass incense bowl?

Too cold to open the curtains fully, but if I keep

Too cold to open the curtains fully, but if I keep them shut for three days the neighbours knock to see if I died. Lovely neighborhood!

Snow on the snowdrops...brrr!

Snow on the snowdrops...brrr!

An office day for sure...send me your snow pics

An office day for sure...send me your snow pics

Ist January. Resolve to take dog for long walk eve

Ist January. Resolve to take dog for long walk every morning.
3rd January. Raining. Dog says no.

4.45...the end of year going-in time when I can ha

4.45...the end of year going-in time when I can hardly see what I am doing in the garden any more. Can't wait for the evenings to draw out.