Merry Christmas! And if you are of another part/inclination, happy holidays, happy weekend, happy life!
And a special 'great to see you!' to my readers in Hong Kong, Mexico and Singapore!
May it bring you all you desire. May it bring us all peace!
Us delta-dwellers being in the midst of bleak, grey winter, there is not a lot to mention about my gardens. So I decided to give you some highlights (with my never before published photos) of the five years I have now been gardening at my allotment.
By the way, Puck & I raided the bushes on our walkies late last night, to make you all a quicky wreath.
Very close to the entrance to the allotments is a 'sloot' with willows. This is in spring 2021. I frequently meet a barn owl along this narrow road in the early morning, when it swoops over our heads, scaring Puck.
The bare bones of Hunky Dory in May 2022. I had spent the winter months clearing all leftover potatoes and weeds from it (missing a few), laying the paths with woodchip and digging the frog pond. As soon as I put that white gravel down, I hated it! And I was taken aback and dismayed by the utter lack of invertebrates in my soil.
By September I had assembled two planters, to give the garden some much needed height, and the struggling plants some proper soil to grow in.
By July I counted 5 different kinds of butterfly where before, in 2021, there had been none.
Part of my harvest in August 2023. Whatever they say, it DOES taste better!
My drumstick onions in all their glory in July 2024. I think they are such fun! And they last for ages. Mind you, by now (the tail end of 2025) they are disappearing a bit, I should plant some fresh bulbs. The Verbena Bonariensis seeds itself all over the place, from the batch of seedlings I planted out in the first year.
By August 2024 the woodchip paths had been changed to grass, and the perennials had really taken off. I chucked all the woodchip into the borders in early 2023, hoping the invertebrates (and plants) would thank me for it.
The same bed in October 2024. Already heading towards winter, but still quite interesting.
The other side of the garden, looking towards the road and my compost heaps, is where the Artichokes dominate. In 2025, due to the drought of more than 7 months, the flower heads were very small compared to previous years. So far this perennial bed has been quite a struggle. Most plants I put there, do not like it, but some thrive. Grasses, mostly! And that silver Pine on the left has taken it as its mission to grow a metre a year. It was sold to me as 'a dwarf species' ! Ha!
Before the summer storm blew them down to the ground this year. Mind you, I tied them up against the obelisk again, but they took a beating.
I do grow a varied crop of tomatoes each year, liking to experiment with types I haven't grown before. These are yellow zebras, lovely for salads but useless to cook with.
2025 was a terrible year for butterflies... But my scabiosa always attracts the ones that do show themselves.
Early morning last April, sunrise over the misty (river) Brielse Maas. The best time of day to my mind. Nobody out, just the birds, Puck and me. And the very occasional beaver.
And thus we are full circle to spring.
Have a lovely weekend, try to take some time to watch the birds, feel the wind and smell the flowers (if you have any near you).
Visit me at my website Renée Grashoff Schrijft
And do visit me here, you are very welcome!
Renée Grashoff
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