Record Ideas, Tips & Guides

Having ‘forgotten’ that it was the end of the month a few days ago, I am playing catch up with recording the transition from July to August; to save time, instead of a series of photographs I am posting a video.

Fall is here and that means care for your lawn and garden will differ greatly from the spring and summer months. As colder temperatures roll in, it may be time to start prioritizing other gardening tasks and stop others like mowing your lawn.

You cannot compare the wet weather we have had in the last 9 days or so with the destructive hurricanes experienced by parts of the US, but we have an amateur weather monitor here and I have kept records for over ten years, so can tell you that this is the wettest month we have had in that time, with 161mm (6.3″). To put this in perspective, our annual rainfall varies from around 24-32″, although bear in mind these are amateur records. Living on a hill, we are in no danger of flooding, but there is a river valley at the foot, with lakes from collapsed coal mining, and the road there does tend to flood after prolonged rain, necessitating a detour, but oddly this has so far been minimal, as it has been in the local town, where this first river flows into a second, larger one. What is happening both up and downstream can of course have an impact.

Hardly an episode goes by where we don’t mention a pollinator plant. But we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic, which in our minds is bananas! So today we’re fixing that track record and discussing 11 of our favorite pollinator plants. Native plant expert Cheyenne Wine joins us from Rare Roots Nursery in Virginia to add her top picks to the conversation, as well. Listen now to find trees, shrubs, perennials, and even some bulbs to plant if you’re interested in turning your garden into an insect party buzzing with activity!   

Decorating a windowsill might seem like a simple way to add a bit of flair and personality to your living space. After all, a well-decorated sill can act as a mini-showcase for your style, housing everything from cute trinkets to treasured mementos. But before you start lining up your favorite possessions along that sunny ledge, it's important to remember that not everything plays nice with sunlight. 

kuppa_rock / Getty Images

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all had to get used to communicating across a distance, whether that’s through video chat or with significant physical separation.

A crack in a bridge in Tennessee over the Mississippi River could disrupt huge shipments of corn and soybeans from growing regions up north to transportation down south. 

Ever since I was a kid, I've been skittish around animals. This is perhaps why birds have always been among my favorites—they like to keep their distance from me as much as I do them.

Aside from the dryer itself, dryer sheets make doing laundry that much easier—they are basically liquid fabric softeners in sheet form. Both add softness, remove static, and imbue your dry clothes with a hint of fragrance.

April has been a mixed and breezy month, with April showers and sunny periods, and although it has been pleasant in the sun we have not really felt much warmth from it, with temperatures rarely rising above the mid teens (centigrade). Today has seen a change, however, with a mild night and blue skies from daybreak onwards, and our weather monitor recording temperatures over 19°C – but we still have the breeze! We are forecast more days like this, and I feel confident of beginning to plant up the cutting beds.

You might have seen the most colorful or the most fragrant blossoms, but do you know about the longest flower names? Well, you are in for a treat!

We were due to open the garden today under the National Garden Scheme for snowdrops, hellebores, witch hazels and other plants of seasonal interest, but have had to cancel it for family health reasons. The garden was largely ready for the opening, although there were still a few outstanding tasks when we made the decision a fortnight ago; it is a shame, but it was the right decision to make.  The biggest shame, however, is not being able to share it with more people, so today I have recorded a warts and all video tour and am sharing our mid-February treasures with all of you instead.

Bookworms rejoice—one of 2024’s most popular design trends involves a new kind of bookish aesthetic.

Over the course of 130 years, spanning from 1893 to 2023, the cultivation of giant pumpkins has undergone a remarkable evolution. In 1893, the exploration of oversized pumpkins was in its nascent stages, marked by growers experimenting with novel approaches. Fast forward to 2023, and the quest for world records in giant pumpkin weights has burgeoned into a global phenomenon. Contemporary growers leverage advanced cultivation techniques, innovative fertilizers, and meticulous care to foster giant pumpkins, consistently shattering previous records.

John Gruen

I wasn’t aware that it was the end of the month until it no longer was the end of the month, and the new month of February instead – this is becoming a habit! As my EOMV posts are as much for my own records as anything else, I shall whizz through it with just photographs this month and (may) be better prepared next month… You can check out the usual locations the photographs are taken from by looking at the ‘Route of Video Tours’ under The Garden tab.

In their quest for the world’s heavyweight champion, some pumpkin growers will do almost anything.

The record existed until 1976 when Bob Ford of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA exhibited a 451 pound specimen at the U.S. Pumpkin Contest in Churchville, PA. Yearly International Competition was revived again in 1979 when Canadian Howard Dill of Windsor, Nova Scotia won his first of four consecutive international pumpkinship titles at the Cornell Contest in Pennsylvania. Mr. Dill’s first world record of 459 pounds came in 1980 which he supassed in 1981 by harvesting a 493.5 pound pumpkin.

On October 9, 2023, Travis Gienger from Anoka, Minnesota, set the world record for the heaviest pumpkin, weighing 2749 pounds. The record was previously held by Stefano Cutrupi with a pumpkin weighing 2708.8 lbs. Gienger had already established the U.S. record in the previous year with a 2560-pounder and in 2020 with one weighing 2350 pounds.

How to Start a Garden Journal If you've wanted to start a garden journal (or get back to using one!), check out these tips from artist and teacher, Carrie Carlson. Connect with nature with a garden journal

You might have seen the most colorful or the most fragrant blossoms, but have you ever witnessed the longest and the tallest flowers? Well, you are in for a treat!

If you’re sick of being blindsided by inflated price tags at the grocery store, you’re not alone—volatile prices and frequent shortages made 2023 a tough year for food shoppers. Though pandemic-era inflation eased slowly this year, certain products still spiked in price, leaving families to improvise their weekly shops. Plus, global conflicts and extreme weather events made certain foods more expensive or increasingly sparse throughout the year.

It's easy to make New Year's resolutions—what's more difficult it sticking to them. But keeping your resolutions gets so much easier when you have the right gear.

hapabapa / Getty Images

Brie Williams

A double row of clipped topiary pieces in the yew garden at Beckley Park

Buying furniture can be an overwhelming process, especially if you know what you need but aren’t quite sure what you want—and the challenges only grow from there. Once you finally figure out your preferences, where do you begin?

They say a picture tells a thousand words. But in the case of botanical art it’s fair to say that it’s probably far more than that, as proven by a magnificent new book Drawn from Nature: The Flowering of Irish Botanical Art by the Wicklow-based art historian and author Patricia Butler (Acc Art Books UK, £35).

The World’s Biggest Onion was so enormous that it was big enough for many families for the use in their full day meal! Here’s how it broke the record!

From its historical association with love and protection to its role in kitchens, the  Magical Properties of Oregano goes beyond its culinary uses. Let’s learn how this humble herb can transform not only your dishes but also your garden’s energy and vitality.

Ever wondered,Are Carrots Man-Made? The question has caused both confusion and speculation. As people become more aware of food sources, whether carrots are natural or man-made has become a very interesting question. In this article, we answer this in detail and dispel all myths.

Cake stands are timeless, versatile, and stellar centerpieces for any table. Whether you top them with seasonal decor, plants, charcuterie, jewelry, or dessert, our best cake stands never go out of style. 

Pepper X got recently crowned as the spiciest of them all and its rating on the scale of spiciness will surely make you grab that glass of water! Keep reading!

Gardening is incredibly rewarding but it can be tricky to keep on top of seasonal jobs such as sowing and harvesting, not to mention new planting plans, redesigns and wish lists from one year to the next.  

A bird box provides a safe place for birds to build their nests and a specialist bird box camera can give you a closer look at the birds raising their families in your garden without causing disruption.