Frances Tophill – Discovering My New Garden

Blazing in shades of orange, gold, peach, and red, marigolds inject the garden with warmth and cheer during summer and into autumn. The flower name encompasses two types of plant: Calendula and Tagetes. Both are easy to grow from seed and boast the fascinating ability to attract wildlife and, in turn, stave off pests in the vegetable garden.

If you look up garden ruins or follies in the dictionary, you will be told that they are ‘costly ornamental buildings with no practical purpose.’

Aldi

Prepare to rattle your funny bones with this bone-afide collection of skeleton puns!

Imagine harvesting vibrant, violet-hued pods that are not only a visual feast but also packed with nutrients and flavor. Whether you’re spicing up a stir-fry or looking to add a splash of color to your garden, Purple Beans are your ticket to an extraordinary experience.

If you want a culinary and nutritional powerhouse, then don’t miss Portobello Mushrooms. Whether you’re grilling, stuffing, or sautéeing, this versatile fungi offers more than just a meaty texture; it’s a treasure trove of flavor and health benefits.

These Pink Pumpkins aren’t just a deviation from the norm; they’re an invitation to rethink seasonal decor and embrace the unexpected. Get ready to uncover the secrets of these rosy-hued wonders and explore captivating ideas for incorporating them into your surroundings.

Here are different types of radishes you can grow! From vibrant colors like black, white, red, pink, and green and amazing taste for your palette, these types of radishes with pictures will leave you in awe.

These are the Bean Watch 2008 seedlings this morning.

I spent a lot of my childhood holidays on the Costa del Sol, soaking up the Andalucian atmosphere. When I went to secondary school I chose Spanish as my second language (French was compulsory!), and ever since then Spain has been in my blood. I love the culture, and the food, although not their obsession with all things pork. As an adult I even spent a week living with a Spanish family, a holiday filled with memorable meals. They were worried I would be fussy, but the only thing I turned down was squid cooked in its own ink.

The focus on food waste tends to be on the fresh items we don’t manage to eat before they go past their sell-by date, but in our house there are plenty of pantry items that are hidden from view and remain unused, and my Inner Womble has been inventing ways to make use of them. Now that I’m at home for lunch, making fresh soup and bread is a good way of dealing with both of them – a blended soup can hide a multitude of less-than-perfect food items, and an inventive bread recipe can make use of some as well.

Header image: Suited up to simulate the conditions of working outside on Mars. Jonathan Clarke (the author, left) with visiting engineer Michael Curtis-Rouse, from UK Space Agency (right). Jonathan Clarke personal collection, Author provided.