Brrrr! It’s not so funny getting cold in my tshirt in the garden! I eradicated a lot of mares tale… and I figured the reason I missed the popping up of the early spores was because it hides under the daffodils! I am tempted to get all of my plants out and pot them up and cover the affected garden in thick rubber sheets… but am I just being melodramatic?

I think not! It will be an interminable battle with this horrible stuff! I have to think. The Heritage are very clear that we must keep 50% of the front garden as garden but I don’t want to spend 90% of my time trying to eradicate it.

I also have discovered the things that will grow in the garden that I like must be protected from snails which use some of my favourites (phormiums) to hover over the gravel and egg shells I try to add. They’ve eaten my hostas as well!

The mares tail grows through my peony’s and the spiky wild rose, making it treacherous to try pulling out without serious gloves on…