The story of David Austen Roses

David Austen roses  have many petals ,often referred to as the “cabbage” appearance which may seem less friendly to pollinators. In fact as the rose flower matures, the petals open up revealing the stamens  and stigma.

Radicchio with Gorgonzola: Franca’s pasta sauce

We have a fine crop of Treviso radicchio now ready for eating in the garden, and we will get to enjoy them all winter. Some people like to mix tender radicchio leaves with things like lambs lettuce to their salad in the spring and summer. In autumn and winter however, I love the vegetable lightly…

Simple and yummy: an October celeriac recipe

Middle of October and we have celeriac forming beautifully in our little Stonehouse kitchen garden. I’m delighted, as I more or less shoved them into heavy clay, but in a nice sunny and sheltered spot. People have asked me what I do with the celeriac. Well, I have a very simple and utterly delicious recipe…

Himalayan green fig sabji á la Stonehouse

With the chill set in already, this October is not going to see a second crop of ripe figs in Stonehouse. My young tree is full of small green fruit which I want to pick, so that the tree endures the winter with a better reserve of energy than if it keeps trying (and failing)…