Blog blues

I don't know what it is about blogging but I have come to think of it rather like washing the dishes! Hence my erratic and oft infrequent appearances. I like Twittersphere because it keeps you to short sentences, so the need to ramble on is confined and you have a kind of discipline, but blogging takes on another identity - very useful if you want to wax lyrical about some point or other, but deadly if you feel the need to fill in that gaping empty space in the little blog box.

That said there are some great gardening blogs out there - entertaining, funny, informative and interesting - I only wish I had the inclination to compete but alas I do not. So if you want to look at a really good blog log onto: http://www.blackpitts.co.uk/blog/  This is the blog of the delightful James Alexander-Sinclair, very entertaining and full of interesting snippets and even gossip! From time to time I will share a few more with you but James' blog  is good to be going on with.

So now I have got that off my chest onto other matters - First a  little reminder about the AA Spotter Guides - if you can't tell a Rook from a Jackdaw or a Birch from an Elm, these might be really useful to you.

Last month saw the publication of the first four titles in the series: Town & Country Birds, Trees and Shrubs, Grassland and Farmland Wild Flowers and Butterflies and Moths. A perfect introduction to the flora, fauna and wildlife of the British Isles in handy pocket sized books. Each Guide is £5.99 and you can get more info from: http://www.theAA.com/shop

If you are considering a career in garden design there are some really good courses out there for both full and part-time study. The Garden Design School are holding a number of taster days during 2011, two at each of the School's centres -  at Painshill Park, Cobham, Surrey on 11th May and another on 28th June, and one at Bristol Botanic Gardens on 13th May and 30th June. The aim of the taster days is to give would-be students on the School's Garden Design Diploma an opportunity to meet with School founders and gain an insight into the the course and its contents.
The new course starts on 13th September 2011. For more information log onto: www.gardendesignschool.co.uk

Coton Manor Garden School, Nr Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, have just released their new programme of courses. They have a wide programme of one and two day courses to suit every taste.
For details of their new programme log onto: www.cotonmanor.co.uk

Thyme at Southrop, the Food School, near Lechlade in the Cotswolds, has a series of gardening courses planned between now and August. Saturday 7th May sees Paolo Arrigo, owner of Seeds of Italy and author of From Seed to Plate, join up with Head Gardener, ethno-botanist and chef, Claudio Bincoletto, to bring a special focus on basil and a cookery demonstration showing you how to make authentic pesto and preserve it in jars. Lots of other courses during the summer months, so log onto:www.ThymeAtSouthrop.co.uk

You will also find course information on the Reckless Gardener website on our calendar page: http://www.reckless-gardener.co.uk/events/events-calendar-2011

Well there is another blog done and dusted -while batting out this blog I listened to The Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Day Dream Believer" - The Monkees! Of my time my friends, of my time.