Alan Down
@downtoearthalan.bsky.social
#Garden writer, #blogger, app content, TV/radio, #wildlife, #gardening, #plantgeek, Master of Hort, #NSch, Horticultural Trades Association Immediate Past President.
Sharing gardening info from my relatively new 1 acre garden.
https://down-to-earth.co.uk/
Sharing gardening info from my relatively new 1 acre garden.
https://down-to-earth.co.uk/
Winter flowering and evergreen #Clematis cirrhosa balearica now flowering. Best plant this particular one on a warm wall as it’s not as hardy as other cirrhosa types. Easily recognised by its fern-like leaves.
December 17, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Winter flowering and evergreen #Clematis cirrhosa balearica now flowering. Best plant this particular one on a warm wall as it’s not as hardy as other cirrhosa types. Easily recognised by its fern-like leaves.
Pruning #grapes in my #greenhouse now they are dormant. Important to do this before the sap starts to run again as they bleed if done too late! Vanessa and Muscat of Alexandria are both sweet varieties I grow.
December 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Pruning #grapes in my #greenhouse now they are dormant. Important to do this before the sap starts to run again as they bleed if done too late! Vanessa and Muscat of Alexandria are both sweet varieties I grow.
Dogwoods really light up a #garden in winter! This is a form of the European native Cornus sanguinea and is Anne’s Winter Orange and better than the more common Midwinter Fire (IMHO). #inmygardennow
December 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Dogwoods really light up a #garden in winter! This is a form of the European native Cornus sanguinea and is Anne’s Winter Orange and better than the more common Midwinter Fire (IMHO). #inmygardennow
Perhaps a little earlier than normal but this #snowdrop- Galanthus elwesii Maidwell L - is very welcome #inmygarden
December 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Perhaps a little earlier than normal but this #snowdrop- Galanthus elwesii Maidwell L - is very welcome #inmygarden
Didn’t have to wait long!
2nd flush of pink oyster #mushrooms on my #gifted Merryhill Mushrooms kit.
2nd flush of pink oyster #mushrooms on my #gifted Merryhill Mushrooms kit.
December 10, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Didn’t have to wait long!
2nd flush of pink oyster #mushrooms on my #gifted Merryhill Mushrooms kit.
2nd flush of pink oyster #mushrooms on my #gifted Merryhill Mushrooms kit.
Slightly ahead of the old adage of planting shallots on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest! These are banana shallots given a head start in modules.
December 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Slightly ahead of the old adage of planting shallots on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest! These are banana shallots given a head start in modules.
2nd flush of chestnut #mushrooms on Merryhill Mushrooms kit and plenty more to come! These are the best kits I’ve ever tried! #gifted
December 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
2nd flush of chestnut #mushrooms on Merryhill Mushrooms kit and plenty more to come! These are the best kits I’ve ever tried! #gifted
I’m mostly going to be spreading A D digestate on the #garden for the next few days.
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
November 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I’m mostly going to be spreading A D digestate on the #garden for the next few days.
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
Prunus serrula bark shining like polished mahogany furniture in the winter sunshine.
November 27, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Prunus serrula bark shining like polished mahogany furniture in the winter sunshine.
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Cushion bracket fungus on a doomed blackthorn tree (Prunus spinosa).
November 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Cushion bracket fungus on a doomed blackthorn tree (Prunus spinosa).
First harvest of tasty chestnut #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
November 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
First harvest of tasty chestnut #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
Even - or perhaps especially - in winter the hardwood (oak?) lathe fans for training #fruit #thenewtinsomerset look impressive!
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Even - or perhaps especially - in winter the hardwood (oak?) lathe fans for training #fruit #thenewtinsomerset look impressive!
Unworldly?
Isn’t this gorgeous? I don’t expect to see the Jade Vine flowering in November but it really is in the Wisley Glasshouse and is looking even more spectacular with the lights of Glow around it. #flowersonFriday 🌱
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Unworldly?
Lovely surprise to see @shegrowsveg.bsky.social seed range on sale at #TheNewtinSomerset!
November 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Lovely surprise to see @shegrowsveg.bsky.social seed range on sale at #TheNewtinSomerset!
Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis) already putting on a good show! Planted close to a wall where it thrives in the dry soil there.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis) already putting on a good show! Planted close to a wall where it thrives in the dry soil there.
In spite of the grey skies today Cotoneaster horizontals - growing out of the top of a wall - is bright and cheerful!
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In spite of the grey skies today Cotoneaster horizontals - growing out of the top of a wall - is bright and cheerful!
After the heatwave, lots of Wisteria seed pods.
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
November 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
After the heatwave, lots of Wisteria seed pods.
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
Mahonia x media Winter Sun still amongst the very best #autumn flowering shrubs. #inmygardennow
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
November 12, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Mahonia x media Winter Sun still amongst the very best #autumn flowering shrubs. #inmygardennow
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
Just 10 days from starting we have fantastic pink oyster #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Just 10 days from starting we have fantastic pink oyster #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
It’s ’just’ Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) but eye catching nevertheless.
#wildflowers
#wildflowers
November 6, 2025 at 7:52 AM
It’s ’just’ Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) but eye catching nevertheless.
#wildflowers
#wildflowers
Scarlet Hood Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea) above Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset.
November 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Scarlet Hood Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea) above Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset.