Daily details from the garden to bring you inspiration throughout the year
Forget the flowers – maybe the truest sign of spring’s arrival is that moment when the perennial nettles (Urtica dioica) begin to leaf up. Just a low covering of fresh green, toothily edged leaves, each with their full complement of stinging hairs, lurking about in forgotten parts of the garden: at the margins, by the compost heap or around the bonfire pile. You can try to pull out their sulphur yellow roots and purple undergroud stems, but it’s a thankless task. I tell myself I’ll keep on top of strimming them throughout the year but, of course, fail ostentatiously. For the butterflies who like to make them their home, naturally.
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Hello! I’m Andrew, gardener, writer, photographer, and owner of a too-loud laugh, and I’m so pleased you’ve found your way to Gardens, weeds & words. You can read a more in-depth profile of me on the About page, or by clicking this image.