A tale of moonflowers, liqueurs and a clever composter

Like a lot of the most spectacular blooms they only blossom briefly but when they do this Queen of the Night is both exotic and intriguing.

Sadly, while the moonflowers continue to flourish, Linda’s friend has passed on, but Linda has decided to create a lasting blooming legacy that can be enjoyed by a wider audience and a slo-mo video (see YouTube clip below) to give some restful pleasure for others in care on the screens of communal lounges.

She has cultivated a micro-business which she hopes will flourish as well as her flowers (see main image above). She said: “I have come to the decision only to use top quality canvas. I need to offer something different from mass production with which I cannot compete price-wise.

“Also, sustainability is an important part of production these days, so it includes the quality of the Russian pine wooden frames.

"I would like to emphasise this is an Island venture using small artisan businesses and the fact that the flower is cultivated and grown on the Isle of Wight, so it is a unique production from start to finish.”

Linda's slo-mo video of moonflowers.

I really love getting emails from my erstwhile colleague, The Duchess of Calbourne, Sue Day, especially when they concern two loves of her life, giant pumpkins and booze...

On the latter Sue tells me: “While lining the bottom of the parrot cage with the CP this week (recycling!) I couldn’t help but notice your article concerning crabapples and thought you might like to know that they can also be used to make a very nice liqueur. I attach a recipe for your information. I think you will agree that it is completely “faff free”.

That refers to my expressed reluctance to ‘faff about’ making crabapple jelly. This seems like my sort of recipe. It is called Comforting Crabapple Liqueur and this simple recipe is apparently popular in Denmark where they drink it to accompany rich meats. You need 20 crabapples, 1 litre of vodka, sugar, muslin cloth and a large sealable jar.

Cut your crabapples in half, place in the jar and cover with vodka (keep the vodka bottle) and place in a cool, dark, place for three months.

Return to the jar every now and again just to give it a jolly good shake. Strain back into the vodka bottle. Sugar can be added, to taste, before returning it to the cool place for a further two months before drinking.

The Ballangers' new composter.

I will be interested to get a full report on the Ballangers’ new badger-proof rotating composter bought after the critters regularly, and messily, turned-over the contents of their old heap.

Judy says: “It looks a useful item, although rather pricey. We will now see how long it takes to perform...

“Interesting to see if there is any other feedback to the badger and composting debate.”

I have never been prepared to stump up to buy one, but then I’m not fortunate enough to have badgers on my patch, other than the odd forager and too tight too...

RICHARD'S TOP TIPS

1. Weed around your garlic and onions to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Apply a specialised onion fertiliser to boost growth.
2. Support pea plants with twiggy sticks or pea netting.
3. Make supports for your runner beans, using 8ft bamboo canes.
4. Feed pond fish little and often.
5. Thin out submerged oxygenating pond plants. If you have to do it, leave any removed weed beside your pond overnight so pondlife can return to the water, but it’s better to do it in winter when there is less life about.
6. Clip evergreen hedges now, checking first for nesting birds.
7. Control the heat in your greenhouse with blinds or shade paint.
8. Hang flytraps throughout the greenhouse to catch whitefly, thrips and spider mites.
9. Sow delicates now such as courgettes, squash and sunflowers. A bit late, but you won’t have missed too much time because the nights have been so chilly that they won’t have flourished in the open.

Are you an Isle of Wight gardener with a question for Richard? You can email him on: richryde@tiscali.co.uk