Welcome To Mike Clark's
Gardening With Attitude Column
Mike Clark has set up his own
web site
Gardening In A Gale
Gardening articles with the north of Scotland in mind
from Mike Clark who lives, gardens and writes in Caithness.
Mike Clark likes to write articles on all things Scottish and all things
horticultural, and from time to time dips into the world of humorous
fiction. At least, he likes to think it�s humorous. And it is
an wee break from his day job as a self-employed gardener.
Mike discovered the joys of
horticulture when, as a small child, he overheard a neighbour say she�d
dropped a sixpence in the tattie patch. He has been digging ever
since, with the tenacity of a true Scot, hoping one day to find a fiver.
He likes trees, Jack Russells, and
12 year old Glen Ord, but not necessarily in that order. Gifts of
any of these can by sent c/o caithness.org, but he would like to point out
that the third item is by far the easiest and cheapest to post.
One of the highlights of his life
was winning a toilet brush in a raffle. He persevered with it for
ages, but he�s back on the paper now . . .
Mike approaches gardening and
writing with exactly the same formula. Throw in plenty of manure, and
something good will eventually spring up.
You may occasionally see Mike in
print, but are more likely to find him at
www.britishexpat.com/gardengate.htm
See you there!
![](Plant-03.gif)
Gardening Groups In Caithness
Gardening Links
Radio 4
Gardeners Question Time
|
Caithness.org Gardening Forum
Exchange ideas, ask questions, tall folk
about your north of Scotland gardening experiences.
Organic Gardening Magazine
Save Our Spuds
Old
varieties of potato are one of Mike's passions and here he extols the
qualities of Highland Burgundy Reds and Shetland Blacks. Why not try
some in the garden and add a splash of colour to your dinners next winter.
Tatties With Attitude
![](tattie_s.jpg)
Does the most commonly used vegetable in the
UK get a second look in your garden.. Mike is well on with his own
trials aimed at getting the crop in early and with bags of flavour.
Do you just buy "Spuds" or can you remember when tatties had their own
taste and texture......................................
Who
Ate All The Trees?
So
your trees in the north can't take it. Here are some thoughts and
solutions from Mike
Still Standing
![](sproutmontgomery_s.jpg)
I did a wee bit of tidying up in the
vegetable patch tonight, just before it got dark. The hardy white
cabbages look pretty disgusting on the outside � all brown and slimy. But
peel off the outer leaves, and they are fresh, crisp and
succulent...........
Currant
Affairs
![](c_s.jpg)
Whether you grow currants for jam, wine or
the birds Mike offers some tips on increasing your stock and getting a
good crop.
a gweed new year tae
een an� a�
![](tattiessprouting_s.jpg)
Reflecting on Hogmanay and a couple of wee
jobbies for this time of year.
Gardeners
Question Time
Loyal as he is to Caithness.org, we sent Mike - at his own expense -
to seek out and interview minor celebrities the world o�er,
Holly Comes Out at
Christmas!
The problem we have
determining the sexes of our hollies goes way beyond the genus
Ilex.........................
Inosculation
Don't worry its not catching.......
Never Under Estimate
Number Two's
![](greenhousea_s.jpg)
Forget chemical gardening and you can save
money, save the planet and save yourself. Mike gets to grip with
what makes plants really happy..............
Garden Contemplations As Winter Sets In
![](abriachana_s.jpg)
Mike contemplates what you might do at the end of November and muses on a
few visits he has made to gardens
Second
It's Never Too Late
First
Lettuce for Everyone & Pruning - It's a Snip
![](daisy_button_blue_md_wht.gif) |