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The redcurrant (or red currant), Ribes rubrum, is a member of the genus Ribes in the gooseberry family , native to parts of western Europe (Belgium, Great Britain ,France, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, northern Italy, northern Spain, Portugal and Poland). They tend to grow best in coll regions with abundant moisture. More importantly right now they grow in my surrey garden. A single plant (like mine) can produce up to 2.5kg. What however many are not aware of, including myself till recently, is that redcurrants are prohibited in many USA states. For example they cannot be shipped to North Carolina, New Hampshire, West Virginia. Other states like Delaware and Massachusetts insist on a permit. Some states prohibit them in certain counties/areas, for example Maine and  New Jersey. The federal government had banned the growing of black and red currants in 1911 when the burgeoning logging industry put pressure on lawmakers to eliminate…

Waffles are becoming far more of a British thing. I recently visited a restuarant in Durham where the choice was wide between sweet and savoury, the only thing being, one is always enough, if not too much. Recently I saw that this restaurant had opened only doors away from a bakery i often frequent. Today was the day to visit. Very impressed. Nice small menu. Waffles, Bagels and Burgers mostly. All looking good. The place is laid out like an American Diner. Music from the 50s plays nicely in the background. The waffles were superb. I can only comment on the Banana, Maple Syrup and toffee sauce waffle, and a nibble of the Peanut butter and Maple Syrup one. Nice touch is that you can order whole waffles, halves or even quarters.

Their website is at

wafflejacks.wix.com/wafflejacks

A cute touch also .Free WI-Fi as well as USB ports for mobile…

Over the last few years I have become more cogniscent with nature and insects due to the interest from my 12 year old. Sitting in the garden last week I saw what I thought was a piece of paper or rubbish in the plant pot that is filled with bright blue and yellow pansies and reed type leaves. On closer inspection it was moving and had legs. Quick rush to get camera with Macro lens attached.

Told 12-year-old when she got home and cue excitement and Google searches. No doubt it was a Crab Spider. Now this must be a particularly stupid one as one of their attributes, other than that they resemble a crab, is that they change colour and can camouflage themselves.  Considering the pot is filled with bright blue and yellow pansies and green reed type leaves, said Crab Spider did not do a good job being…

Our garden is an eco-system, well thats the opinion of the teacher at our daughter’s school and in fact applies to all the form who have a garden. Thinking about it we have foxes, bees, hedgehogs and numerous other invaders and visitors.  Compost is  made and goes on the soil, an oak tree grown from an acorn from Wisley Gardens, apple tree and so on. Anyway whilst photographing this melee of activity today ( whose homework is it?) I met some large and curious spiders. The garden spider is alive and well in New Malden. What however is interesting and there may be a simple reason, is why hardly any of these exist at  Wisley RHS gardens? any clues?

Garden Spider by chris Bushe

Garden Spider by chris Bushe

Garden Spider by chris Bushe