The Manic Botanic

23/06/2026

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BONUS post for paid subscribers: The divas of my garden, and why I gloat about them

23/06/2026

Comet would like to pass on the most boring piece of gardening advice he’s ever heard. He was so bored by it, he ate some of the newly planted eucalyptus trees as punishment for having to listen to it.

Comet would like to tell you that when you build a house or buy an established property, the first thing you should do in the garden is nothing. Yep. Nothing. Sit on your hands.

Why?

Well, to find that out, Comet would like to direct you to The Manic Botanic on Substack where you can subscribe and receive all the articles delivered straight to your inbox, including why you should do nothing as your first step to developing (or redeveloping) your new garden.

Comet says subscribing is worth it because there’s lots of good stuff over on Substack. Some of it is useful. Some of it is funny. Some of it is just pretty. So head on over to Substack and subscribe (free and paid options available) so you don’t miss out on the most boring piece of gardening advice anyone ever wanted to give you.

22/06/2026

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Trust me on this

22/06/2026

The garden may look asleep in winter, but it’s really gathering strength. Bare soil, dormant perennials, and frosty mornings all play an important role in the seasons to come.

Plants like peonies and tulips actually need that winter chill to thrive. Without enough cold, they struggle to perform at their best and can be surprisingly short-lived.

So while winter may seem dull and colourless, I love a frosty morning. Every icy dawn is helping my cold-loving plants prepare for the show they’ll put on in spring.

20/06/2026

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And the relative ease with which we can cover up our gardening failures

19/06/2026

What gardeny things would you do in your first 100 days?