Dede Sophie

Today I’m happy to welcome Karleen Koen , the New York Times bestselling author of Through a Glass Darkly, Now Face to Face, and Dark Angels, who’s guest blogging here today. Her latest book, Before Versailles focuses on four intense months of King Louis’s young life. It’s the summer of 1661, and after the death of his prime minister, twenty-two-year-old Louis steps into governing France. He’s still a young man, and in a way quite inexperienced and shy, but also very determined, intelligent and headstrong. He’s used to having anything and everything his heart desires—land, women—including his brother’s wife. Why did I write “Before Versailles”? by Karleen Koen Read more »

LOOKING FOR RARE AND UNUSUAL PLANT SEEDS? THEN CLICK HERE FOR THE ‘SEEDS OF EADEN’ SEED SHOP Like many of us who holiday in tropical or Mediterranean climates it is easy to become tempted into buying bare root, plastic covered exotics at the airport as a souvenir of your travels.  Now depending on the country you are in, or from, the plant species you have purchased and the import laws relating to bring in unlicensed plants without the appropriate paperwork, you could inadvertently be breaking several laws. So it is always best check your governments relative websites for details before buying. For the UK check out the following link: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-plants-and-wood-into-great-britain How to pot on and grow bare root Bird of ParadiseHowever, assuming your paperwork is correct and you have managed to bring home a Bird of Paradise stem carefully wrapped in cellophane just what do you do with it? Well you need to act quickly as the longer the plant is without roots ...

Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ is arguably one of the best exotic, tropical effect, cold-hardy plants around. It has magnificent, architectural leaves and has proven to be hardy to the extreme. Native to southern China and the island of Taiwan it is commonly known as the ‘Rice Paper Plant’ as the stem pith is used to make a substance commonly called rice paper, but more properly called pith paper. In the UK you can expect to see Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ at its full height anywhere between 3–5 metres tall, however in its native habitat 7 meters have been observed! So how do you grow the tropical effect ‘must-have’ garden plant that is Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’? For best results position in full sun to dappled shade and prior to planting add a very rich compost such as composted farmyard manure to a rate of 50/50 with your existing soil. Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball, ideally followed by a layer of good quali...