Michael Cooke Garden Design

29/08/2026

It’s early and still dark, ponies have been fed and I’m looking at photographs I took yesterday whilst waiting for the sun. My first espresso is long gone and I’m contemplating another. A tall glass of pure white plum blossom sits on the kitchen bench, leftovers from pruning the plum tree yesterday, a reminder that it’s almost spring, and with buds bursting there’s an urgency to finish overdue tasks. The first sweet pea flowers (Winter Sunshine’ from Veggie + Flower Garden Seeds ) have opened and they smell amazing, packets of vegetable seeds will soon be in earth enriched with wood ash.
Time for that second espresso

22/08/2026

22/08/2026

Last week I was confident and ticking off my winter chores and I woke to the sound of birds singing as they only do in spring and knew I’d need to get my skates on to catch up with bud burst. I smashed most of the grass garden on the entry terrace yesterday, next I’ll finish cutting back perennials on the lower lawn, and then if I get time, the orchard, where the buds on the Santa Rosa plum are growing fatter as I watch.

16/08/2026

It’s become a tradition, our pilgrimage to Mount Wilson bryn mawr to prune the hydrangeas and roses (the ones that the wallabies didn’t eat) followed by a truffle lunch harvested the week before from beneath their own holm oaks. This year after we had worked in the mizzling rain, our fingers and toes frozen, Brenda shaved truffles into a delicious risotto.
Next year we’ll stay overnight so I can cleanse my palate with more than one glass of wine.

15/08/2026

It’s mid season but feels like we’re at the cusp which is gives me shivers as there’s much to do this winter - and it certainly won’t be today. Secateurs, loppers and gloves are packed in the car and soon Cathy and I will be heading up the Blue Mountains to my brother in-law and sister in-law’s beautiful home at Mt Wilson bryn mawr to help Brenda prune the hydrangeas, and I always choose to cut the roses myself, because when roses are pruned correctly they’re a joy to work with. Yesterday at golden hour I photographed Rosa ‘Jean Ducher’ in the secret garden, the last rose to flower here this winter.