| Articles |
| About our writing & imagery Many of our articles are written by us, drawing on real experience, reflection, and practical work in gardens and places we know. Some pieces are developed with the assistance of AI as a drafting and research tool. Featured images may include our own photography, original AI-generated imagery, or—where noted—images kindly shared by other creators and credited accordingly (for example, via Pixabay). All content is shaped, edited, and published by Earthly Comforts, and the views expressed are our own. |
Earthly Comforts Latest Posts …
Frost Pockets & Cold Air Movement
Learn how frost pockets and cold air movement affect your garden, why frost forms unevenly, and how to design planting layouts that reduce winter damage and improve resilience.
My Top 10 Shark Species
There are over 500 shark species today. The top ten include the Great White, Whale Shark, Tiger Shark, and Goblin Shark, each unique in characteristics and behaviors.
A Deep Look at Britain’s Magpie
An in-depth, thoughtful guide to magpies in the UK—exploring their intelligence, behaviour, folklore, and role in British gardens and ecosystems.
Plant Stress Signals
An informative guide to understanding plant stress signals, how plants communicate imbalance, and how gardeners can respond early to support healthier, more resilient growth.
Storing Gladioli Over Winter
Why gladioli disappear over winter, explained through real garden experience and the hidden role of moisture.
When the Garden Tries to Annex the Fence
A reflective, tongue-in-cheek gardening essay on boundaries, balance, and what overgrown plants can teach us about control, restraint, and long-term care.
The Redback in the Jam Jar
A childhood encounter with Australia’s redback spider reflects on curiosity, danger, and the early lessons that shape a gardener’s respect for balance and observation.
Yield vs Ecology
A clear, practical exploration of the tension between yield and ecology, explaining why long-term productivity depends on working with living systems rather than extracting from them.
Year-Round Soil Cover
A practical guide to year-round soil cover, explaining how mulches and living plants protect soil health, improve resilience, and reduce garden maintenance.
Pollinator-First Design
Pollinator-first design puts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects at the heart of garden planning, creating resilient, wildlife-rich spaces that support ecosystems year-round.
Forest Gardening
Forest gardening explained: how layered, nature-inspired gardens produce food sustainably with less effort while improving soil health and biodiversity.
Growing Gladioli Well
A reflective UK growing guide to gladioli, covering planting, flowering, cutting back, lifting, and overwintering without rushing.
The Yellow-Necked Mouse
Discover the yellow-necked mouse, an agile woodland mammal that climbs trees, spreads seeds, and plays a vital role in mature, connected landscapes.
Small Certainties in Uncertain Times
A quiet reflection on uncertainty, pace, and the comfort found in tangible work, routine, and things that still respond to care.
Working With the Soil, Not Against It
No-dig gardening explained in plain terms, covering soil health, weed control, plant resilience, and how to start a no-dig garden at home.
Charles Dowding
Discover Charles Dowding’s no-dig gardening approach and how healthy soil, simple methods, and patience can transform vegetable growing at home.
Gazen Salts Nature Reserve
The story of Gazen Salts Nature Reserve: from tidal flooding and wildlife loss to years of closure and a careful, volunteer-led return.
The Small Garden
A calm, experience-led series exploring how small gardens can work beautifully through thoughtful design, steady maintenance, and respect for space, seasons, and limits.
The Brown Rat
Explore the brown rat in depth — its intelligence, behaviour, and survival strategies — and discover what its presence reveals about human environments.
The Beat Never Aged
A reflective personal essay on ageing, rhythm, and why electronic music continues to move the body and mind long after youth has passed.
The Connection That Never Left
A personal reflection on how sharks shaped my curiosity, respect for nature, and the values that guide me today — and why they still matter after all these years.
Where the Drains Ran to the Sea
Where the Drains Ran to the Sea is a reflective ecological memory of childhood in 1960s Malaysia, exploring monsoon drains, wildlife, and how living systems shaped a lifelong respect for nature.
The Quiet Lives of Garden Wildlife
Explore the quiet lives of wildlife found in British gardens, from small mammals to birds and amphibians, and how our gardens form shared landscapes.
Gardens Are Quietly Perilous Places
Gardens change quietly over time. A professional gardener explains why everyday outdoor spaces can become hazardous—and how regular maintenance helps keep them safe.
Observations From Behind the Spade
A personal and observational gardening series exploring insects from the UK, Australia, and Malaysia, blending life stories, ecological insight, and the quiet lessons found behind the spade.
Why Earthly Comforts Doesn’t Chase Testimonials
Why Earthly Comforts doesn’t chase testimonials — and why trust, privacy, and word-of-mouth matter more in thoughtful garden care.
If the Earth Could Answer Back
A reflective exploration of what it would mean if the Earth could answer back to human impact, examining responsibility, environmental feedback, emotional intelligence, and our relationship with the living world.
Dahlia
Dahlias deliver bold late-summer colour and abundant blooms, making them ideal for cutting gardens and long-lasting seasonal interest.
What to Notice in a New Garden Within Five Minutes
What a professional gardener notices in the first five minutes of stepping into a new client’s garden—and how those early observations shape the right kind of care.
January Garden Tasks …
January garden tasks that reduce spring workload, improve soil health, support structure, and prepare gardens calmly and effectively before growth begins.
Zantedeschia
Zantedeschia (calla lilies) are elegant, architectural flowers ideal for borders and pots. Learn how to grow and care for them successfully.
| © 2022 – 2026 Rory Matier – Earthly Comforts – All rights reserved |
| About our writing & imagery Many of our articles are written by us, drawing on real experience, reflection, and practical work in gardens and places we know. Some pieces are developed with the assistance of AI as a drafting and research tool. Featured images may include our own photography, original AI-generated imagery, or—where noted—images kindly shared by other creators and credited accordingly (for example, via Pixabay). All content is shaped, edited, and published by Earthly Comforts, and the views expressed are our own. |
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