Hornby flower fairies and cake

 Hello m' bees knees,

LONG MIZZLE GARDEN 28-05-21

If you garden it, they will come! Here's Bjork and Sia (otherwise known as 'Almond Blossom' and 'Narcissus') caught playing at the bottom of the garden. This is a very rare sighting indeed. These photos mysteriously appeared on my kids' iPad, but the fairies have not revealed themselves in person, and are not likely to. They are from the 1980s afterall, so very much like myself, need to rest themselves for large periods of the year. 

The Hornby Flower fairies, inspired by Cisely Mary Barker's drawings, 

were produced between 1983 - 1989.

I had Apple Blossom (now aka Bjork) when I was little. 

One day she just went missing, along with the giant orange space hopper, 

and grandad-built non-health-and-safety-compliant scooter.

It is so nice to have her back, albeit missing her flower hat and staff.

Seems that she has found an acrobatic friend too ('Naricissus', aka Sia).

Who knows when we will see them again?

Elsewhere in the garden, the cannas are being hardened off -

 The foxgloves are out -

May time foxgloves

and so are the bee's bums -


Long Mizzle in May

foxgloves

Much I've read about Sweet Williams say they are best treated as biennials. Books recommend lifting and disposing of them after they flower on their second year. Not wishing to believe everything I read, I did a little experiment and split and moved a patch over winter. This makes them three years old. Well, I have never had so many flower buds! I could open my own garden gate flower stall with this lot. 

Being my eldest daughter's birthday this week, 

I made a little pot of cut flowers for her, to go with the obligatory, sticky cake. 

mystery glass object

Cut flowers: 

Sweet williams (Dianthus barbatus) 

Californian poppies (Eschscholzia californica)

Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Cake: too naughty to talk of



Here's a little challenge for you, should you choose to accept.......

Can you work out what the above object is used for?

Answers on a post card please (see comments section below) 

All will be revealed in the next post!

Lulu of Long Mizzle Garden

 

Make sure you have a wonderful week,

Lulu  xXx


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Comments

  1. Elderberry-Rob28 May 2021 at 13:27

    Is it a very ancient circa 1980s eye drop dropper thingy? otherwise is it for making dewdrops on flowers as their petals open to the morning sun? I think probably the latter and you must spend hours making dewdrops in the early morning ... I do need one of these by the way if you have any going spare. I like the flower fairies and am particularly impressed with the acrobatics, no safety net in sight either - clearly no health and safety regs being observed here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:14

      Haha, I like both suggestions Betty :) A dewdrop maker should exist!
      I think health and safety was only just being introduced in the 80s :0
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  2. Elderberry-Rob28 May 2021 at 13:29

    p.s. happy birthday to eldest daughter, presumably no party as only once slice of cake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:17

      What do you mean, that was just my big slice Betty! ;)
      (We had a nice little family dinner and a separate park picnic with a handful of her friends ) :) x

      Delete
    2. Elderberry-Rob7 June 2021 at 23:16

      only joking! park picnic was a good idea, I haven't been anywhere like a park or get together for a year now - nor had a slice of cake - time to put that right!

      Delete
  3. Ellie Foster29 May 2021 at 00:57

    Dear Lulu
    I love the bouquet of flowers - such gorgeously rich colours. Your garden is looking lovely. I am awaiting my first rose to open - looks like it may be Olivia Rose Austin, I think. Corralling clematis is on my to do list today. Bjork and Sia made me laugh!
    Have a lovely gardening weekend!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:21

      Thank you Ellie :) Olivia's a beautiful rose Ellie, lucky you.
      Hope the corralling went well. I think I'd get myself into a right tangle with that!
      The kids love Sia, but we've been doing some Bjork appreciation sessions recently.
      Happy gardening.
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  4. bahnwärterin29 May 2021 at 03:33

    ooohhh - to have a garden in cornwall........
    yours looks wonderful!! no wonder the fairies visit it secretly :-D what a lovely idea to surprise your kids <3
    not much flowers here yet - to little sun, to much cold..... but the buds are promising.
    no idea what the glass thingy is - maybe you hang it on a radiator to moist the air?? or its just a vase......
    love the bouquet and you look fab with the silky, colourful bow in your hair!
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:25

      Thank you Beate :) The eagle eyed eldest found a reflection of a floating ipad in the playhouse, but the littlest completely believes in fairies. I thought the mystery glass was some type of humidifier too... all will be revealed.... Hope you're having a good week.
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  5. Winter Peach Photography29 May 2021 at 10:54

    Hello Lulu, What a fabulous post! Love the fairies. They remind me of those Edwardian sisters and the Cottingley Fairies. It's great that you break and bend the rules in gardening - your attitude seems to be paying dividends. Haven't a clue what the glass object is. Looks like a cross between a yard of ale and one of those pot plant gizmos that ensure your plants are watered when you're away on holiday. I have to say that birthday cake looks incredible. I'm going to have to go and bake something now! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:30

      Thank you Claire, ooh yes, I loved the Cottingley Fairies black and white photos when I was little. Completely believed it! Hmmm, I like the idea of an ale dispenser.... The birthday cake was tasty but very, very dense! I wouldn't want to drop it on my foot. I accidentally put in water instead of milk, and water again instead of sunflower oil (which we didn't have) but no one seemed to notice :0 Lulu xXx

      Delete
  6. Cherie30 May 2021 at 10:23

    Those little fairies are so cute.Do they help with watering the garden :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:32

      I wish they would Cherie! I've been up and down, up and down with t' watering can.
      I also wish they'd throw spears at the mutant molluscs.
      They do leave glitter dust though ;) Lulu xXx

      Delete
  7. Vix31 May 2021 at 23:01

    I love Sia and Bjork, they're brilliant!
    You and your garden look absolutely gorgeous! Neer mind me doing a Gardeners' World video, you should. You know what you're doing, that's a proper enviable space.
    Was Vogel a herbalist? is t something to do with tinctures? It looks a bit medical! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:41

      I just love Bjork!!! The was a period when I wanted to be Icelandic and dress like a swan. The kids are big Sia fans too. Thank you Vix, very kind of you, but Monsieur is banned from filming me, as he somehow makes me look like Alan Partridge (or maybe I'm actually like him :0) All good suggestions Vix on the mystery glass.... Lulu xXx

      Delete
  8. The Small Fabric Of My Life1 June 2021 at 09:27

    Love the fairies. I still believe.
    Also love the flowers flourishing in your garden. I never have enough to cut them.
    My guess is some kind of animal feed dropper for newborns.
    Look forward to finding out.
    Have a lovely week Lulu. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu2 June 2021 at 03:45

      Hello Jane, good to hear you still believe ;) I' have been a little obsessed with cut flowers these past couple of years. This year I'm growing some that are specifically good for drying. Good suggestion for the glass. You have a grand week too. Lulu xXx

      Delete

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