Up the creek with a whistling kettle

 Hello m' whistling kettles,

It has been many years since I've been down to the precise point where Restronguet Creek becomes the seaward Carrick Roads. The thatched roofed pub and its jetty are still there, busy with beer, ice cream and tourists. The swans are still there on the shaley beach, nipping at the fresh water outlet, gurgling it down by extending their necks. The million pound houses are still there, in prime position. Their boundary signs seem to have got somewhat angrier : 'Private land', 'Do Not Enter', 'Closed Circuit Television in Operation'.. but further along the path... is something altogether more interesting than the ostentatious lawns and oversized cars... 

 A little more off the beaten track...

Hidden behind a wild hedge, wooded and steeply tumbling down to the creek.. glimpses of a wonderful barge boat garden.

 Thank goodness for signs of good old fashioned bohemian living - 

 Even the garden gate sign seems nicer somehow - 'Oh no, not you again'

Fishing ropes, a red whistling kettle and other rusty kitchen pans make hanging containers for plants and tennis balls (dogs' heaven).

Steps edged with orange crocosmia and the odd shell here and there, lead down to the handsome barge boat. If real treasures are to be found, this must surely be the place. Maybe a parrot too?

A bit further along, I couldn't resist having a peep over the hedge. Here I saw a little seated area by a rocky pond, an old clothes wringer (?), many more hanging rusty vessels and chopped logs. 

More plant pots on the roof of the barge -

It is perhaps rude of me to be taking photos of other other people's gardens, but continuing in the same vein ...

Above: Pink cosmos 

My eldest daughter told me off (she's such a goody two shoes!) for taking photos at the upper end of the creek, by the Carnon River in Devoran, but I managed to sneak a couple of shots of the handsome  Edwardian houses and delightful gardens -

Private allotment across the road

 

 

Fleabane daisies (Erigeon karvinskianus) 

 

[No garden excuse for the one below- just loved the porch windows and church spire! ]

 

Devoran's Chruch of St John and St Petroc is a Victorian construct (completed 1856) made in Early English Style. It was designed by the man whom later went on to win the architectural bid for Truro Cathedral  (J.L Pearson).

 

 Interestingly, I have since discovered that the famous plantsman Thomas Lobb is buried here, along with a memorial for his brother William Lobb. Through their adventures to the Americas (William) and the Far East (Thomas) the Lobb brothers introduced many plants to Victorian England: Escallonia macrantha, Berberis darwinii, Hypercicum hookerarium, Crinodendrum tricuspidaria lancelata.  

 Creek at Devoran

There's one particular story of William shooting cones from monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) by the snow capped ridges of Chile, so he could send them back to his employer, Veitch of Exeter, whom by 1843 was commercially selling seeds, 100 for £10.

 

Whereas William died in California, Thomas lost a leg to infection and took up residence for many years at a cottage in Bissoe Lane, where he lived until his death, aged 76 (1894).  SOURCE

 

 

Here's our own little tree adventure. Spotted on a walk around Devoran Quay - this tree is growing on top of old industrial bricks - a true tangle of roots and bricks. These must be left over form the days when Devoran's tidal waters bustled with barges transporting ore and copper from the mines over Carnon Downs and Gwenap way.

 

It is hard to tell how long the tree has been there. 

Surely it was already here in the 1970s, as 'Devo' (I'm presuming the band) is etched into its trunk. 

 

(tv still)

It was great this week to see Flowerpot Sue riding horseback and talking Cornish novels on Fern Britton's 'My Cornwall' (Channel 5, available on catchup). There was an interesting segment on Cornwall's mining heritage too. Sue was on at the end and you can read about it here. 

Finally, I'll leave you with some log drumming ("shocking" the kids said - that's a good thing isn't it?). Sherbet dip lolly stick hanging out my mouth, that's how I like to log n' roll !!! 

 

(p.s. that's meant to be cowbell at the start) 

(p.p.s. monsieur asked if I was deliberately going for a Camp Crystal Lake / Friday the 13th look !!! :0 )

 

 

How are you doing? Please send gossip,

Lulu xXx

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