Just talking to pots, that's all

 Hello m' misty pots,

 

It has been a peculiar week. One night the cold sea mist silently crept in. By morning, the church tower stood steady, silhouetted. Beyond the unseeing tree line, the outside world ceased to exist. A thick white veil, a sleepwalking bride..the garden was all that was.


end of summer garden

Then there was the dreaded Track and Trace phone ping 'you need to self-isolate', and the follow up phone call "you do not need to self-isolate", much confusion and a set of negative PCR tests. The mist started to clear. Phew!

voodoo garden arch

misty Long Mizzle 
Pots are simple. They make sense. They are great to talk to whilst drinking morning coffee and dunking biscuits. 
 
You would not believe the things a pot will tell you at 11pm at night, after a douse of bathwater. Their language is plain filthy!

achillea and cornflowers
Achillea 'Cerise Queen' and Cornflower 'Black Ball' (Centaurea cyanus)
 
 Long Mizzle Garden Pots

The shallowest part of the pit (old pond). Only sea thrift seem to thrive here.


dahlia bed

Above: The dahlia bed

During our faux isolation, the kids and I got out the old box of watercolour paints. 

This week's challenge: 'Cupani' Sweet Peas.

watercolour painting sweet peas

'Cupani' are a beautiful old fashioned variety with smaller flowers and shorter stems. Their smell is divine. I don't like to sound like a Sarah Raven catalogue, but I do like placing a small posy on the bedside table.


 The tricky bit seems to be getting the right colour and density of paint. I think I need to have another crack at this, before the autumn carries them away.
 
trug
 
 I've eaten a lot of outdoor grown cucumbers this week, as our fridge supplies started to dwindle. The Crystal Lemon cucumbers are coming thick and fast now, joining the truncheon shaped 'Burpless' variety. After whinging about the slowness of the Mini Plum Tomatoes, they are now ripening nicely and are even tastier than the Mini Cherry types.
 
Burpless cucumber
 
In amongst the general weirdness, our strawberry patch is having a second flush of fruit. I just need to get out there now and battle it out with the molluscs.
 
strawberry patch

The 'Giant Red' and 'Evening Sun' sunflowers are multi-headed beasts which should all open up any day now. This is very exciting for me, as I haven't managed to grow a GIANT one since I was a kid! 

giant sunflowers

On Wednesday I logged in to the RHS portal to see the results from my June exams. I was chuffed to be greeted with 'Passed with Commendation'. This will go towards the certificate 'Principles of Garden Planning Establishment and Maintenance'. I'm not sure why I'm doing these exams to be honest. If nothing else, it keeps the bonce particles happy and moving.


I'll be celebrating in style tonight... a bottle of beer, slice of lime, feet up and Gardeners World on t' tele.

This weekend I will be selecting next spring's tulips and daffodils, always a fun job.

Hope you are well. Please send gossip.


Lulu xXx


Thank you for visiting!

Most recent posts can be found here -

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/

 

 

 




Comments

  1. Cherie3 September 2021 at 09:29

    I'll join you in a little drinky poo while I watch Gardeners World.. It's lambrini all the way for me... I'm such a classy bird. I love those dark Aeoniums. It's reminded me that I need to think about potting mine up and bringing them back indoors

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 02:44

      Hope you enjoyed the vintage lambrini Cherie! It has just started raining and thundering here, so I may have to bring them pots in soon.... Lulu xXx

      Delete
  2. kjsutcliffe3 September 2021 at 12:19

    We've had a few dank days, not as attractively wistful as yours, more clag and murk.... hey ho! so home now, knackered from a day's gardening, nursing a mug o' tea waiting for Gardeners World. Our aoniums have already shuffled into the glasshouse as they are feeling the nip in the evening air (softies that they are😁)

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    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 02:47

      A lovely cuppa and feet-up to Gardeners World is my idea of a good Friday night Kate. All the better when you've had a busy day. It is warm here, but we'll see how soggy it gets :0 Lulu xXx

      Delete
  3. Elderberry-Rob3 September 2021 at 22:06

    Hi Mrs Potty, glad you have your flowerpots to talk to as first sign of madness, as we know, is talking to yourself and the second is answering yourself. stressy with the app but at least it was a false alarm and it gave you the time to get your paints out, difficult to do sweetpeas methinks, I have never tried, like you, I find getting the right colour a bit of a challenge but you got it - and aren't they beautiful - I can almost smell them - everything in my garden is covered in caterpillars or mould so I give up - but did nip out for bulbs and found everywhere sold out. Congratulations on your RHS pass :)

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    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 02:54

      Thank you Betty :) Glad the pot talking doesn't technically qualify as the first sign of madness! I ordered my tulip and daffodil bulbs online from Scamp's (AKA Quality Daffodils). Lidl has a lot in stock too. Our white cabbage caterpillars that were terrorizing the nasturtiums must have turned into butterflies. Looks like they've had their munch. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  4. Ellie Foster4 September 2021 at 01:21

    Dear Lulu
    Congratulations on the exam pass! Also, I love your watercolour of the sweet peas. Your garden is looking fabulous as always, particularly magical in the mist. It has been grey and dull here for what seems like ages, although I do like the cooler temperatures. That description of "A thick white veil, a sleepwalking bride..." reminds me that I must read The Woman in White again this autumn...
    Have a good week
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 02:57

      Thank you Ellie, very kind of you. I too enjoy the cooler temperatures, plus getting the beaches back to ourselves (I have never seen a summer so busy here!). I know of The Woman in Black, but not The Woman in White. Sounds like a good spooky story, perfect for this time of year. Lulu xXx

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  5. Winter Peach Photography4 September 2021 at 03:59

    Hi Lulu, I love your description of the early morning mist - very poetic and atmospheric. Should be a song lyric. Congratulations on passing your exams - I never had any doubt! The Cupani sweet peas are beautiful and the painting is exquisite. Mine have flowered and look beautiful but they have been attacked by green flies this year so I've started cutting them as soon as they flower. Good to see your still harvesting regularly. Makes me feel like summer is still on! It's been so Autumnal here. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 03:07

      I will be sure to include some lines in my forthcoming 38 hour opera ;) I was going to pick what may be the last of the sweet peas yesterday, when it was sunny and hot, but now the rains have moved in :0 Thanks chuck :) Lulu xXx

      Delete
  6. Mike Perry4 September 2021 at 08:06

    Well done on receiving the 'Passed with Commendation'. You must be chuffed to bits. Loved your description of the sea mist and the photos - a magical moment. All good wishes, have a wonderful week.

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    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 03:09

      Thank you Mike :) T'is the season of the sea mists! Hope you have a great week. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  7. Polyester Princess4 September 2021 at 10:56

    I always find Autumn mist quite melancholy, and it's true that it makes the outside world cease to exist. You've described that so evocatively! Ugh about the Track and Trace ping but good to hear the PCR tests came back negative.
    I've been talking to my pots too, and they tell me they're not happy that we're going away for a week. No water, bath or otherwise, for them, unless it rains.
    I can almost smell those sweet peas, and your painting of them is gorgeous. I love a posy of sweet peas too.
    Well done on passing those RHS exams! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 03:15

      Thanks Ann :) So glad you've been having a good natter with your pots too. Oh, they will miss you! Fingers crossed for a little bit of localised rain in your garden, but maybe no rain where you are going away to. Enjoy your week, Lulu xXx

      Delete
  8. bahnwärterin6 September 2021 at 06:41

    thank you for the news from long mizzle!!
    and congrats to the exam!
    your dahlias are still magical - and the giant sunflower is just stunning. how nice to have tasty cucumbers and tomatoes now...... and your whole garden looks lovely. fabulous watercolor painting of the sweet peas!!
    we have some nice weather lately - but every night and morning the thickest mist ever.
    here we are back to mandatory mask wearing in shops, busses, etc.... too many people are not vaccinated because the dont want! such a shame.
    stay safe and happy gardening!
    xxxxx

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    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 03:20

      I think I'm overdosing on cucumbers now Beate! I feel like the giant from Roald Dahl's 'The BFG', eating 'snozzcumbers' :0 Thank you for your kind words. I bet the mist looks stunning over your local mountains. Such a shame indeed that people do not want to take the vaccine. I'm coming over soon for a catch up... Lulu xXx

      Delete
  9. Ivana Split6 September 2021 at 09:53

    Your garden looks magical covered in fog. I like how you put it...there seems to be only the garden and nothing beyond. I would be tempted to complain about the fog, but you managed to find beauty in it.
    I'm sure pots have interesting tales to tell.
    The flowers in your garden are so lovely. I love the watercolour painting you did. Flowers can be tricky to paint.
    Your giant sunflower is gorgeous. I love sunflowers.

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    Replies
    1. Lulu8 September 2021 at 03:26

      Thanks Ivana, it was a spooky morning, and we've just had another one like it too! I do love the autumn mists, as long as I don't have to drive :0 I am so happy with the sunflowers this year :) They must be the cheeriest flowers. Lulu xXx

      Delete
    2. Ivana Split16 September 2021 at 09:57

      yes, I imagine driving in the mist must be a challenge. I'm not a confident driver myself.

      Delete
  10. Ivana Split6 September 2021 at 09:53

    p.s. Congrats on passing the exam.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sally8 September 2021 at 13:28

    I do love seeing your garden, quite magical in the misty morning and so full of life and colour. Sorry about your ping but glad your isolation didn't last long. I had a green ping yesterday warning of the 'significant rise of Covid in our postcode, TR15.' Rather worrying as are the numbers all over Cornwall. My trip around your garden, your pot talking and your exam success were all properly uplifting. :)

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    1. Lulu17 September 2021 at 10:03

      Thank you Sally ! :) We too are in one the current high infection areas within Cornwall, with signs flashing and telling us so as we drive down the road. Let's hope the rates drop now the silly season is over. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  12. Vix9 September 2021 at 09:29

    Hello Lulu! Well done on your results, you clever thing. Now you really do have to get a slot on Gardeners' World.
    The sweet pea painting is absolutely gorgeous. I was moaning about mine and they've gone mad since we went away, ditto the srawberries and a couple of giant Russian sunflowers - the garden looks far better now than it did the whole of August.
    Mist scares me a bit, I think I was traumatised by The Fog as a teenager.
    Glad the self-isolation didn't last long. xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu17 September 2021 at 10:08

      Thank you Vix :) I'll let Monty know I'm happy to cover for him next time he's off ;) Though I'd have to borrow my neighbours' pets. I find August can be a tricky month. Glad your garden has burst back to life. Ooooooohhhh, yes! Stay away from the fog!!!!!! :0 Lulu xXx

      Delete
  13. Share my Garden12 September 2021 at 08:58

    Those first misty photos are absolutely beautiful. Congrats on the very impressive exam pass!

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    1. Lulu17 September 2021 at 10:10

      Thank you :) It is worth doing an exam sometimes to have the post result bubbly ! Lulu xXx

      Delete
  14. Flowerpot14 September 2021 at 02:51

    Congratulations to you, too Lulu! We can raise a glass together! Love the pictures of your garden - it's been just as misty here though I'm only a mile or so away.... love the sweet pea painting, I think they're my favourite flowers. XX

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    Replies
    1. Lulu17 September 2021 at 10:11

      Raising a glass Sue, cheers! Glad you love sweet peas too. Lulu xXx

      Delete

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