Hello m' shivering timbers, My ideal birthday treat ? Forget the champagne, diamonds and posh restaurant. Boring! But a wee road trip to a weird plant nursery and reclamation yard full of rusty junk.... now that's my cuppa!!! It is not often I head out west across the Cornish Peninsula, Penzance way. There are pirates in these parts after all. Back in the early 2000s, whenever I visited my brother, we'd visit a fantastic reclamation yard in Longrock. It was by an old railway line that overlooked the glittering deep blue of Mount's Bay. I'd mostly leave empty handed, but would dream of having my own truck and place to fill with plants and wonderful junk. I remember there was an old long haired hippy that ran it. It was rumoured he liked to visit India. The sound of world music would drift through the rickety building and out-structures. Somewhere I have some dusty photographs that I took of it back then. One day, when I drove past, it had gone. Longrock never drew ...
Hello m' chucky chives, With allotment duties in full swing, you may be wondering if the garden is receiving the same wanton neglect as my eyebrows?... The answer, in short...is yes... but it doesn't seem to mind. When we moved in over eleven years ago, the garden was wildly overgrown, 'lost' and magical. A lot had to be cleared for practicality - mainly the monstrous leylandi hedging, but also the wild brambles, nettles and creeping buttercup. Self seeded Foxgloves and Sweet Williams Now the new hedging has grown up and matured, the once veggie beds and cut flower beds are again partially shaded. This had led to a garden re-think. For now, nature can do what it does best. Please ignore the non-colour coordinated towels, drying from this morning's sea swim with the kiddies. My new battery powered strimmer (intended for the grass paths at the allotment) saves the day in the garden, by clearing a safe path through the wilderness of ferns, thistles and...
Hello m' piskies, Shhh, not many people know it, but there's a little fairy colony on the outskirts of Truro (spot the Enchanted trail on the map here ). High up in the trees a wise owl presides over the comings and goings and all is at peace. Wooden trip trap bridges lead beside a stream and the path is edged with fallen branches. The fairies are shy, but the occasional creature can be found. Why are owls deemed to be wise? Although their brains are no bigger than any other birds' (in fact their eyes are so flippin' big, there may not be much room for brains, and they are positively slow compared to the cunning crow) ... they sit silently, watching and listening. Their nocturnal nature and spinning heads make them appear like an omnipresent all seeing eye. The Ancient Greeks believed owls' night vision and stealth flight abilities lent them a mystical inner light. Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War adopted the owl and was often depicted with one. When to be we...
Hello m' monkey chops, Some gardens just bring out the inner monkey. Penjerrick Garden is one of them. This fifteen acre lush, sub-tropical jungle valley, can be found on the outskirts of Falmouth, between Buddock Water and Mawnan Smith. Only intrepid explorers with machetes and Rambo headbands need tackle this one. Even with a map to follow, we lost the paths as we climbed over fallen trees and waded through overgrown foliage. The kids and I were simultaneously terrified and enchanted. The valley was purchased by the wealthy quaker Robert Were Fox, for use as a summer abode, in the early 19th century. Today, Penjerrick could be thought of as is the hidden relation of two better known, nearby gardens. Robert's brother Alfred Fox purchased Glendurgan Garden (now National Trust) in 1820, and brother Charles Fox started developing Trebah Garden from 1838. Penjerrick was left to the National Trust in 1990 but the endowment was not considered large enough, so was turned down. ...
Hello m' thrifty womblers, Something a bit different for this week. I've been super busy tidying the garden. A girl can't spend all her free time clearing mutant holly trees and making multiple compost heaps though. A wombling road trip to Redruth was needed. Muddy work clothes aside, I even slapped on a dress, some hand cream and nail varnish. What is wombling? The Wombles motto is "Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish". Our version of 'wombling' is visiting secondhand shops (charity /antique/ junk shops) Source Redruth, an old mining town in the heart of Cornwall. The area is dotted with mining engine houses and industrial relics. The hill in the background, Carn Brea, is one of the highest points in Cornwall. This vantage obviously attracted our ancient ancestors, as human settlement has been traced back 6000 years to early neolithic times. On a good day, both the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the English Channel to the south can be seen. 'Make a...