The lost pumpkin patch

 Hello M' Allhalloweenen,

Pumpkin Headed Man

One year and for one year only, the lower part of Long Mizzle Garden became a big pumpkin patch. It followed the autumn removal of the mutant Leylandii hedging by hire-a-dad-with-a-chainsaw (Leylandii must be the social vampire of the gardening world). The in-situ compost heaps that had sat all winter fed the soil. Monster shade casters and moisture suckers removed, life slowly started to seep back in. The spring sown Jack O' Lanterns loved it. By the following autumn, we had more giant pumpkins than we knew what to do with. 

seven pointed star

I wish I had a picture of the garden that year. This is how the patch looks today - a mix of Cordylines, Grisolinia Littoralis, Bay and Camelia. The pumpkin patch was truly magical, but without replacement hedging our garden would be overlooked by a number of houses. Not good for Nude Tuesdays.


Mixed hedge

This week I have continued with hedge trimming in between the many showers of rain. This particular line has to be hard cut back once a year, with special 'service holes' cut in so I can get to the other side. The neighbours on that side are not gardeners- they would have preferred a stale fence. But fences do not fare well in the storms, and judging by the amount of bird nests I have been finding, this has fast become a gorgeous wildlife haven. 


The topiary big bay bird also received a hard trim.

big bird topiary

It has been half term holiday week, so I've been enjoying a much needed break with the kids. 

We spent the partial solar eclipse (25th October) at a pumpkin patch on Travaskas Farm -

pumpkin patch with scarecrow

 This guy spotted it, we didn't ...

ugly scarecrow face 
 
...but we sensed it occurring overhead .

Trevaskis Farm Cornwall

I much prefer Cornwall out of season. 

Looking out over Gwithian sands towards St Ives -

Gwithian Godrevy beach

 Godrevy Lighthouse -

Godrevy Lighthouse
 
Paddlers and surfers paradise

Driving back over the north cliffs, we stopped to carefully peer into the abyss that is Hell's Mouth. We had a pot of tea and some hearty food courtesy of the little cafe across the road. The soundtrack was Crowded House's 'Woodface' album - it's a surfers thing.

Hell's Mouth Cornwall

Hell's Mouth

See terrifying landslide here

Hell's Mouth Cornwall

I spotted this dirty hag in Newquay, trying to disable the burglar alarm -

Newquay hag

Newquay harbour provided a safe heaven -

Newquay Harbour

As with Gwithian a couple of days before, the surfers were out -

Newquay Towan Beach

 There was witchy magic and bargains to be had at the very last Rosudgeon carboot sale of the season. 
Tiny mushrooms of the magic variety had sprouted all over the playing filed. 

Rosudgeon carboot grounds
 
'The Mindflayer' from Stranger Things, courtesy of the eldest tot-

Stranger things mindflayer pumpkin

I love this time of year. I hope you are having a spooky time. Please send gossip.

Lulu xXx

p.s. One of my favourite Halloween related tunes - 
Scout Niblet featuring the wonderful Bonny 'Prince' Billy -

 


 

Thank you for visiting!

You may also like this past blog post -  Dumb Supper of Samhain  

Latest posts here - https://longmizzle.blogspot.com

 You can sometimes find me here - Long Mizzle Garden on You Tube

 

Comments

  1. Winter Peach Photography30 October 2022 at 07:53

    Hi Lulu, Good to hear from you! Glad it's not just me. I love this time of year too! How cool to have once had your own pumpkin patch. However, I appreciate that Nude Tuesdays should take precedence.
    Woodface..? That's a blast from the past to my teenage years. Not sure I had been surfing at that point in time, so that either puts me ahead of the curve or desperately uncool! I adore desolate beaches. I think I've only really encountered them in the Outer Hebrides, but it must be lovely to see the back of the tourists and reclaim them out of season.
    Loving the Mindflayer pumpkin. Talking of which, I need to start on ours. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 02:45

      Hello Claire, I knew you'd love spooky season! Crowded House always seemed to be blasting from every cafe and surf shack on Cornwall's North Coast during the 1990s. Deserted beaches are perfect for roly polys and cartwheels aren't they! :) xXx

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  2. David Bennett30 October 2022 at 07:56

    Lots of work to do in your garden but I'm pleased to see you've had a break and spent some time on the coast. Lovely photo's and scenery, reminiscent of Mike Perry's posts.

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    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 02:47

      Thanks David :) I stole some of Mike Perry's empty beaches ;) Hope you are keeping well. Will be over to have a nosey soon xXx

      Delete
  3. bahnwärterin30 October 2022 at 10:55

    once i had such star lantern - it growed very dusty so i soaked it in warm soapy water.... very bad idea - all the color was gone - only clear glass left. be warned :-D
    love the mixed wild hedge at the end of your garden - all the different textures and greens look gorgeous - and the many bird nests are the best sign ever!
    i have heavy beach envy...... love a deserted beach and yours are very wide and spectacular. but the rockfall is really frightening - our sandstone cliffs are prone for such too......
    you really should plant one or two pumpkin plants next year!
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 02:50

      Thanks for the warning Beate - I did notice whilst washing the star (it was a carboot find) that it wasn't real coloured glass, but the film covered variety! What a swivel! Looks pretty with a tea light in it though. I couldn't believe the amount of bird nests. It's a good job I didn't attempt to trim the hedges mid season as some people do. I'll try to squeeze in a new pumpkin patch xXx

      Delete
  4. Polyester Princess30 October 2022 at 12:13

    I love this time of year too, although I'm not really into Halloween, I'm afraid.
    I do appreciate some of the more imaginative decorations, though, as well as a good old Jack 'o Lantern.
    I totally get why you prefer Cornwall out of season. Those deserted beaches are definitely my cup of tea.
    I've got Crowded House's 'Woodface' album in my collection. Haven't played it in ages due to the slightly unpleasant memories connected to it. Had no idea it was a surfers thing!
    Still chuckling about Nude Tuesdays but I've got the feeling your neighbours are somewhat related to mine, who doesn't understand why we have "so much green" in our garden! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 02:55

      Hello Ann, I did see online someone had recreated a levitation scene from Stranger Things in their front yard, complete with floating figure - best Halloween scene I've seen this year. It is a shame when unpleasant memories become attached to good records. I have a few of those too! Do you not do Nude Tuesdays in Belgium??? Your neighbours would love it ;) xXx

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  5. Jules30 October 2022 at 23:34

    Your pumpkin patch looked a little less muddy than the one we visited.
    Nude Tuesdays!!!? You must start early in the week ;)

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    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 02:56

      Are you more of a Nude Friday school of thought Jules? :) xXx

      Delete
  6. Vix31 October 2022 at 00:21

    Hello Lulu! Long Mizzle looks spectacular (or should I say spooktacular?) I'm with you, I'd much rather have a good planting than a hedge.
    I'm glad you managed a break, I love a deserted beach although - being a member of Naked Tuesdays ...and every other day of the week....my favourite season is Summer, don't want frostbite!
    That scarecrow's face is the stuff of nightmares! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 03:00

      Thanks Vix :) I do have a bit of a whinge that I seem to spend too many weekends at this time of year just hedge trimming - but it's a good workout and worth it when I see how popular they are with the birdies. Welcome to the Nude Tuesday club. On a side note, my neighbour is a member of an all year round sea swimming group called 'The Blue Tits' xXx

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  7. Ellie Foster31 October 2022 at 01:56

    Dear Lulu
    Glad to hear you are enjoying half term. I'm not a Hallowe'en fan, but I hope it is enjoyable for you.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 03:02

      Thanks Ellie :) I think the best thing about this time of year is the toffee apples. Yum. Will be over soon to have a look at your crafty pursuits. I am very behind in blog reading! xXx

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  8. Cherie31 October 2022 at 03:43

    Hello you naked nutter. Halloween isn't my favourite thing but the thought of those pumpkins is wonderful. Plenty of pumpkin soup and roasted seeds. Get those naked bits wrapped up warm. Don't want you poking someone's eyes out.

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    Replies
    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 03:04

      Eh up Cherie, the only accidental eye poking will be with my trusty garden fork! Pumpkin soup, you've reminded me that I need to get a soup pot going... xXx

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  9. Cherie31 October 2022 at 03:45

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mike Perry3 November 2022 at 08:44

    How wonderful to see your photos, love the pumpkins and the witches - great fun. Love the beach photos, there's something special about Cornwall out of season, especially the beaches. Continue having fun, good wishes.

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    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 03:06

      Thank you Mike :) Oh I do love the empty beaches that this season brings. All the better for flying one's broomstick over. Hope you are well. Catch up soon xXx

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  11. sustainablemum4 November 2022 at 11:59

    I love the idea of having too many giant pumpkins that you knew what to do with although I think the current incarnation of that part of the garden looks wonderful. Your plants look so wonderfully exotic.

    Wow those beaches, there is something very magical about beaches at this time of year and in the winter, I love visiting them at this time of year. They are usually wild and windy places with wonderful light, although Cornwall light has a magic all of it own.

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    1. Lulu9 November 2022 at 03:08

      Argh, thanks SM. There is witchy magic in the air! Wild and windy spaces indeed - but a very good excuse for wearing fabulous hats. Hope you are keeping well xXx

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  12. Kezzie19 November 2022 at 16:51

    Long Mizzle looks beautiful! It was very mizzly, then drizzly, then drenchy today! I got wet several times!
    Godrevy Lighthouse is lovely! We walked there from Portreath last year and loved it, then carried on- the beaches there were really pretty!

    ReplyDelete

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