Long Mizzle Garden

 Hello m' ospreys,   Just a quickie this week - I'm in the midst of revising for my next round of RHS exams - attempting to learn endless lists of latin names and garden design principles. That doesn't mean we can't have a nice cuppa and biscuit break though does it!?!  Let's go... After all the scorching sun, the garden has had a bit of welcome mizzle these past couple of days. It bothers me not. In fact, mizzle is my favourite weather to garden in... and sit drinking coffee. The neighbours must think I'm a right weirdo, what with that and Nude Day (the first Monday of every month). The Confedgery is limbering up.... (that's an invented cross between a fence and hacked down conifer hedge...  absolutely nothing to do with the Confederacy) It must have sensed the arrival of the US president and other world leaders for the G7 summit. The skies of Cornwall have been alive with Osprey helicopters, flying in close formation. There's currently a big naval pr...

Hello again, how are you? I've got the kettle on if you've got the biscuits. I can breath a sigh of relief now I've sat my two RHS exams and finished work for the week. It has been one of those type of fortnights that I was not looking forward to: juggling childcare, exams and traditionally the busiest time of year in the office. The exams went well and fingers crossed,  I think I've done enough to complete my RHS Certificate in Plant Growth, Propagation and Development. Ah the magic powers of a bowl of water and some beach towels... hours of entertainment. This weekend will be spent making the most of our last pre-schooler days. Our littlest is due to start school and she's bound to get the 'tude' (attitude).  As my eldest said one month into her first year at school - 'I'm not cute, I'm four years old!!! Last Sunday, I escaped the house and children to prepare for my exams. Thankfully, my folks have a nice, quiet house and garden. My wonderful ...

Hello there, hope you are well. There's always one that gets away! I was wondering why my cucumber plant had ceased its production of lunchtime snacks. This is why: one big, bad snozzcumber, hiding behind my garden store, stealing all the water and nutrients . Now it has been extracted, the others will soon be on their way to fulfilling their lunch time destiny. [This week's dress is a Judith Chalmers-esq, 'Wish You Were Here' 1980s dazzler / the hair is of someone who has had a hard week at work and needs more sun hats ]     I think time may have ran out for my Echium Tree (Echium pininana), which has failed to flower, even though it's in its second year. All I can do now is protect it from winter frosts and hope its multi-branches develop into purple spikes next summer. Although technically biennials, I have heard they can take longer to flower.   We have popped our collected acorns in these special grow vases. We don't really have room for oak trees, but it ...

Hello, how are you this week? I'm trying to keep the summer going by wearing my brightest attire and staying gaudy. (Dress made by my mam, 2006 ish) The sun is noticeably dropping in the sky and the garden is taking on new, elongated morning shadows. This means I don't have to be out quite so early to attend to the cut flower patch and more tea drinking duties can be honored. [Airplant in chazza shop swan pot. Succulents and cacti in shells] Very little outdoor gardening work has happened this week due to the tail end of Storm Frances. I have been busy doing some houseplant loving and revision for my upcoming RHS exams (ahhh, just two weeks away now).  Once the wind had calmed, the littlest one and I managed some beach time. Following a torrential downpour, Falmouth seafront was gloriously empty.     [Gylly Beach, Falmouth] We made the most of it, by having a lovely walk and barefoot splash in the sea. By chance we saw a couple of nursery friends, so what was meant to ...