Long Mizzle Garden

 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' soggy bottoms, I've been up since 'arse o'crack' this morning, walking round the soggy garden. If you have a hot cuppa, you are most welcome to join me. I filmed a short video whilst the mad house was still soundly sleeping. That's why I am whispering.... I didn't want to wake them! It is important to grab little snippets of peace when you can.  Next time I will endeavour to achieve a better sound quality. But as Monsieur often says, there's not point going in full pelt like Michael Bolton in 'When a Man Loves a Woman'... as there's no where you can go from there. Above: Dill Mammoth Below: Fennel   The succulents won't be liking all this rain but they do look pretty with big rain drops on them...       Above: Echivera in flower   At this time of the year in and around Falmouth, the lovely sweaty students are on the move and lots of 'free' boxes full of kitchen utensils and vessels can be found on the streets. Here's...

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 ...