Heligan

In my haste to finish my last Blog I forgot to include any photos of the wonderful Heligan. So here, especially for Rob, are just a few! Just look at the lemon, against the blue sky. That was one of the warmer moments, when we sat outside the greenhouses, and yes, that is a jet flying over too. The rhubarb forcing pots were found under all the brambles when they were clearing the walled vegetable garden. Aren't they just wonderful!

Been down on the plot this morning to do a bit of this and that, and took a couple of quick photos as I was leaving. I was tempted to try some of my broad beans, like Hazel, but I might leave them a little longer. The climbing 'Alderman' peas are shooting up the canes pretty fast. As for the chives -well I shall miss them when they've finished flowering, and so will all the bees that are enjoying them so much at the moment. The clematis is 'Crystal Fountain' (a half-price rescue plant from the garden centre). I planted the flowers at the back of my shed so that John had something nice to look at when he was sitting outside his own shed, and he kindly waters them regularly for me.

A taste of Cornwall

Carne beach and flowers on the rocks

Roadside flowers and cottages

A view from the platform, high above tree level, in the The Rainforest Biome, at the Eden Project, accessed by a lot of shakey steps in 49 degrees relative humidity (after signing a health declaration first). The balloon, below the platform, is used to transport a member of staff in order that they can carry out pruning etc.

Unusual round cottages in Veryan, and Erigeron glaucus growing on cottage wall

We are back home after two weeks on the Roseland Peninsular in Cornwall. What a lovely holiday, despite the disappointing weather. We'd hoped for, at least, a few warm sunny days to relax on the beach, but the wind was cold, and quite often the skies were overcast. Still, it made us explore more of this glorious part of the country and, to be honest, I don't think we would have seen so much of the area otherwise. Every road and lane was edged with wild flowers, a froth of white, pink, red, blue and yellow, and probably the best I've seen anywhere in this country. During our stay we visited the Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Trelissick. I was in heaven. Here are a few of my photos - just a little taste of Cornwall (particularly in the case of the cream tea)

Cornish wall and Charlestown harbour

On our last evening we visited Mike's relatives, who live in a beautiful cottage, down a long and narrow lane, and surrounded by woodland. Our evening with Liam, Vicky, and their delightful daughters Grace and Annabelle was one of the highlights of our holiday. After a wonderful beef (their own beef off the farm) casserole without dumplings (Grace had mentioned that they were on the menu, speedily corrected by Vicky, who was sorry to disappoint us, that they weren't!), followed by apple crumble, two tired little girls said 'goodnight' to us and retired to bed. V & L told us about the history and restoration of their cottage and, naturally, we ended up talking about vegetable growing, allotments etc. Leaving the cottage, in its idyllic setting, we drove through the dark wood, and back along the twisting lanes, for the last night at Veryan.

This had been our first big adventure in the caravan, since we bought it last June.

I was straight into some serious weeding upon my return. Wet and warm weather had certainly had an effect on the garden and plot. Talk about the Lost Garden of Four Oaks. Still, the foxgloves (grown from seed last year) were flowering, the grape vines are off doing their own thing and in need of pruning, and as for the greenhouse ....well talk about full and overflowing. Thanks, once again to my trusty assistants, and the wonderful self-watering system everything was doing really well. I'd also nearly Lost the Plot too, but it's now more or less weed-free. Thanks to John for watering. It won't be long before we are enjoying our first broad beans. Allotment report to follow asap, and when I've taken a few more photos.