gardening – Gardens. Travel. Life.

Posted on September 27, 2025 by happyretiredblog · 3 Comments

Hello again. Hola!

Growing up August was family holiday time. In Wales the first two weeks in August was traditionally holiday fortnight. Though it may have been the last week of July and the first week of August ~ also known as miners fortnight when the mines closed down completely and the pit ponies were put out to grass for their summer holidays. Factories closed down as well. Generally growing up that was when we took the family holiday.

Now I’m retired every week is a holiday. Well. A holiday of sorts.

It’s been a funny old summer. We haven’t travelled very far, with both of us recuperating from various health issues.

I haven’t been hugely mobile which has been annoyingly restrictive and has meant no overseas trips. That is until now. To be fair trips have largely been limited to hospital, consultant , physio and chiropractor. Don’t even ask about A&E.

It’s been over 3 months since we were last in Spain. For months I’ve been in pain from a prolapse disc and walking hasn’t been easy. And despite my vanity I succumbed to a walking stick. Of course it had to be a flowery one.

The consultant and the physio said that they were surprised I wasn’t in more pain. Ha. More pain. Whilst the pain has now subsided to an manageable level, I had to tell them that was enough. So it’s been a mad old summer. And one we missed in Spain.

Not that I wouldn’t have been complaining if we had been able to travel. The heat here has been hideous ~ and there have been enough people complaining.

But we are back. It’s September.

As Tom said ‘ the old town looks the same ‘ but it has changed a bit. The roundabout that’s actually a roundabout has had structures and a water feature added and a welcome to Competa sign.

There’s been a fake house put up where I believe the donkey will be placed. Not a real one. The real one is on the other side of the valley. Braying daily. ( the donkey has in fact now returned)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I bloody love this place. I still get that buzz of excitement when I arrive at the gate. Still grumble ‘ which key is it’ on the set of jail size keychain. Still think that path needs a sweep.

The windey path does need a sweep but the plants look like they have survived remarkably well during the heat wave.

Yes. They do get a bit of water but not from the irrigation system which has been turned off. Friends check the house and water for us amongst a whole raft of other things. We would be lost without them.

Back to the irrigation – A tree rat ~ like a squirel ~ chewed one of the plastic pipes in the garden and bearing in mind the irrigation came on only for a very short time at night it resulted in us having a hideous water bill.

More for one quarter than we pay in 3/4 years ~ total.

The gardener knew we were arriving and had been in and had cut the hedge. Had shaped the olive tree and had cut the roundabout that’s not a roundabout as well as the rear banks. None of which I am safe to do these days. I’d end up rolling down the hill to the main road and beyond. Not a pretty sight. Me. Not the banks as they look great.

Can I just say the gardener isn’t in daily or weekly and does the jobs I can’t. His knowledge is brilliant and he knows the plants that should and will grow well.

When we moved in the path was a stunning lavender path which was coming to the end of its days. I tried hard to keep it but it had had its day. The problem was that it hadn’t been cut back regularly and you can’t cut back into old wood. Though I tried.

I replanted. It didn’t work so I’ve planted grasses along with creeping rosemary which is fantastic. Thanks to seeing posts from Pepperpot herbs who sell it in the Uk and from whom I have bought some for Somerset.

A few years ago I asked for the olive tree to be pruned. When asked whether I wanted it pruned for olives or looks I said both. Which whilst typical for me it was the wrong answer. It could be one or the other.

We did get a decent crop of olives which when black I would pick, prick and dry salt them. That’s if we were here ~ and it’s a tedious job.

Otherwise they would just drop and make a mess. So shape it was.

Am I happy. You bet I am. It’s now really taking shape. Pun intended.

You can now get a strong whiff of curry as you walk up the path past the olive tree. I planted three curry plants under the olive in the raised circular bed and have quickly tidied them up ~ but my attempt at topiary is rough. Just don’t ask me to trim your hair.

There’s obviously been a bit of calima ~ winds and red dust blown over the tables and chairs. Adds ‘ a clean’ to my list.

The agapanthus are over and the seed heads heavy. Some have seed heads. Some don’t. I’m sure someone will tell me why.

Just like the oleander. Some have spectacular long seed heads which when open are fluffy. That’s the correct technical term. Right?

I love the foxtail agave which I’ve mentioned once or twice before. It’s a plant that keeps on giving. Young plants have grown alongside which have been replanted elsewhere in the garden. Once the agave flowers the plant dies. This one is over ten years old and I’m hoping it doesn’t flower.

The plumeria/frangipani has flowered well again, I know I haven’t been here but I get photos of what’s flowering. Both are still in flower. . The yellow has a better scent ~ as long as you stick your nose up close. But the colours zing.

I smile when I look at many of the plants growing in the garden. This is one of them and I have grown it as an indoor plant. The waxy white flowers of the stephanotis. Not enough flowers for a bridal bouquet so Ian fear not. It’s in a large pot, a bit woody but has been flowering for over 8 years. Not continually obviously.

Another plant growing outside is a Swiss cheese plant. In Olden days – my childhood – popular indoor plants included the rubber plant , the Swiss cheese plant and a purple tradescantia. We have the latter two growing in the Mediterranean garden in Cómpeta. I never liked them indoors but they are tolerated in the garden. Unlike the clivia which was an indoor plant in my office which I loved in a pot so I and am happy to have a dozen in the gate bed.

We have 4 different jasmine dotted around the garden. This one is sambac ~ highly scented and one that is used in perfume and tea ~ an evergreen which is grown in a large pot. We also have jasmine azoricum ~ a lemon scented jasmine rambling over some black railings. It is a bit woody but a great scent. There’s a scraggy white one which I’m not sure of its name but it springs up everywhere.

One that’s in so many gardens here and in the uk ~ the star jasmine the one I can’t spell without copying it. Trachelospermum jasminoides which is ok in this garden but not a mad grower.

I’d forgotten the yellow winter jasmine which grows like fury. But it is a harsh yellow with no scent. I know. I want everything. Colour. Shape perpetual flowing and importantly scent. Fickle. Me. Yes.

I have seen a really lovely yellow with much larger flowers growing furiously down a wall in the village. I might borrow a cutting next time I pass.

This aeoniun was a broken limb from one I have in a pot. Shoved in the ground hoping for the best and ignored. It has, along with a few others taken off. It always reminds me of aliens. I have no idea why.

I’d forgotten about this. Planted in what I call mozzie avenue at the side of the house it’s another straggly plant but has such a beautiful flower. I had to recheck it’s name.~ Grewia occidentalis a shrubby plant that can be grown as a shrub or a small tree. Really pretty purple flowers. My friend Google tells me it beats fruits and it’s common name is Cross berry. Who knew? I didn’t. I’m shallow. I just liked its look.

I’d like to say that’s it’s not all been gardening or house stuff. Or paying bills.

But unusually we haven’t been off the mountain the whole time we have been this visit.

Am I complaining. Never. It’s been lovely catching up with our Spanish friends and catching up on the news of the last 3 months. It won’t be as long until the next trip. Dates and Tickets booked.

But first is a visit to Madrid.

Back home to Somerset to a log fire, long trousers and no mozzies.

Posted on July 30, 2025 by happyretiredblog · 5 Comments

Feels like Summer

So July you have had some great highs but some spectacular lows! A month I’ll be glad to see the back of. Great weather for the first two weeks. Poorer the last two. Visits to two very different A&E units. Ian’s sister is a doctor and she once said to him ‘if you want to see all areas of life go sit in A&E. We did. In the heart of London and in the depths of Somerset. Two very different but similar experiences. One me. One ‘im indoors.

But the weather had been glorious until its not. The garden has been looking great which is weather related but also because we have spent more time in one place. We rarely go to Spain in August but this year it’s also been July for various reasons. But we did get a Spanish taste when our local village hall held their summer party with a Spanish theme. I think it was the best yet. Great food with flamenco guitar and dancer.

I had also been asked to do 12 jars of flowers for the tables. Which I was very happy to do. I nearly had a coronary on the day when I realised that the event was starting at 12.30 and not the 3.30 I had thought. So at 10am it was a little frantic in this household ! But we got there and it shows how manic I was in that I didn’t take one photo of the flowers !

Back to the garden.

I planted all annuals except for the 4 pots of salvia Nachvinder which I buy new annually. They are amazing planted either side of the front doors ~ yes plural. I’d like to say one each, but the cottage was originally two and we still have both front doors. His and His.

The plants were I have to admit cheap and cheerful. Bought at a very large outlet where on a bad day you can find plants resembling those you find at a supermarket or DIY chain store. Un loved, unwatered and unbought. We must have had a day when everything had just arrived. Good quality geraniums. Trailing lobelia. Some coleus ~ and yes I know they have a fancy new name but I still call snapdragons snapdragons. Largely because I’d be forever getting spell check to understand me.

The cosmos were part local garden centre and the large plant warehouse. Had I realised how well they would look I’d have planted more. I remember I’d grown yellow ones in London and they were pretty magnificent.

Flowered all summer. As long as you dead headed. Trained by an expert dead header ~ my mother that’s never an issue.

The benefit of the positioning of these pots is that they only get a half days sun. That means we get them flowering for longer and they in theory need less water. Which is good as jacks Shute is on point to dry out. I give it 3 weeks, unless we get a few heavy downpours.

Enough of the pots. I’m already planning tulips. Have I said I like tulips? But I’ve been planning for months. I now have to commit to my orders. Plural.

The back garden has two seasons. Summer and autumn. I don’t plant many bulbs as the ground in winter and spring is too wet. But in summer it’s a riot of colour. Even if I say so myself.

Surprisingly the canna which I heavily mulched have all come back despite the wet winter. Some a bit later than others, and the canna annei and canna Musifolia has spread. Which makes me a happy man ~ hard to believe I know. As well as that look at the new shed in the picture. That’s also a bringer of joy.

This is a new plant bought this year to add to the annei collection. It’s in a pot and is taller than me. I know that it’s not difficult as I’m no giant but it’s over 6ft and the flowers are gorgeous.

A brand new one this year ~ very tall and different shaped flowers. Big dangly red pink purply flowers on long stems. I’m intrigued.

Golden orb is another favourite of mine and I’m glad to see that I have another flower spike coming especially as I knocked one off.

Another favourite and yet another purchase from my friends Mark & Emma at Todd’s Botanics is Canna Panache. I’d foolishly left one behind when we moved so had to replace it. Of course I couldn’t just order this one.

There are more but I need to save something for August!

It’s been rose heaven. I butchered them this year on the basis they do or don’t. If they don’t they are gone. But it’s worked. Not for all. But the majority. Some have been in the ground for decades and need to come out. I have made a note which ones.

One grown in my parents garden. Gorgeous colour. Not a very healthy grower. A bit prone to disease. But it’s one of my favourites, and I’ll tolerate the disease if I can control it as best I can.

New last year it has flowered like crazy and is about to have its second flush.

I have quite a few of these rose ‘Unkown’ in varios shades shapes and sizes. I’m a rubbish labeller and every year I say I will be better. It starts well.

I replanted the border around a small pond this year. It’s been here as long as we have ~ 30 years and I think it’s leaked from day one. It’s on the list of things to do. And has been for decades. Next year. Along with the falling down greenhouse.

The wild carrot has self seeded and is spreading nicely. Salvia hot lips isn’t as hot as in previous years and Royal bumble isn’t as bumbly. Even Amistad is a bit slow to the party this year. I have planted a number of new salvia this year which hopefully will be in full colour in August.

I planted Persicaria polymorpha two years ago next to a clump of red persicaria which was here when we bought the house. Both have gone bonkers. In winter and spring the red looks like it’s totally dead never to recover. But it does. The polymorpha is cut back on a regular basis as it’s overpowering, maybe the wrong plant in the wrong place. I knew it was a grower but ….

There are a few plants I’ve had in the past which I had bought at the old Hadspen House nursery when it was run by Sandra & Nori Pope. The kindest and most generous couple in both their time patience and advice to newbie gardeners. This is a fabulous book and one that I never tire of going back to.

This year I’ve replaced the salvia as I had lost mine. I will get another to add to the bed.

A bit of a weird one. The flower buds are large and a bit spooky. The stems are a bit brittle. But large and such a gorgeous colour. And tall.

There’s also lobelia Hadspen purple which survived the winter but not yet in full flower. It’s a lovely colour and is strong upright plant.

You’ve got to love a flash of pink in the garden.

Bought off a plant stall in castle Cary two years ago this has gone mad. Bit catkin like with big fluffy pink tails wafting about. I had never grown it before but it’s a firm new favourite.

There are a few more sanguisorba dotted around but none as showy.

I planted some chicory at the bottom of the garden just above the river bank and it’s done really well. It’s a great colour boost. Little did I know that the flowers open in the morning and disappear at night. A great purchase from Pepperpot herbs

I’ve also put one in the top bed which has gone a bit wild. Maybe a move for it next year.

Last year I grew a lot of dahlia from tubers. It was a disaster year for me. It was slug city. I lost most even after I’d repotted fresh tubers. So I decided not to bother this year. Which was a mistake as it’s been so dry and slugs so far haven’t been an issue. I have only two of these, bought as large plants. I suspect I may buy a few more encouraged by my partner in purchases Siobhan, whose garden is fabulous and always has some new to grab my attention.

It’s not all been flowers. The falling down greenhouse that I was going to replace when I retired 10 years ago and which is stuck together with sticky back plastic has been saved for another year. Every time I think yes. Now is the time it’s time for something else first. But it will happen.

This year we have a glut of tomatoes and cucumbers. Cucumbers are like buses. You wait for one and then you get three at once.

Ian has taken to growing veg. He’s very proud of his onions ! Exhibition quality they are as well.

The renewal of the old circular table which never really fitted in to an oblong table that sits nicely on the terrace has been a game changer. For us and for Fred the geriatric cat ~ that and a dry summer so far has meant we have spent more time sat in the garden than we have ever done.

The use of an old French stripey bit of fabric to give some mid day shade has made Fred very happy. At 21 he can have whatever he wants. For a few years we have been saying that this maybe his last summer but he continues to amaze both us and the vet.

There is still more summer to come. But it does feel that we are weeks ahead of previous years.

Flowers have bloomed earlier. Yet some vegatables are not as far advanced as last year. We are only now picking our runner beans. It will be an interesting round of Horticultural shows this season.

Apples are almost breaking the trees. The thud of dropping apples is a constant. A new juicer has been bought as the local farmer has been putting out bags of early apple beauty of bath. Sweet and great juiced.

We have had a ready supply of plums from grandad who’s not my grandad. Like the roundabout that’s not a roundabout in Spain which I’m delighted to say has had its summer haircut. The fear of wild fires is real.

So another early morning sat in the garden listening to the rooks morning chorus with Fred the geriatric cat before a trip to Bath ~ the city not the tub later today.

Posted on May 29, 2025 by happyretiredblog

Buenos Días

Hello again hello. Or. Hola de nuevo, hola! We are back in Spain.

First things first. How did Ian book a flight that arrived in Malaga past midnight. I suspect it was cheap. Thinking it was mid half term week it may not be busy. Fail. It was packed. How come half of the South Sest children weee flying to Malaga mid week of Half term. With two hen parties. Not actually with them but on the flight.

Some of the party trying to stiff a carry on into the Easy jet measuring box and managed only when they tore off the wheels. Two of the party arriving in departures looking like they had their hair in curlers. Ian said they put on a face mask. I’m not sure if that was on the flight or in the departures hall. How did I miss it. Once boarded I put my mask on over my eyes and turned to Spotify.

What you can’t ignore or hide is the double chin.

I won’t mention the fiasco on picking up the hire car , but I was partially happy when they asked if I could drive an automatic. Which meant an upgrade.

We arrived home at 2am. That’s the last time that will happen. I’ve been a zombie most of today.

I didn’t even look at the garden when we arrived. That’s a first. This week 8 years ago we completed on the house. We were at Chelsea flower show when we got the news. I still get the same feeling when I arrive as I did the first time. Utter joy. I have probably mentioned before this place is everything I didn’t want. I wanted a bolt hole in the village. No garden. No pool. Walk to the restaurants. Ian saw this and said you must see it. I didn’t want to. 10 mins drive out of town. A large garden and a bit of useless land. A small pool. One bedroom less than I wanted. But once through the gates and up the curved path to the terrace I was hooked. Ian said then and reminds me often ‘ you don’t even need to see inside do you’

The view to the malaga coast and in autumn winter with the right light to Morocco did it. Along with the garden. So it’s Ian’s fault.

It didn’t take me long to take stock of where we are in the garden. We were last here in March and there have been a lot of changes Things come and go quickly. The freesia which were pretty spectacular this year have gone over. The agapanthus are starting to get fat flower buds. The banksia rose is almost over. The honeysuckle is sending out a delicous scent along with the jasmine azoricum in full flower with its sweet scent. Smaller dainty flowers than most.

The path from the garden past the garage is covered with scented pelargoniums which have grown huge with the autumn and winter rains. The benefit of these is that as you brush past there is that waft of citrus. Which mozzies hate. Whilst they love me. The mozzies. Not the pellies .

Round the corner we have both creeping and upright rosemary lolling over the path. With grasses in the mix.

When we moved in the path was a gorgeous lavender path. But after the first two years we replanted a new one. The old one was rarely pruned so what we had was unruly woody stems. Sad to say the replant failed so we resorted to rosemary instead. More robust. More reliable and I love the creeping variety. thanks to Pepper Pot herbs for the heads up on that one.

Sometimes we are lucky ~ we may see one or the other. This week we have both. I love the black blue and white of Nicolai. Its a really majestic plant.

Such a pretty flower and this year the small tree is covered. Whether they will tun into fruit is another question. A friend staying a few years ago said that she thought the fruit tasted like germolene. I kind of get it. I hate the smell of germolene and don’t even mention TCP.

These two pots were planted up 18 months ago and have been flowering ever since. But this month they are pretty spectacular.

The scented pellies were planted last summer.

We have a number of these dotted around the terrace and outside the garage doors. This one is in direct sunlight at the hottest part of the day. Yet it’s grown massive. A consolation for the tree ferns we left behind in London

A friend of mine said she thought that the bottle brush was common. I like it. A lot. It brings a great splash of colour to the border behind the house and it’s a huge bee magnet. Anything that can attract the bees is good with me. Another plant that could have done with a good prune in earlier years.

We have a number of pine trees on the bank ~ apparently protected ~ not that I’d want to get rid of them. Except for the needle drop! Oh and the processionary caterpillar nests.

Aloe Maculata on the bank as well as in the side borders.

Great to see them en masse in flower this year.

Both of the above need shaping. I’ll wait until the curry plant has finished flowering. The gardener is in charge of the the olive tree. I’m not allowed.

Set around pots of agapanthus, ferns, society garlic and strelitzia the garden seating has been set up. Until there’s a mad rush to bring in the cushions.

One of my favourite plants continues to grow bigger and bigger. The gorgeous foxtail agave.

I’ve taken the baby plants and planted 5 at the rear of the house. Tomorrows another day and I’ll check them then.

Posted on May 28, 2025May 28, 2025 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Guess it’s over

Well here we are heading to the end of May. How did we get here. Only seemed like yesterday I was planting tulip bulbs. Panicking as I didn’t have all the ones I wanted. Wasn’t sure if I was planting them again in London pots. I didn’t. But here we are at the tail end of this year tulip display. Actually. They have all now been pulled.

Was I happy with the result. If you’d asked me early on I would have said no. Why? All a bit too pink for my liking ~ and the only person to blame. Me.

I realise I like hot colours. The oranges. Reds. Purples. But there were some lovely tulips in the first flush. Especially if you liked apricot. And pink.

But as the weeks went by more colours popped. More shapes were shaped and finally I was happy. Very happy. Told by a few it was the best year yet. Loved hearing that but it puts pressure on for next year !

Yet there were disappointments. The Brown sugar weren’t Brown sugar. To avoid the same happening this year I have already put my order in for them. Just so I don’t miss out.

This years brown sugar weren’t from Peter Nyssen. I was too late to order them from them ~ just to be clear! I am a huge fan of Peter Nyssen and in particular the relationship I have built up with Karen over the years.

For me Brown sugar has become a staple tulip. Gorgeous in colour with a light scent and much admired by Grandad who’s not my grandad. Who’s now also a great grandad. Though he’s always been a ‘great grandad, he’s now an actual one. If that makes sense.

A new one this year was World friendship. I’m not a fan of yellow tulips. Spring yellow flowers for me are daffodils. So I usually avoid them. World friendship however is a lovely tulip. Great colour. Great shape and lasted for ever. I’ve learnt that a bit of yellow can lift the palette. The other yellow I use is west Point. A bit more of a lily shape, and a favourite of Ian.

Another one that I like a lot is Go Go Red. A bit of a bonkers tulip but it’s the second year of growing it and it will be back.

This year I included a new white ~ Healthcare. not a great name but a great tulip. A bit like a white Go Go. But a bit more restrained.

Another returning tulip which I love < although the jury is out for 2026 on this one is La Courtine parrot. It’s been in the mix the last two years and it may be time to have a break. I’m not a huge lover of parrots in the pot mix. In London we had some window boxes and they always did well ~ I loved Rasta parrot. But they somehow get lost in the pots for me. except Courtine. .

A quiet start then it gets all big and blowsy.

I’ve said before it all starts again as soon as the tulips are lifted , even before if I’ll admit it. I see tulips at friends. At NGS open gardens. In magazines. Or encouraged by my partner in crime Siobhan. We visit each other at high season to see what we are both growing. Compare notes and plans for next year. That’s done for 2025. We have both started our orders. But I’ll change my mind constantly.

I wasn’t a huge fan of tulips. Yes I know. Unbelievable. But I think my visit to Ulting Wick garden for a NGS open garden swept me away. Philippa Burrough as well as being an awesome gardener is a great influence. First it was her tulips. Then it was her gaura path in the summer beds. I was hooked.

I had grown tulips. But not like the numbers I plant now. A local gardener asked me how I got so many flowers in my pots. The answer ~ it’s not technical. ‘ I stuff as many bulbs in as I can’ yes. They touch each other but they are only in for one season and then I replace.

The front of the cottage is right on the road and can be a bit dull. The tulips brighten it up and let’s be honest there’s a bit of a show off in me. Probably a throw back to the days when my parents never admitted to the competition between them and Den and Blem next door for the display of annuals.

One day I’ll recreate it.

I like the display to look good and I get huge pleasure from the compliments we get from people walking or driving through the village. It makes it worthwhile. So whilst I am able to do it I will! Despite this years back problems with planting and moving pots they will be back.

But it was more restrained back in previous years.

There were fewer smaller pots and fewer bulbs. and definetly less flamboyance!

A bit more adventurous in 2017 but with only two colours. I have been tempted to do one single colour in all the pots. But two things stop me. One is what If I get the wrong tulips. It’s happened this year. Ordered brown sugar which wasn’t delivered. Plus you don’t know until they flower ~ it said brown sugar on the packaging. But it wasn’t. Plus ~ what if it looked pants ? I’d be miserable for April and May. Ian says more miserable. That wouldn’t work !

Some previous year tulip planting

Another restrained year.

This year I ordered the same tulip numbers as in previous years. Not knowing if we would be in London or not. In the end I didn’t plant any. We moved at the beginning of February so my gamble paid off. But I also loved the window boxes and the path pots. I used to experiment with new colours in a few pots there.

I have had varying results with tulips in the Spanish garden. So much so that I no longer even try. They like a bit of a cold spell ~ suggestions have been to put them in a fridge for a month. That doesn’t appeal to Ian !! Plus it’s an effort which also means we may miss them if our schedules mean we won’t be there. ( schedules. What schedules!~ we are retired!)

So it’s all over for another year. Tulips pulled. Bedding plants in. Not so flamboyant but colourful !

Thankful for Jacks Shute opposite the house where we have a constant supply of water. I’ve only known it dry up once in 30 years but it’s already slow already.

Fingers crossed.

Posted on March 29, 2025March 29, 2025 by happyretiredblog · 4 Comments

Viva España ‘25

It’s been a while. 6 months to be exact. We have had a lot going on which meant planning was pretty impossible for a trip to Spain. But things have settled down now ( sort of ) and we are settled in Somerset. Which shouldn’t be a surprise as it’s not a new place for us. Though after 30 odd years we are still not from down ‘ere. I can say that we do have family there though. Grandad who’s not our grandad ~ pushing it ~ but god children count don’t they ?

Nothing like an early start ~ a 6.15 flight. There’s a first time for everything and this ramp to board the plane was one of them. Thankfully we were so far back we were on the tail wing. And only had the normal stair. The bonus for us is that we can manage with a small bag so we can wait until nearly every one boards. Without the pushing and shoving to squeeze a cabin bag into the overhead lockers.

The other good thing about an early flight is that you have the whole day when you arrive. Well almost- obviously.

I’ve said it before I always have a feeling of joy when I arrive at the house. 8 years later this hasn’t dimmed at all. This time we were greeted with an explosion of colour at the gate. The mimosa that has sprouted from old dead remains has gone bonkers. A piercing acid yellow blob of flowers hanging low by the gate. Buzzing with bees. Heavy in scent and lethal in pollen.

I’ve said it before but I repeat myself. Often. When we completed on the house the gate had no lock. It should have been done before I arrived but me being me got the call at the Chelsea flower show that completion had gone through and two days later I was here. Impatient. Me ?

On my first morning I heard a noise at the gate and went to find that it had been taken off its hinges and was being loaded into the back of a van. My Spanish now isn’t great. But then it was all hola and gracias. In my Spanglish I worked out that they were taking the gate away to fit a lock ~ so I asked how long it would be away. Rudely I got two fingers. Before I said anything , though quite what I could say that they would understand was beyond me it clicked. It would be back in 2 hours. It was. On the dot. Lock fitted and hung.

Before arriving back I’d been told that it had rained for weeks. There had been flash floods. The reservoirs were no longer a concern and that there was still water outing off the mountain. And through a spring in our garden somewhere. I’d been looking at the garden camera anyway watching the torrential rain battering the plants.

To be fair I wittered all the way up the mountain that I was staggered how green the land was. And it was. Greener than I had seen it in 8 years. But oh. The garden. Ignore the creeping weeds. It was looking fabulous.

Things had grown. A lot. Scented pelargoniums along the path planted largely to deter mozzies had gone bonkers. Agapanthus springing up everywhere. Sadly three large yucca had become attacked by the nasty grub like beetle, which have devastated the large agave and are now on the attack on yucca. The grubs ~ All white and horrible. So a week later the yucca have been taken down. Whilst the light on the kitchen window flower bed is welcome the majestic form of the extra large yucca is sad to see go. Ian is planning what goes there next.

The yucca in the above photo are not the ones to have been removed. These are the rather lovely variegated yucca. They may have a year left although I was told that the bugs didn’t seem to be attacking the variegated type. Maybe they don’t taste as good. Who knows? We will see.

When we bought the house the windy path was edged with lavender. A gorgeous sight and scent but over the years the pruning had diminished and we all know that pruning into old wood is a no no. I replanted with new lavender to no success. So I looked for an alternative. Bowled over by a path at Ulting Wick which had gaura ~ I tried that. But that didn’t work here in Spain. I then planted a mix of grasses and creeping and upright rosemary and that has done wonders. Friends who help keep an eye on the house and water the garden call them triffids. The rain and heat has certainly brought them on. The rosemary. Not the friends.

Don’t look at the path. It needs a clean but I’m waiting for the sun to burn off as much as it can before I start.

The olive tree is in the process of being shaped. It will continue < when asked if I wanted it cut for olives or shape I of course said both. Not possible. One or the other. So I chose the other. Now it’s beginning to take shape. I asked today whether the one I have planted in a large pot should be replanted into the ground. Where do you want to live. The campo or in an apartment. Which meant the ground. So it will be planted.

There are a number of foxtail agaves dotted around the garden. Some taken from the mother plant and replanted. Others brought in by the gardener to fill gaps. They are one of my favourite plants but just as long as they don’t throw out the long flower. Then they will die.

I said this was Durante Repens in one of my Instagram posts. I lied. It’s not. It’s Hardenbergia ~ Australian wisteria. which was cut to the ground two years ago and is once again flowering like crazy and enticing the bees to party. Against the yellow of the mimosa and the blue of the sky it’s a beauty.

The topiary of the curry plant ~ I don’t know how it happened but it did. It had grown straggly so I just clipped it and continue to do it. Let’s be honest ; the flowers are insignificant anyway. But in the really hot months you do get the whiff of curry as you walk up the path. Not to everyone’s taste but at least o didn’t do a curry path.

The succulent has sat on this table since September and is a glorious colour. It also looks pretty good. From the front. Look at the back and you see its stuffed in a green pot plonked in the urn. Just don’t look. Don’t judge. !

I have previously planted freesia from Peter Nyssen in both pots and in borders. It’s hit and miss whether I see them of not as many years we are not here when they bloom. But this year they are amazing. The colours of both the single and the doubles look fabulous. An overrated word but one that sums these up.

The scent is gorgeous and they always make me think of the lovely Karen Lynes at PN who has been the best example of customer service ever. Karen and a dear friend Enid who used to come and check the house and always go away with enough for a small vase. Tony, Enid’s husband continues the tradition. I always teased her she was stealing my flowers.

A very underrated plant in this garden is the osteospenmum < with some brutal dead heading you’ll get flowers for months and they spread. It’s a win win situation.

I’ll repeat myself say this again ~ this shouldn’t happen. These ferns are in full sunlight in all winds and weathers but especially the brutal heat of the summer. Fed a little. Watered. Tidied~ they have grown massive. Two at the end of the path and three outside the garage doors. All doing magnificently.

It’s not been all weeding and looking at plants. We have ventured off the mountain. To the coast of Nerja. To Algarrobo costa for lunch.

There will be more gardening. More trips to the coast. Eating out and hopefully the continuing sunshine.

Hopefully it won’t be another 6 months before we are back.

Posted on October 31, 2024 by happyretiredblog

Tick tok clocks go back

How have we got to the end of October already. The year has come and gone in fits and starts. Some months have dragged. Some have whizzed by. People are already been mentioning the C word.

Joseph doesn’t even know Mary’s pregnant yet.

It’s been a wet month. Our local farmer ~ Grandad who is not my grandad says the ground is like it’s February. So wet. Which isn’t a great start for the coming months.

The beginning of the months started wet so out came my impersonation of ‘Vera’ – I donned my Vera hat.

The month started in London. Colour was drained in the garden after a hot summer. The tree ferns were looking great and had done well with a bit of neglect. I’m an overwaterer at best. But restrictions on Spain have made me think about how much I use.

Views from the kitchen window with the blinds down into the small London garden ~ stripped right back this year.

A start on the tulip plan for London and Somerset began. I’d already made the decision that there would be no tulips for Spain. The timing of planting wouldn’t work this year and to be honest the results for me are patchy at best. I’ll stick to glorious freesia along the path in Spain. They do so well and the scent in the spring heat is fabulous.

I love the process of the planning for the Pitcombe pots. I say I don’t but secretly I do.

What I don’t like is the planting ! I have a plan of sorts. But this year the plan has gone a little haywire. I was told early on that there was a shortage of tulips due to poor crops in Holland. Of course I listened. Not ! So when I came to order, a number of my choices were not available. But I got there in the end. Now it’s planting. I’ve bought more pots again this year. Two to replace smaller ones and two additional. Not that I really needed more. But…….

Being in Somerset more this year has meant we have had time for growing veg. Both growing and eating. Ian has been more visible in the garden and has been instrumental in the veg decisions and has done much more of the heavy work ~ I’ve been suffering with sciatica for months so have been a bit of a wimp in the garden. No. It’s been agony.

The Somerset garden has been fun. Spending more summer time here has enabled us to make changes to the garden. Some new borders ~ some extended borders. Cutting back ~ cutting down. After over 30 years it’s still a work in progress. I have planted a sack of mixed daffodils by the river bank.

I rarely plant daffodils in the garden here. Winter and spring is quite wet and often bulbs will rot.

Dahlias were pretty much a disaster for me this year. I grew new tubers in the falling down greenhouse and they started well. When planted in both pots and the ground they were mostly ravaged. A few of the honka and two lovely octopus sparkle were the stars, and continue to flower, but not for much longer. Will I grow dahlia again next year. My head says no. My heart says yes. Surely it can’t be as bad as this years efforts. Can it?

The canna have done well. They are still in flower waiting for the first heavy frosts I can’t be bothered with the trouble of digging them up so as I did last year I will mulch like a mad man and wish for the best. A shout out to my friends Mark and Emma at Todd’s Botanics for the canna. Especially the canna annei which has been spectacular.

We have been road blockers for sheep ~

owned by grandad who is not our grandad and also for farmer Paul’s cattle. Farmer Paul who is not related to us but is to grandad. Don’t be confused. It’s village life. My goddaughter is granddad who’s not my grandad’s granddaughter.

We would never get a call in London ‘ Jonesy ~ what are you doing ‘ ‘ depends what you want ‘ ~ one day it’s cattle. Another day it’s sheep.

There have been trips to London. Hospital appointments. Hair cuts. Nothing like a message to confirm that your consultant has booked you an appointment at 6pm. On a Friday.

It wasn’t the 500ml of blood that they had taken off that scared me. That had been done. It was the young nurse who came over to check after the process and asked my name. I told her. She replied in a scary excited voice. ‘That’s my father’s name!’ Long lost family flashed past my eyes. ‘ what’s your middle name’ came next. I told her. That’s spooky she told the other nurses. That’s my dad’s name. You aren’t from Wales are you?

Stop !! You are scaring me. It’s like long lost family. She said I’ve been looking for you for ages. Not funny ~ though I have no idea why. There is not even the remotest chance.

The worst part. I was told this year the venesection was a one off. The bad bit is I have to go back next week for another 500ml drain. I hope she’s not on shift.

So back and forth to the temple of doom on a train that ran to time. Or when prices are good the posh line. Castle Cary to Paddington.

We haven’t been devoid of culture. The lovely parish church ~ St Leonard’s Pitcombe often has concerts. This months was a folk group ~ an accordion and cello which was excellent. I love the acoustics in a church and it was something very different to the norm. Plus the wine and nibbles are always a treat. We also get to see people we don’t run into often.

There have been walks around Bruton. Walks through the green lanes ~ as muddy as they are. But lots of stops and sit downs to alleviate pain.

We may or may not have had a few visits to The Kitchen at Kimbers ~ that’s always a given as is shopping in the farm shop. The joy of being here is that there are so many small independents to shop at ~ Kimbers. Lievito bakery ~ the best jam doughnuts. Super bread. ~ Gilcombe farm shop. Bill the butcher ~ who really is Phil. Bill was his father who was here when we arrived 30 years ago.

My goddaughter passed her driving test at her first attempt. It’s not surprising as you can find her behind the wheel of a tractor or a quad bike. We had every confidence in her ~ she may not be speaking to me though. Many years ago she had to spend the day with me ~ and she was in a mood. I took some photos of her which I remind her of often, as I do with her brother.

I included one of them on a congratulatory card. I’ve taken my life in my hands now. She will get her own back.

If you don’t see a blog in a while ~ send help.

The months not been without some sadness as we had to say goodbye to Bob the cat. Bob came to us from Battersea Dogs and cats 19 years ago a year after Fred.

We head into November which means bulb planting ~ some fresh compost. Fleecing the London tree ferns ~ and more trips up and down the A303 past Stonehenge. Guess what. It’s still not finished.

Posted on October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by happyretiredblog

Decisions decisions.

How hard can it be choosing bulbs to flower in April and May 2025. Let me tell you this year it has been a complete nightmare. Why? Me being so late in making decisions. Or making them in July and not ordering.

Sometimes life takes over and things get in the way. Some out of your control some that aren’t. There’s been a lot going on. Some good. Some not so good. Some still unresolved.

Have I said I like tulips? Of course I have. From now until March I will occasionally mention them. Come April and May as long as things go well ~ and one never knows ~ I probably won’t shut up.

We only have a narrow bit of space at the front of the cottages to do any planting. We took up the flower beds a few years ago as they made the walls damp. Put some gravel down and started with a few pots which seem to have grown in number. Both in pot number and the number of bulbs which I seen to stuff into them year after year.

In the early years I was a little more reserved. Both in numbers of pots. Of number of tulips and certainly of colours.

How it continued

Then the number of pots increased as well as the number of bulbs I managed to stuff in them until I couldn’t get any more in. How many do you plant I’ve been asked. Depends how many I can shove in each pot is my reply.

This year there has been an added problem. Some bulbs are in shorter supply generally due to growing issues and to be fair I was warned early on in the review process. I generally start looking at this years bulbs as soon as the previous years bulbs are in flower. Checking out on others choices from Instagram posts making a note of the ones that catch my eye and tickle my fancy. And the list is started.

Later come the discussions with my partner in crime ~ Siobhan and a check with Benjamin to see what his thoughts are too. It’s a process. May sound a bit OTT but generally it’s fun. Which this year has gone a bit belly up. Whose fault~ mine. And if it’s going to go belly up make sure it’s a big belly.

There’s no point in making a list in July and not ordering then. I came to order last week to find twelve of my first choices were out of stock. I rejigged the order to find a further four became out of stock.

Ian thinks I’m bonkers. I look at the tulips I like and make a long list. Chosen on colour and shape ignoring availability. Then the early flowering varieties are discounted. I prefer my tulips flowering in late April and May for the cottage pots. We only get sun for half of the day at anytime of the year at the front of the cottage and they brighten up the drab corner of the hamlet.

Then it’s a look at height. Too short are discounted. Unless I really like them and then they go to the London window box list. A much shorter list.

Then I discount some I have grown before. It’s good to have some changes ~ says a man who hates any change. I like to have some old reliable favourites though but this year I have been stumped on one. I love tulip brown sugar which is out of stock with my main go to supplier. I have looked elsewhere and quickly said no. I found some but at a price I’m not prepared to pay. I may like them but not at any price. I will miss their colour and scent.

Then comes putting all the colours together to get the mix I want. Putting photos together to see the effect. To be fair it’s a process which I enjoy. But to be honest when I get to plant I have a plan. Which starts well.

Three pots in it’s like I never had a plan ~ the rest of the pots are thrown together. Not literally but the planting is a bit haphazard. Colour-wise at least.

The only thing I try is to get the height right and that the left and the right pots are largely symmetrical.

My orders are in. I’m not looking at anymore websites. Catalogues. Friends Instagram pages. Nothing. ~ I can’t order any more.

Unless I see ‘the’ one I must have. At a cost I’m happy to pay. Or ones that I’m lead astray with by Siobhan. But I am equally guilty of that. I’ll message. Have you seen this one ~ it’s fabulous. The next thing she’s ordered 30. And vice versa.

I did realise after the final order went in I had missed a new one from last year. Of course I had to order it didn’t I? That was the last last one. For now.

But I’ve ordered it from a supplier I don’t usually use. Fingers crossed I get what I’ve ordered. Fingers crossed I get the delivery’s too. The first has arrived. The second is on its way with a delivery company I only use if I have to, or are forced to by the supplier.

I’ve not ordered many parrots this year ~ mine weren’t great last year to be honest and as I like to have a great show of colour and need reliability then it’s best to ignore past failures.

Some new favourites for this year.

Whilst saying no parrots this one has gone in the order.

I’ve liked Angeligue in the past but it’s not been great in the last few years. This princess has multiple flower heads. Let’s see how it grows.

I could go on and on.

There are many colours. Many shapes but I’ll leave it until April when hopefully they will be in flower. As the lovely Karen at Peter Nyssen says when the dolly mixture colours are all in full show. Peter Nyssen have been my go to supplier for many years and Karen is awesome.

One year I may take the problem down a level. Order all the same tulips for 15 large pots. Maybe. But I doubt it.

Posted on September 22, 2024March 29, 2025 by happyretiredblog · 1 Comment

Viva España ‘24

In the words of that well known popular song ~

Oh, this year I’m off to sunny Spain Y Viva españa

I’m taking the costa brava plane Y Viva españa

Well we have arrived. But to the Costa del Sol not Brava

A late flight delayed by an hour pushing our arrival in Malaga after midnight. I slept the whole way, as I can sleep anywhere.

What is it with boarding a plane. A mad rush to stuff as much luggage that you can into the overhead locker whilst blocking the aisles so people can’t take their seats. Luckily we can just take a small bag along to be shoved under the seat.

We arrived at casa verano at 2.30am not meeting any vehicles either up or down the mountain.

It’s been a while since we have been here and it was obviously dark when we arrived so garden inspection had to wait.

It’s been a hot summer. And dry but surprisingly the garden has fared well. Thanks to the help we have when we aren’t here. Yes. A few things singed to an inch of their life. Some beyond. The echiums which were magnificent this year are like firewood. Dry as anything. I suspect they won’t return. Maybe that’s why I have bought two this week as replacements.

The gardener asked me two years ago how I wanted the olive pruned. For fruit or shape. Me being me and wanting it all replied both. Nope. One of the other you can’t have both. Mind you it was in Spanish so he could have been saying anything. I replied shape. So he has been shaping it each time it has been pruned. To be fair I love it and it’s a great statement piece in the garden. It’s also stopped me moaning about the ripe olives dropping on the terrace and being squashed when we aren’t here and leaving stains. It also means I can’t dry salt the olives. But they are a plenty around here

Who knew you could do a bit of topiary on the curry plant. There are 3 under the olive and on a whim I trimmed them into shape earlier in the year. On a hot day you get a whiff of curry as you walk up the path. Something different to lavender.

Happy to see that the Durante Repens is in flower. I often miss it as in miss it as it flowers when we aren’t here. That happens a lot. But the good thing is I get sent photos to keep me updated.

Durante Repens.

I need to give it a bit of a prune. As I do a lot of things. It’s just remembering when ~ makes a note in book

Oh the joy of being in the right place at the right time. When I was here last the leaves of the sea squill had died back. Right back to the bulb and I thought here we go again. I’ve missed the flower. Hmm. Silly boy – I remembered it only flowers after the leaves die back. I’d planted a few a few years back and they took a while to settle. They sulked a bit. No flowers. So it was a joy to see not just one but four in different stages of flower. The flower spikes are tall and elegant coming from a big fat bulb. One of the biggest I have planted ~ I may need more.

We have one large yucca which has been attacked by the same bug that has hit the large Agave – eats it from the root so often the first you know is when they topple over. It’s a I bummer as so many large plant have succumbed.

The variegated ones seem so far to have been spared. But I’m not counting chickens. Yet.

One of my favourite plants in the garden ~ the foxtail agave. Small plants grow at the base of the mother plant and I have planted half a dozen in the bed at the back of the house. Dry as anything they have all taken and are all at various stages of growth. And so low maintainence.

New Strelitzia

Of course I have bought new plants. It would be wrong not to~ wouldn’t it ?

This one is strelitzia Mandela gold. A new one for me. Of course I bought two. We have a number of strelitzia reginae in the garden. But there is always room for more.

I think we missed the loquats. And the figs. Both roasted on the tree. Not the same one obv, but shrivelled.

Next batch

But the next batch of figs are appearing ~ maybe they will be ripe by the next trip. I could do with some good fig and ginger jam.

Chateau Verano

We have grapes. Singular as in one bunch which I will pick over the weekend. And eat. In previous years when we have had a decent harvest I’ve made grape and rosemary jelly. Not this year though. We also have a quince tree. Which has one remaining quince. Roasted on the tree as well so no Quince and Rosemary jelly this year.

I’ve tried to work on a border a day. It never works as I start with great intentions then move on to the next border and back to the one I started yesterday. A bit like a butterfly.

This is mozzie alley. Alongside of the house where I’m guaranteed to get bitten. Part sunny part shady. Full on mozzie territory.

Almond trees

I have wandered around the back of the house in singularly unattractive old yoga kinda leggings. There are still mozzies about who love my iron overloaded blood. I look like Max Wall. If you are too young to know what I’m talking about. Ask your parents.

We have maybe 5 or 6 almond trees. This year I haven’t picked any of the almonds. To be honest it’s a bit of a faff. Pick the drupe ( who knew). Remove the husk to find the nut. Then dry the nut to extract moisture or they go mouldy. All fine. All doable. The biggest issue. Cracking the dried nuts.

Pomegranate

Two months ago friends and neighbours from Somerset were visiting the area when I was here. That’s the first time we have coordinated our travel plans. They drove up the windey road for lunch which I was preparing. I had warned them it would be like having young children in the car with an ear worm. Are we there yet? How much further. The road. Makes me feel sick.

I decided on what I was cooking. Bought the fresh ingredients. All bar a pomegranate which could not be bought locally. I was looked at strangely and told to look on the tree. I’d see flowers. No local pomegranate. So I drove for an hour to the market in Malaga ~ not a huge issue as it’s fabulous and I could go alone and eat churros and have the sweetest cup of coffee ever * cafe bonbom. Coffee. Hot milk and condensed milk. So sweet you only want one.

I bought a huge pomegranate ~ obviously imported. If you asking it was a

Ballymaloe red quinoa tabouleh

with toasted pine nuts. And pomegranate.

Why am I wittering on. I know it’s usual but there is a point. Today I found not one but two pomegranates on two trees in the garden. In 7 years we haven’t had one. It must be a sign.

Particularly great timing for a new moon bearing my mind the lack of harvest. A glorious Harvest Moon.

I haven’t crossed the road to the roundabout that’s not a roundabout. But I will. I’ve briefly looked at the pine trees and they look fine ~ to be honest would I really know?

I’ve been clearing one of the flower beds and I have planted the new strelitzia. Weeded. Moved two clivia ~ in the wrong place ~ brought some agapanthus pots around and have two new shrubby kind of plants to add over the weekend. We have had a weather warning for an overnight storm so it will make planting easier. Hopefully I won’t need the pick axe. I’m not joking.

We had planned a day out to Ronda but I had read in the Spanish paper that Netflix were filming there for the week at various locations in the town. So it was a no go. Too many restrictions and probably too many people.

So in a whim we decided late in the day to drive to Antequera. An hour and a half away.

We arrived in sunshine parked the car and started walking to the cultural sights. Where it chucked it down. Not forecast. Not dressed for rain and who wants to get wet and your hair to go curly ~ so we stopped for lunch and watched other people get wet.

Like many Spanish towns the walk to the Alcazar is up steps. Many many steps. With my dodgy back and sciatica it takes longer than it should. But there’s always time to stop and look and whip out the camera which is brought along as well as the phone camera.

The narrow streets

Thankfully a one way street ~ don’t mention the time we drove through Setenil de las Bodegas with its narrow streets, with houses emerging from boulders and cave restaurants. At one point as I was driving through whilst breathing in and as it got narrower I was on the point of abandoning the car.

A wander up those steps to the alcazabar and Iglesia del Carmen. Ian in charges of the tickets and he asks for one standard and one for an old person. In Spanish ~ and the tickets are handed over. Whilst I’m happy for a discounted ticket I am disappointed I don’t get asked for proof of age.

The views of the town town are spectacular from so many viewing points and the added bonus is that Antequera is a hidden gem. No crowds.

This was part of a float in the church. How scary.

Tarasca ~ half serpent. Half lady used in the Corpus Christi procession. You would t want to meet it in the dark though.

We had planned to go to one of Spain’s many Unesco world heritage sights Antequerra Dolmans

but realised it closed at 3pm. That means we have to go back which is t a hardship. It’s well worth a visit.

So it’s been back to the garden. Supper with friends. More gardening. Tomorrow is a visit to the bank with money laundering documentation. Not to enable me to do it. But the standard regular check up on where funds come from. I’m practicing my Spanish but will take Ian with me.

Yes. Spain have actual banks ~ 3 in the pueblo banco but we will be driving down the wiggly road to ours.

One thing for sure before we head back to Somerset. There will be more ice cream.

Posted on August 9, 2024August 29, 2024 by happyretiredblog · 4 Comments

Could it be Summer?

It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog. Not one specific reason stopping me but many. None earth shattering but sometimes life just gets in the way.

We have decamped to the Wet Country for the summer. Wet with the silent S. I know it rains here in Somerset but usually it’s not all the time.

For the first time in years the geriatric cats have travelled west too and have settled well.

The Somerset garden has been a challenge even though we are here full time. I have said before that we have the national collection of bindweed and ground elder. It’s been the bane of my life for over 30 years. We get rid of it. It comes back. Turn around and it’s 4 feet high again. Two of us constantly weeding. Constantly moaning about it, but to be honest enjoying the country life.

There have been results. We have colour in the garden at long last. Some things have done really well with the weather. There have been losses ~ not a penstemon survived the winter. No echinacea have appeared. There have been new plants purchased obviously to replace those that have been lost.purchases because I have seen things I like. Not need. But like.

The astrantia as always have thrived. Huge clumps in parts. Smaller clumps in others. Someone asked me to name them but as I’ve said before I start off well with labelling. Then fall off the cliff. It’s an astrantia ~ a pink one ~ there are white ones. A Shaggy. A Hadspen blood ~ and others. Just don’t ask me the variety.

We have One agapanthus in the garden which is unusual for me. Have I mentioned I like agapanthus? But they rotted last year after the flood. This one in the photo is a new one. But then again they have gone bonkers in London. It’s agapanthus heaven.

One plant that has gone bonkers in the Somerset garden is sanguisorba lilac squirrel. A small plant last year with a few pink fluffy hanging flower tails. This year it’s tall and full of flowers. It’s become one of my favourites. Was a new one to me last year and has turned out to be a great choice. Of course I’ve bought more. I knew you were thinking just the one?

I think someone in the hamlet had this plant which spread and then they gave one to nearly every house. We all have them. Very pretty but spreads like fury. It was here in the garden when we moved in 30 odd years ago ~ and trust me there have been some odd years ~ there’s enough material for a book.

As usual I digress. I like these but they take up too much space for a flower that lasts a day. Like I’ve said for the last 20 years. They need thinning out. This year is the year.

The garden is pretty eclectic ~ if I like it I plant it. So it’s a bit of a mish mash of plants and colours ~ a bit like my tulip pots, the subject of which I’m ignoring at the moment. I’ve looked at bulbs. Done a list. Changed the list. Messaged Peter Nyssen. Messaged my partner in crime Siobhan. She was my friend. But she has already ordered her bulbs. I’m deleting her.

The canna are showing their leaves. Canna Annei one of the tallest is a favourite and one of the many I have bought from Todd’s Botanics.

The dark leaves red is flowering as is the orange. Great colours for the garden and the leaves are great for structure too.

I love these when they appear but hate planting them. The bulbs are too small for fat fingers to be planting. Also I think I’ve seen just these two out of the many I planted. Give me allium summer drummer any day. Big bulbs. 6ft tall when grown and excellent flower head. Great for drying too and they come back. There are also great in the garden in Spain.

Looking at these dahlia which are all in pots in the front of the cottage you may think oh. Look at those amazing dahlia. Well. This is largely it. I planted tubers. Potted them on. Planted these pots. Made a new dahlia patch. You know what. Slugegedon. Munch munch munch. I have a few flowers in the pots and slug eaten dahlia in the garden. Last night alone I collected 25 from the garden and 12 from the greenhouse. How come we have a mass invasion of slugs yet the pollinators are obviously away on vacation. I’ve used nematodes. Wool pellets. Coffee grounds and beer traps. I’ve been out in the dark with my torch. Yet the slugs are now all coffee addicts swigging the beer in wool coats. Whilst still munching the leaves and flowers. I have to think again for next year. But everyone has said it’s been a nightmare with slugs. I potted up 24 tubers. Grew them in in the greenhouse. Planted them out. I now have 4.

One plant used for the first time in decades last year and again this year is a revelation. My parents used it in their hanging baskets and I’ve added it to my pots again. A great colour as you approach the front of the cottages. Lobelia ~ and next year I may just do annual planting in the pots. But then again I won’t decide until the last minute

My parents grew all their own bedding plants. Spent hours in the greenhouse pricking out the plants. If I had borders along a path I’d recreate their 1980’s borders. They planted lobelia. Allysun. Godstia. Nemesia. Snapdragons.

Where have the pollinators gone. April time wasn’t bad. Today there have been two bumble bees. A few butterfly. Nothing on the butterfly bush ~ Buddleia which is usually crawling with butterflies. But they are slowly reappearing. Fingers crossed or we are doomed.

I bought a few Daucus carota at a local plant sale and they are doing really well. I need more. They really do so well in the border here.

Of course I didn’t need another plant. So I bought two new Rudbeckia from the local garden centre. 1000’s may have it but I like the colour. Yet to be planted probably in two of the pots which had dahlia. If they aren’t cutting the mustard at this stage it’s time to cut my losses. I have in fact done exactly that. It’s too late for the ravaged plants to go anywhere. Except the compost heap.

We have had a greenhouse for decades. Was second hand when we got it and it was used a lot. But then we weren’t here as often in the summer and it became a bit Steptoes yard.

This year was the year it was going to be taken down and at some point a new one may be considered. But. It’s had a reprieve. The broken glass hasn’t been replaced but I found a roll of plastic which I have used to replace the broken windows.

We planted tomatoes and cucumbers. So far so good. We have been picking cucumbers and giving them away. We have picked some tomatoes < the sungold are way ahead of everything else.

There are a few different varieties.

A plum tomato liked by chefs apparently. I haven’t tasted it yet but I know I won’t grow it again next year. It’s a bit of a thug and not a great number of fruit.

Tomato sungold. The gift that keeps on giving.

You know when you are at a garden club plant sale and you just buy randomly. This was one purchase. But the fruits are large and the blurb I’ve read say it’s a taste explosion. But they are a bit pink apparently. One is just starting to ripen.

Another random purchase at the plant sale but they are growing well. Dark tomatoes. On the large side too.

A gift from a friend who grows them every year and rates them highly. If they are good enough for nanny Annie then they are good enough for me.

Ian bought the cucumber plants. 3 different types. The jury is out on the yellow until we taste it. Apparently you have to peel it. And it’s round.

I’ve planted three sets of runner beans. 3 because the first two failed. Weather. Slugs. The last batch is climbing away up the canes. Flowers. Tiny beans forming. But I did find enough for supper last night. Hiding behind the leaves.

But I can hear my father ‘ the problem is you didn’t dig a trench. You know I dug a trench every year for my runners ‘ ‘ Um. No dad. You mean you got me to dig it’

We have apples. Two trees are excellent the other is pants. Pears. Nothing. Soft fruit ~ red currants were plentiful. So were the gooseberries. Black currants not great. But it doesn’t matter really. Because 10 days away and there are nine berries left. Pigeons. Next year there will be a fruit cage. At least we can live off frozen redcurrants. Last years crop was awesome.

The front garden pots are doing ok despite the slug damage. The three dahlia are flowering and at least it’s colourful and brightens up the front of the cottage.

But next year will be re thought and there are plans to move things around at the back. Until then it’s more weeding. More slug hunts. ~ maybe an Olympic sport for 2028!

Posted on March 22, 2024March 25, 2024 by happyretiredblog · 4 Comments

Hello again. Hello.

Blogs can be like buses. You wait ages for one then two come in quick succession.

It was an early start to drive down to Somerset from London on Friday. Early as in 5am. Mad. Yes. But it beats the traffic. The downside. 20mph speed limits from south to west London. A few little bits of 30mph. But at that time of the morning you try sticking to 20mph ~ but needs must. There are cameras everywhere.

Surprise surprise. No rain all the way. No rain when we got here. And a few hours in the garden. Weeding. Pruning. With sunshine.

I have the national collection of bindweed. You blink and more appears. It’s all been dug out at some point, but in reality you’ll never get rid of it all.

But I’ll battle on. There’s no option.

I’m easily pleased. Let’s talk logs. I’m never happier than when the log store is full ~ today we had a delivery. Probably the last until the summer months when we will stock up. Delivered in a dumpy bag on a tractor and is local. The only downside is that we have to carry it through the house ~ not the dumpy bag the wood ~ and then stack it.

I can’t remember the last time I saw blue skies. But for a while today the sun was out and the sky was blue.

The few plum trees we have are in blossom and the one by the river looks awesome against the blue sky

I’m hoping the worst of the frosts have passed and we may get plums. When we moved here 30 years ago there were wonderful plum trees at the bottom of the garden. But they too were next to the river and we are in a valley which is prone to hard frosts in usual years. The early blossom gets hit hard. But my favourite plums were the ones that used to hang over the lane from one of the cottages. Gorgeous yellow plums which if my memory serves me right were plentiful – maybe yellow pershore.

I must ask if they are still in that garden. Grandad has some awesome plum trees on the farm which made some great jam. That’s the benefit of being in the country. Gifts of apples and pears arrive when there is a glut. We spend weeks juicing the apples and making jam with the plums.

I’ve said it before and as I’m prone for repetition I’ll say it again. I’m not a huge lover of mahonia. But sometimes the colour hits the right spot.

My order from Riverside bulbs arrived today ~ well packed and labelled. Well arrived at Granny’s as it safer to leave parcels there.

Now to pot them up. Along with the new canna. Canna Wyoming and Black Jack. The canna did really well in the garden last year and look like they may have survived in the ground. I like the tallest ones I can get and both of these are tall. With great flower colours.

Oh and I need to plant the acindenthera ~ all 100 of them. To be honest why did I buy them? I am no fan of small bulbs yet I do it regularly. Drumstick allium are another pet hate for planting. Yet I love them when they flower.

Talking is small bulbs can I mention Bessera Elegans. To look at the bulbs it wouldn’t be wrong to think hello. What on earth is he waxing lyrical about the lovely flowers. Then you get the growth. Again you’d think I was bonkers. I know. Don’t say it. Tall thin blade like bits of grass. The first time I grew them I was about to ditch them. But forgot and went away for two weeks. They are really fab when they flower. But another small bulb.

This doesn’t look like your average dahlia but that’s what attracted me to it. That and the colours. It’s a bit echinacea like. I have grown to love Dahlia after hating them as a child. My parents grew them and I hated them ~ mostly cactus dahlia which were brilliant for hiding earwigs. I’d shake them when asked to carry cut ones into the house to get rid of the earwigs. Sometimes so hard I snapped the flower. But a question. Where have all the earwigs gone? I can’t remember the last time I saw one. Not just in a dahlia but in the garden.

The ferns at the bottom of the garden are beginning to multiply in a patch that I’d love more. It’s shaded. Damp and next to an old apple tree smothered in rambling rector. Which last year was fabulous but needs a serious prune this year. The rector. Not the apple tree which is dead.

The most vicious rose in the garden. I’ve never seen so many and such large vicious thorns on a rose bush. I swear it moves when you are near and jabs you.

The dandelions are appearing and are one of the first pollinators available for the emerging butterflies and bees. Along with

The pulmonaria is another great early pollinator ~ some patches haven’t fared as well this year. I suspect some on the river bank may have been washed away when we had a few occasions when the river was high. I’ve noticed varying degrees of colour in the flowers. From lilac to pink.

I planted quite a few allium in the autumn ~ I don’t have a great success rate in this garden with them. Too wet in the winter and spring but somehow this year a lot are doing well. Allium summer drummer a really tall one is running away with itself. In the garden in Spain it is the most reliable one every year. Let’s see how they fair at flowering.

One of last years poppies which has survived the winter. I think it’s a red and I bought two. Both of which have survived. I’ve added three Pattys plum which we had in the garden decades ago and bought from the old Hadspen gardens (now The Newt) from the wonderful Sandra and Norrie Pope. The poppy was found growing on a compost heap at a Somerset nursery when Sandra Pope was working for Patrica Merrow and named after her.

So a Somerset poppy!

If you can get your hands on the Popes wonderful book colour by design do.

I bought a new sanguisorbia at the plant fair last week. Another lilac squirrel which did so well last year and I’m happy to see that the various varieties I planted last year are already showing their leaves. It’s such a distinctive leaf which is good for me as I don’t easily recognise some plants !

I’ve finally realised that lavender is no good in this garden. It is too wet in the winter and too cold. I’m going to try rosemary along a path this year, something I have done in Spain.

The first of them to go in. A couple of upright and a couple of creeping.

And so it begins. Much earlier than usual to be honest. My tulips don’t usual appear until mid April but then again a lot is earlier this year. I can’t wait to see the colours as of course my well thought out and structured planting plan went out of the window. As it does every year.

Back to the back garden. I have to ignore the lower half of the garden by and large whilst I concentrate on the upper part getting c it ready for the spurt of growth for the perennials. I have pruned and dug over the fruit bush bed and the black and red currants have started into leaf. So have the red and green gooseberries. Note to self. Plant more red ones. They don’t get from the bush to the house. I eat them.

The perennials are forcing their way through. The astrantia always do well in this garden. I’d like to say the Astrantia Hadspen blood have come through. But I don’t know. Would be good if I kept a plan. Or labelled better. But I don’t.

This one is Astrantia beenthereforever. As in it has been there since we moved in here. 30 years ago.

Another plant that has been here for decades is this clump of persicaria. It should really be divided but that’s a job for another day. Or week.

There are quite a few clumps of white phlox in the borders. Always grows well here, great for cut flowers along with the pink phlox. I keepM

A ing to add a few more colours.

Something else we lost over time ~ the black elderflower ~ sambucus Nigra ~ so I planted a new one in a different spot last autumn. I love the colour of the leaves and the I love the pinky black flowers. Makes a lovely pink elderflower cordial. .

There are a few areas that are a problem. The ground elder has gone crazy and that is a challenge for when I feel up to it. I have dug an area for a dahlia bed but keep changing my mind. Maybe here. Nah be there and one has been dug over. The other is a work in progress. A huge one. Like climbing Everest.

So by the time I am back there will be more weeds. More growth on the perennials. But. There was a window of opportunity for one of my favourite jobs. The first grass cut of 2024. We had a good dry day on Friday and was hoping for another Saturday. But. Short bursts of torrential showers with spells of sunshine and heavy hail made me think it would be a big no this weekend. But Sunday proved to be a belter. A bit cold but with a drying wind proved perfect. A huge surprise in that the petrol mower started first time and I managed to get a decent first cut. Yet another thing in life that makes be happy. Next job. The edges.

All in all a really productive few days.