Tulips – Page 2 – Gardens. Travel. Life.

Posted on January 8, 2023January 14, 2023 by happyretiredblog

Adiós 2022. Hola ‘23

It’s been a glorious Christmas and New year. We missed being in Spain for Xmas 2021 and this year even the weather was kind. Lovely warm days. Cooler nights. Broken heating in parts but a lovely clean chimney so the fire burned even brighter.

The sunsets at this time of the year are pretty spectacular and this year they didn’t disappoint. Many a night I’d suddenly jump out of the chair ( not literally ~ not with my dodgy hip) to go and stand on the terrace and watch the sun go down. This is our 6th December on the mountain and I never get tired of the sunsets. But then again very little tires me from our Spanish adventure.

But the trip wasn’t all festivals lights and food. Almost. But not quite. I’m still not back to being great in crowded spaces so our festivities were pretty low key as most of them are for us these days. small groups of friends for supper or coffees ( and the obligatory cakes) outdoors. Oh. And the garden. There’s always work to be done in the garden. We do have help ~ there are so many plants which I still am unsure about. The pruning the feeding. The timing of both. But our help knows and appears at the right times to do what is required.

Two weeks before we arrived there had been rain. A lot of it but still not enough. We still don’t have mains water every day out in the campo. . But enough to make the countryside look green again. There was also the signal of a new season. On 1 January we noticed that there was a lot of smoke hanging over the Valley. No. Not a new pope but the signal of a new season where bonfires were officially allowed. I’d forgotten that there are strict rules on the months you can and cannot have a bonfire. My rule is never in our garden. Call it paranoia which is correct but I’m terrified of a lone spark setting the campo alight.

Things are starting to wake up. The first freesia are flowering along the path and there are many more in various stages to continue. The first two were picked and given to a neighbour. Sadly last year we lost a dear friend, his wife who together with her husband checked the house for us during the year we were unable to travel and who would water the garden ifit needed it. I’ve said it before. Good friends are a joy but good neighbours are awesome. When we weren’t at the house she would pick any flowers ~ after my constant nagging at first ~ and freesias were her favourite. So it was appropriate that the first of this season went to her house.

Hiding in amongst various pots or rather languishing there was a surprise. I had thought the colocasia mojito which has been bought and paid for at Vivero Florena before one of the lockdowns and stayed there for months and months had died. It came home when we could return and I had thought it was a another casualty of the drought and severe heat. But I move the pots around. A lot ~ my late sister did the same with furniture ~ and I found that the plant hadn’t died and it’s gorgeous silky leaves were again growing. Fingers crossed it continues.

Another surprise was on the central border. These Carpobrotus edulis were straggly. Dry and almost non existent over the last few years. But I cut ( hacked) them back last year and thought if they recover they stay. If they don’t they go. It looks like they listened and hopefully we will get those glorious pink flowers again this year. Native to South Africa it must have liked last years extreme heat and drought. Also known as sour fig, or ice plant. We also have a large clump on the rear bank which to be honest I largely ignored this visit. The bank. Not just the clump.

Instructions have been left for the almonds to be pruned and I’ve just realised I haven’t mentioned the fig. But I did mention the bottlebrush which needs a good tidy up.

This is a flower from two or three years ago. The problem with not being at the house permanently is we often miss what is flowering. Although we do get sent photos. Seeing how well these are doing I must get some more or split these for the dry bank at the front of the house.

There is an ever increasing bed of these at the side of the house. I always think they are in the way out as the lower parts go dry and crusty. But they never cease to amaze me by throwing up their orange tall flowers. Childish I know but I help saying Aloe Aloe when I pass. But I am. and I do. Nobody is listening anyway.

I love the Strelitzia. Some years we see them. Some we don’t. This one is in full flower and there are eight more flower spikes dotted around the garden in various stages of growth. We will this year at least see some. The ones I want to flower the most this year are the strelitzia Nicolai. They are very tall plants with flowers high up. Blue/black and white flowers. Someone once said you should look up as you walk around London. The upper parts of the buildings are more interesting. Well the same can be said about a lot of plants. Especially this bird of paradise. Huge fat banana type leaves. Shred like mad in the wind. But despite that I’ve planted three more in the garden. By the time I reach 50 ( in my dreams) they will flower.

Theee isn’t much colour at the moment. Well there is but not bright colours. Except for the bird of paradise. The few Clivia. And the start of the freesia. But the foliage is looking good though. The grape leaves turning colour. Well the ones that are still on the vine which they are still this year. They should have all fallen by now ready for pruning. The dodonea is looking great.

I have also spent time scrubbing up a lot of agave from the garden. First it was the prickly pear. Attacked by the white fly ~ the cochineal fly. Whole swathes of them rotting along the roadside. I have saved two in the garden. It has been a hard slog but worth it. But. There is now something attacking the agave. You don’t know it’s happening until the keel over and die. They attack from below. We had a lot on the communal road but they have all gone. We had a few large ones on the roundabout that’s not a roundabout. Gone. I wandered around the garden scrubbing up more dead ones. This small one will go next. It’s also attacking yucca. Which will be a shame if it gets ours as there are a number of large variegated and non variegated ones. Fingers toes and legs crossed.

We have one of these in London. In a pot. In the top floor bedroom. It makes me chuckle to find plants in the garden in Spain that we have in the UK as house plants. Like the Swiss cheese plant. One of the staples in our house growing up. With a rubber plant which my mother cleaned the leaves with milk. Don’t ask. I have no idea whether it was skimmed full fat or semi skimmed. What I do know is that it wasn’t soya.

Thankfully this prickly cactus is on the bank on the way up to the house. It’s a nightmare if you get to close but it’s redeeming feature is it’s flowers. That’s why it gets a reprise.

I salvaged this Aeonium once again from a falling over in the wind. It’s in a large pot now. Staked. The broken limbs have been planted in the garden. Last years breakages have taken well.

Another house plant we had growing up ~ Tradescantia pallida I think and growing strongly but very brittle in a bed outside the door. Very pretty leaves. Pretty flowers but breaks off every time you pass. There used to be on on our kitchen window.

I couldn’t post without putting in a photo of the foxtail agave. This one is in the ground at the rear of the house. I have about half a dozen more that need replanting.

Ian often reminds me of things I’ve said. Like. ‘No more pots ’. As this demonstrates I’m tone deaf. I have had a move around. But I haven’t lost any.

Sometimes things shouldn’t work. These ferns shouldn’t but they are getting bigger and bigger. I can’t repot them again. They have to be moved using a sack truck.

First ignore the irrigation pipe ~ it hasn’t been used this last year. The photograph is of the sea squill ~ Urginea maritima. Planted over three years ago they are all now coming into their own. Green leaves which die down totally. Then later the tall white flower appears. Totally drought tolerant the bulbs are huge. Peter Nyssen supplies me with them. Good old Peter Nyssen.

One bit of colour. A little bit of rain and back comes the flower. Although two bushed have been lost in last years drought.

Finally. The space aliens have reappeared ~ Plectranthus. I’m not sure of the species and it dies have a scented leaf. Spreading slowly and making a bit of ground cover.

That’s it in the Spanish garden for a few weeks. Oh. But I did plant the tulips. The white wall has been planted with palmyra tulips. Last years Armani did well so I hope these do too.

I have planted a few pots with Dutch Dancer ~ black hero and El Nino and a few with a random selection. Which of course I haven’t labelled. Yes. They are late. Yes it’s a risk but at least I didn’t have to defrost the compost of dig three inches of ice off the top.

Back in London and tulip planting continues. They have almost all been done. Two large pots to finish once the emergency top up from Peter Nyssen arrive. But that’s it for tulip planting. I’m starting to plan early for next years. ( believe that if you will )

Posted on December 18, 2022December 19, 2022 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Frosty Days. Cold nights.

Oh my. We are never happy are we. Too hot. Too cold. Too wet. Too dry. But I have to admit this last week or so has been Baltic. Been right brass monkey weather. The bonus against cold v wet is that at least you can layer up. Ok there are days when I looked like a Michelin man. But warmth over style rules when it’s freezing. But. A bit of frost. A bit of snow. Great for photos right?

This is the lane at the back of the cottage. The road to granny and grandads. Like the roundabout that’s not a roundabout Intalk about in Spain they aren’t my granny and grandad. But if you’ve read any of my blogs you’ll know that. Taken early one morning with a coffee in one hand and my iPhone in another. A morning chat with Farmer Paul on the bridge on his way to start the day with his cattle. To be fair I had gone into the lane as there was a water leak running down the hill. Don’t even get me started on trying to report the leak. Online report only. Wanted so many of my details before I could report. I nearly gave up the will to live

I usually creep over the old bridge. Not that I’d disturb the neighbours but you never know what’s on the river. That morning I could have kicked myself. Four. Yes four white egrets flew up as I passed. Try taking a photo quickly with coffee in one hand and the other hand in your coat pocket. Epic fail. But trust me. It was a sight.

There were some spectacular icicles hanging down from the viaduct. The ones hanging down our front door from an overflowing tank in the loft weren’t quite as spectacular but I nearly impaled myself on them as I opened the door. Thankfully quickly sorted. The leak. Not me.

It makes everything look so pretty. Not that I’m biased. I love the village and it is a bit picture perfect. But I love that it’s also still a working village. Cattle. Sheep. Hay. Straw and for my godchildren ( not the farming ones) ~ the DFL’s ~ the tractors and agricultural machinery.

I had the urge to recreate that scene from The Holiday where Cameron Díaz runs across the field back to the house. Two things stopped me. There wasn’t really enough snow. And the running. Oh. And Ian was still fast asleep back at the cottage. This field is Alders. Not the department store. But I suspect named after the line of alder trees along the river bank which are no longer. After the flood the line of trees on the bank were removed to allow the field to act as an overflow for the river.

Our decision to be at the cottage last week was to plant the tulip pots. I didn’t plan on the weather. I knew it was cold. I knew I was waiting for a cold spell. But I didn’t bargain on having to remove the top 4 inches of compost as it was frozen solid. I wanted to remove half of the compost anyway but not with a pick axe and a screwdriver.

But. I did it. Compost removed. New compost bought. But. Another but. The compost from the local gardening centre was frozen. I had no option. As well as warm my feet by the wood burner two bags of peat free compost were being de frosted,

And yes. I did it. Well. 12 of the 15 pots. The last two defeated me with more frost and snow.

These aren’t all the colours. As usual I started with the plan. And the weather and the cold got to me. So it will be a dolly mixture again this year. Plus. Three pots will be done in January.

Back to the views. The days and the light changes so quickly and as well as the frosty grey days the morning light can be magical. As long as you are up early enough. Wrapped up. And with a hot drink in your hand.

The same view on a different day. The day before the snow and frost pic. Look at that sky. No filter. iPhone 12 Pro. Right time. Right place.

Ifuvuvuvuvu

I haven’t cut anything back in the garden this autumn/winter. I’d like to say it has been planned. But in reality it’s either been too wet for this fair weather gardener or I just haven’t had the time. But it certainly makes for a pretty sight in the frost and the birds have been loving the seed heads. And one single frosted rose looked fabulous.

We both had to go back to London mid visit. The plan was to go by train and stay for two nights and head back for the weekend to attend a friends 60th. Best laid plans and all that. We had to be in London. So we had to drive. Being back we also had our usual walk through the park which was also looking good.

No sticking to the paths for us. I couldn’t walk on blocks of ice. No doubt I’d be flat on my back. But back to Somerset it was and a hideous journey with the A303 closed near Stonehenge and a diversion over Salisbury Plain. Great views. Slippery roads.

Just back in time for the carol service at St Leonard’s church Pitcombe. It’s been a while since I’ve been. Many years ago. Decades actually the parish priest called me a festival worshipper. Christmas. Easter. Harvest festival. Patronal festival. He didn’t say it as a bad thing. But he was right. I was there to sing the hymns & the carols. Oh. And for the mince pies and mulled wine.

I can’t remember seeing the stained glass looking so bright. Possibly as I was ambling along in the dark looking up for a change.

And no. I didn’t get the last three pots done. They had frosted again and I had lost the will to live. But I saw my godson who asked what I was doing later in the afternoon. Oh. I thought. He’s coming down with his girlfriend. No. Don’t be silly. I have my uses as does Ian. Any chance you can stand in the road. I’m bringing the sheep through from church ground and I need you both to stop them going up pitcombe Rock. How 20 years makes a difference. One day I’m feeding him his bottle. The next I’m watching him lead the sheep through the village.

That’s Somerset done until 2023. Strikes. Trains. Planes and weather permitting we head away for the Christmas and new year festivities. Some more tulip planting ~ I must take them out of the fridge before Ian realises that’s where they have been stored for the last month. I won’t need a pick axe to plant there. We have had the long awaited rain. And no. The rain in Spain doesn’t stay mainly on the plain.

There will be supper with friends. An overnight in Malaga to see the Christmas lights. A visit to the Botanical gardens to see the illuminations. Some gardening. Oh. And you know there will be the usual ramblings.

If not I’ll be planting those last three pots.

Posted on October 10, 2022October 10, 2022 by happyretiredblog · 4 Comments

Did I say I like Tulips

So how hard can it be? Choosing bulbs for planting before Xmas to flower in April/May the following year. Let me be honest. Very. I started in June and had my list. I lost it. I did a series of photos. Like Pinterest. But I hate Pinterest so it was just a series of photos. I was kind of happy. Then life took over and I just didn’t get around to it. Tragedy. Some that I wanted were out of stock. So back to the drawing board. Sort of.

I’d like to give the impression of being organised. Planning the colours. The pots. The window boxes. Here there and over there. Yes. I do have some tulips in Spain as well. That’s the impression I like to give but the reality is that I end up in a rush as I leave it to do tomorrow. There’s a touch of mañana about me. Not just to order but to plant. Then all the planning goes to pot. Literally. I end up with what the lovely Karen at Peter Nyssen calls it. A dolly mixture of colours. A great description of the 2022 planting.

It started really in 2015. Pretty simple. Understated. Colour blocks. I liked it. Very understated. I wasn’t always a tulip fan. When people mentioned them all I heard in my head was Tiny Tim’s voice. You know. That squeaky song. ‘Tiptoe through the Tulips’ NO? Shame on you. Go listen. It will be a hideous ear worm for weeks. And every time you look at a bed of tulips. (Oh. And for this blogs useless note. Apparently the song is mentioned in the ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’ book. Vernon Dursley hums the song. Who knew. I didn’t.)

But then again I wasn’t always a fan of dahlias. It’s ok to change your minds. Not just because things become fashionable again. God help me if flares return. Or platform shoes.

A change of palate for 2016 but I hadn’t got the hang of stuffing the pots with tulips. I thought maybe less is more. More or less.

Move onto 2017. A bit more adventurous. Pots packed a bit more. Another year of different colours. Some new ones. But still some white. At some point I may go back to a two or three colour planting.

Now don’t ask me what happened in 2018 or 2019. I just can’t find any photos. Which is strange for me. I do like a photo or 2ooo.

Whizz onto 2020~ the start of lockdown. I don’t think I saw tulips in the following two years. Other than in photos sent by friends and neighbours. I’d planted the tulips in December 2019. We returned from a trip to Mexico in late March 2020 and that was it. They came and went.

I’m getting bolder. Shoving a few more bulbs into the pots. I see that in 2020 I had El Niño. It’s on the list again this year. I must have liked it. It’s a glorious bonkers tulip first seen at Ulting Wick where I have gained so much inspiration in tulip choices.

In London the window boxes were bolder in colour. More coordinated as all were peony type tulips. Belle Epoque is one of my favourites but sells out before I remember to order it usually. I think it’s Uncle Tom in there too. But I always say I’ll keep a book. What I plant and when. But I’m rubbish. Just like labelling. One day I’ll get it but by then I will be unable to bend that far down to attach the label.

2021 saw my love affair start with Brown sugar. This year I didn’t see the tulips at all until they were over and the pots needed emptying. Lockdown meant we didn’t travel to the cottage for months on end. I relied all tulip season on photographs sent to me. Good neighbours and local friends are great. Ones with cameras and willing to take photos of tulips is awesome. Good friends who are neighbours are brilliant. And a goddaughter who would water them when it was a big dry extra special. I heard it was a good year.

So. 2022. I was determined to make up for the previous two years. I was optimistic that I’d be able to see them in full bloom. At least at some point. If I was I was going to go over the top this was the year. I think I did. Subtle it was not. Colourful yes. Not subtle. But I liked it and the feedback was good. Grandad Martin wasn’t too sure at first. Not as colourful as last year he said. ‘Give it a chance Grandad.’ It hasn’t started going yet. You wait. He did and agreed. It was colourful.

To say I was happy would be an understatement. I started the planting with a plan. I always do. It starts off well. There are 15 large pots to be planted. After the first few pots I get bored. Or rather I’ve left it so late that I have to just get it done. So my well laid out plan. On paper. With numbers. Colours. Just all goes into the melting pot and it’s pot luck. Thankfully in my mind it worked. It was a good year and we were there often enough to be able to enjoy it.

It was also good year for tulip pots in London. I’d collected a load of pots in lockdown. Let’s be honest. There was little else to do. Lockdown walks. Lockdown garden in a tiny garden in London. Lockdown shopping. Lockdown deliveries. Lockdown bread. Everything in London is in pots so I took advantage of having so many. When we changed the front and tiled the path. ~ not us obviously. I have neither the skill or the patience. ~ I said ‘no more pots’ The window cleaner reminds me of that every time he had to manoeuvre his ladder around them.

It’s just that there is so much choice. Isn’t there? I choose the colours. The types. Then I see something else. Or Ian asks. Have you bought that one I really like? ( b****r ~ I’ve just remembered he’s asked me to remember to include Helmar) !!! And change my mind. How difficult can it be. I’ve said. Very. Until it’s too late and the one I want. That I really really want is out of stock. I use the same supplier year in year out. I don’t like change. I only go to a different bulb supplier if I can’t get them. My bulb supplier of choice. Peter Nyssen. Karen is amazing and the customer service is brilliant. Helpful. Informative. Comes up with tulips I may like. I don’t change doctors dentists hairdresser. Banks. Or bulb suppliers.

Like most gardening everything is a set timeframe. First to order. Second for delivery. And finally. To plant. Time for all three is running out so I’ve had to bite the bullet and order. And then remember I wanted x. And order some more.

And then. I had a tulip book for my birthday from friends in Spain which is beautiful and see some I really like. Like really really like. And order them. But I’ve stopped. No more. Definitely . Possibly.

So. These may be some of this years planting.

And these. …….and a host of others. Oh. And I’ve just ordered this one.

And that is. All bought and paid for. All to be delivered. I had thought that I would be emptying the pots of the summer bedding this weekend. But. We arrived to pots that had gone bonkers.

Geraniums bought at Columbia road flower market are still flowering. With a bit of dead heading they have another month in them. I hadn’t previously grown lobelia for decades had decided to have a growth spurt. So the summer pots have had a reprieve . For now. But there again so have I. I’m off to Spain for a week. Guess what’s arriving. A parcel from Peter Nyssen. But that order was easy.

Posted on April 7, 2022April 7, 2022 by happyretiredblog

Here there and everywhere

It was an interesting trip to Spain this time. We had rain. More rain. And even more rain ~ add the hideous Sahara dust and you hay a bonus. So back to the Uk where everyone had been enjoying shorts weather. And then the weather changes. But back to a very different garden.

I always forget that I have these planted in the pots with the two bay trees. They flower and then disappear for the next ten months. I think they are Muscari peppermint. Maybe?

The tree ferns have come through the winter with nearly all of last years fronds. I have unwrapped them. Taken out the hay. Hay because I forgot to ask Farmer Martin for straw ~ out of the crowns and given them their first feed of Alpaca poo. Ian keeps reminding me that when we move they are coming with us. We will see.

So here there and everywhere. A trip to Somerset for a few days. Just me which is something I haven’t done much of theses last two years. Me time. My mother could never quite comprehend why I liked to have some time on my own. Won’t you be lonely she’d ask. No mother. I’ll be alone. That’s quite different. People ask how we have managed to be together for 30 years. Ian’s answer. At times different houses. Or in the last 5 years. Different countries. I don’t think either of us bargained for the last two years.

A bit of a different drive to the cottage compared to Spain. 5 mins away from the cottage is the drive past the grade 2* listed gates to what was Redlynch Park. Which was built probably to impress George III who was a frequent visitor there on his trips to Weymouth. It certainly impresses me as I dive past. Unlike our drive in Spain up and down the wiggly or windy road this drive is through beautifully cut hedges. Not actually through the hedges obviously. I love it when they are cut and can be seen from above.

Back in the Somerset garden which at this time of year is a little neglected. We had had a great week clearing last years die back in January. All but one patch cleared. We had planned another week but after two years and three Jabs I Covid got me and plans were put on hold. Thankfully very mild but it put me out of action for 10 days. Which threw all manner of plans out of kilter. The work on the revamped kitchen had to be moved. A trip to Spain held in abeyance. Gardening in LOndon was ok as I went in the front garden early and late and the tiny back garden whenever.

I managed to cut the grass on the one dry day I was there. It’s cut for us when we have a few weeks away but I do like to cut it. The Lidl lawnmower I bought after last years lockdown started first time. Was a bargain and did well in the Which trials.

It always looks better but I didn’t have time to do the edges. Or to weed. That’s for the next visit. The honeysuckle could do with a bit of a shaping. Looking at my self haircut I think I’ll get someone else to do it. I don’t usually put trimmer to my hair but as I’d been quarantined and didn’t have a chance to get a haircut I had to. Don’t worry. I won’t be taking it up professionally. Sheep shearers have more finesse.

The patch on the right along the dodgy fence is one bit we hadn’t cleared. Full of spreading asters it was hiding bluebells and primroses. Sadly the Spanish variety – bluebells obviously. . As a child we used to walk along what we called the Rusty Line – an old disused railway line and I remember collecting primroses. That was decades ago.

At this time of year there are swathes of Pulmonaria which the bees love. A great early pollinator and it’s spread like crazy under this old rose.

One of the reasons for the visit was to check the tulip pots. Did I ever say I like tulips? I needed to check them and water them if they were a bit dry. A reminder that even if it rains you should still check the pots and the tulips could do with a bit of water as they are about to flower. A top tip from Harriet Rycroft who is the queen of pots. I want to be more Harriet. Her pot displays are awesome.

I was really pleased to see such a strong display coming through. Another two weeks and it should be full tulip show. I hope they flower well and that the eclectic colours work. If it doesn’t there’s always next year. I’m already making a note of tulips I see on Instagram which could be 2023 contenders.

I found my tulip planting list but I’m not sure I stuck to it. What I do know is that there will be Brown sugar. Ballerina. Flaming spring green. Black hero. Dutch dancer. Helmar. Some oranges. Some reds. Oh. Two new ones. Sarah Raven. And Istanbul. There are a load of others. It will be interesting. As I’ve mentioned I’m already making a note of new ones I see this year. Ready for the off in August to order next years.

I planted this viburnum a good few years ago and it’s never been so lovely. It’s full of flowers which change colour as they open from soft pinks to white. Maybe my absence during lockdowns has allowed the garden to grow instead of my innappropriate pruning. I didn’t see it in 2020 or in 2021.

I can’t ever remember so many flowers on it. I must make sure it’s supported against the fence.

There is blossom in abundance in the garden. This ornamental cherry is heavy with blossom. It’s the only thing that saves the tree. It’s pretty useless than the the flowers but the branches which have bird feeders hanging on them. I am surprised that the frost hasn’t got more of the blossom to be honest. There have been some pretty hard frosts in Somerset

I pruned the gooseberries and the currants this year for the first time in years. It looks like I haven’t killed them and the red gooseberry in particular is showing good results. We had a spectacular harvest of redcurrants last year. But no matter how many you have you need more. I made redcurrant jelly. The amount of jelly v redcurrants is sad. The red gooseberries I just eat straight off the bush. They are sweet and delicious .the one above is the one above is a Rokula. A new German raised Mildew resistant with apparently high yield. I’ll let you know. That’s if the birds don’t strip them first.

Spring flowers. Pulmonoria or lungwort. which are great. Alkanet which I hate. It spreads like crazy. The hairy stems irritate and it’s as tough as old boots. Primroses and bluebells hiding in a bit of the garden which we hadn’t cleared. I did clear a fair bit so the bees at least could get in. The bluebells are Spanish. I like them but a proper real gardener who said she wanted to see the garden said if we had any Spanish bluebells we should rip them out. Thankfully none were out when she visited.

The top two tulips are previous years randoms in previously planted pots. I must have missed them when replanting the pots with agapanthus. The bottom two are this years pots.

I pruned the roses as well. On time. Last year I was late to the party. But a shout out on Instagram brought in advice. Which when it comes from a legend Rosarian it was advice I heeded. This year on time it looks as they have survived. Some great growth.

Spring has certainly spring. New growth on lots of trees. The apples. The pears and the plums. And on the Cornus which last year was spectacular. I tiedied up the shape after flowering and I’m glad to see new growth this year. I’m surprised at the plum blossom. We struggle with plums as they are usually hit badly by late frosts. Looks like this year the flowering is later. Fingers crossed though.

This mahonia has had a reprieve. It’s never really done anything and this was the year I was going to dig it out. Maybe it heard me saying just that but the flowers this year have been great. It’s at the bottom of the garden next to the river and is another area that needs a tidy. Behind it are some raspberry canes and the patch where we grow our runner beans. I might even be more like my father this year. Growing up it was my job to dig a trench for the beans. Which would be filled with newspaper and vegetable waste. To be fair they have done ok for the last 30 years without bit every year when I plant I hear his voice in my head.

Here and there. There and here. Back in London and the tulips here are ahead of somerset. Well some of them are. I don’t know why. These were planted later than somerset but this spot does get some good morning sun. This pot is tulip passionale. I think. It’s a new one for me and one I ordered from a different supplier this year as they had tulip Brown sugar which was one I wanted. But I saw this and thought I’d give it a try. Maybe a bit shorter than I like but I’d grow it again.

I’d forgotten how much I love Tulip Brown sugar. It’s a fabulous colour. Has a scent. Is tall. What more could you ask for.

A couple of pots of left over tulips for the front door. Maybe. Just maybe it will keep Frederick Fox away from the front door. There are plenty more to come out and they will but usually in their own time.

One thing is guaranteed. When they do you will know!

Posted on March 22, 2022March 24, 2022 by happyretiredblog

Oops I did it again.

Another week. But what a week we had last week. Some sun. Some rain. More rain. Clima. Torrential rain. So Clima. Yep. The arrival of the Sahara dust on the Costa del Sol. The worst here in our pueblo Blanco that anyone can remember. The Pueblo Blanco is now a Pueblo Naranja.

It was a pretty eerie sky as we headed into town to pick up a takeaway. A definite yellow/orange hue. Like we were in some sci fi movie. The white walls have all been covered in the dust. The dust dumped in the pools and the terraces caked. I have hosed the terrace. Hosed the walls of La Casa. Then it rained again but didn’t make much difference. Now we are waiting for round 2. Which may or may not happen. But there is torrential rain forecast. Which is fine as we need the rain. Just not the dust.

The garden was covered. The plants were covered and it’s taken days to make a bit of a difference. But thankfully we were here otherwise my paranoia would be in overdrive.

The rain is welcome and to be honest it’s perfect planting weather. I think for the first time since we bought the house I have been able to dig and plant without a pick axe. You think I jest. Trust me ~ I wondered when I’d ever use the tools we had acquired with the house. Various sizes of pick axes for one thing.

But this week I can dig deep. The ground is wet and I can plant properly. So I have had to buy some plants to try it out. One has to really.

So we headed to our local garden centre. I’d be lying if I said this was our first visit this trip. I’ll be honest. It was our third. The first to collect the roses I had on order. The second to collect the 10 lavender I had ordered. Of course each time it wasn’t just the roses. Or the lavender. I added to the list. So today Ian said if you are only collecting compost I will wait in the car. After I was taking too long he came and found me.

But . I saw the lovely salvia x jameensis fuchsia. I love salvia and had already picked up two others on the earlier visit. But I loved the colour so it fell in my bag.

This was a new one on me. Looked like a digitalis so I thought I have a spot for that. But looking closer the label said it was a digiplexis. A what? Who knew. I didn’t. It is a hybrid plant and is the cross between a foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and Canary Island foxglove (Isoplexis canariensis). It will be interesting to see a) it flower and b) will it survive. I’m sure if it does there will be photos.

I also bough 12 gaura to add to the ones that I already have planted. 6 white. 6 as above. I love them. They are tall like dancing butterflies above the other plants. I have planted them all around the various beds. Guess what. There is room for more.

When we moved here the path was a fabulous lavender path. But we lost a lot of it and I tried starting again. Wit was a disaster. So I planted a Rosemary path. Mostly creeping Rosemary which whilst it’s done well I wasn’t that happy. ~ I can hear Ian saying ‘No change there then’ So I decided to remove every other Rosemary plant and plant a lavender in its place and to have a mixed path. Time will tell as to how it works. But I’d be happy if it did. Back to square one if it doesn’t.

We have a number of these around the garden. They have grown bonkers which is surprising as some are in the brightest sunniest part of the terrace. When it’s sunny which hasn’t been this week. Two have decided to break out of their pots so it’s into larger ones for them. A bit of a tidy up for all of them and a bit of a feed. Given the chance Ian would have Tree Ferns. He’s still adamant that they will leave London with us when we sell. But not to Spain.

The Osteospermum are starting to flower in force. They are so reliable though a little late to the party this year. They spread a fair bit but that’s fine for where they are growing. Two years ago I bought some fancy new colours. They lasted a month. I hated them. I’m happy with these.

I was late to the party planting my tulips in Spain. We were due here mid December but that was cancelled so it wasn’t until the end of January when they were planted. This is the white wall at the end of the pool. In summer it’s planted with geraniums. Bright red Common old garden geraniums. For now it’s a tulip mix. If I remembered what they are I’d tell you. Every year I’m determined to label. Every year it’s a fail. But. Hopefully we will be back in time to see them out. There are a number of pots dotted around the garden which are heavily planted with tulips. It’s a joy that I can still get bulbs from my friends at Peter Nyssen shipped here. Direct from Holland.

The orange blossom is out in force. I’m hoping that we don’t lose it and that we get oranges again this year. It’s a bit hit and miss but the help we have has pruned and tidied the growth and I have done a feed. It’s fingers crossed. But I love the blossom and the smell is delicious. Oranges aren’t bad either. When they form.

Hola hola. I’ve repotted and moved this large aeonium twice. I love it and it’s almost alien looking. It was worse for wear when we returned after a 12 month absence and one of the larger bits had snapped off. That is now planted direct in the ground and is growing well. I still can’t get used to being able to leave these out all year round. I have green ones in the ground which really look like aliens.

In a pot on the terrace this is finally in flower. Opening with the sun it’s a lovely shade of orange. Would go well with this years Pitcombe tulips which has a bit of an orange theme. Well I think it does. A great succulent which I may be Malephora or maybe Lampranthus. Either way it’s flowering!

A walk outside the main garden and out through the gate. The roundabout that’s not a roundabout which is lovely and green with a splash of yellow. Strimmed back in the Autumn as I worry about the dying back of the wildflowers catching fire ~ been rejuvenated with the rain. The Oxalis pes-caprae are starting to open. I’m hoping for a sea of acid yellow by the end of next month. Known by a multiples of names ~ African wood-sorrel, Bermuda buttercup, Bermuda sorrel, buttercup oxalis, Cape sorrel, English weed, goat’s-foot, sourgrass, soursob or soursop;

I know it as the yellow weed that spreads like mad but looks great in the spring. I’d rather have this than bindweed.

The roundabout that’s not a roundabout is a large area across the access road from us and above the pine trees. The large pine you can see isn’t ours. It doesn’t look much but I can’t strim it myself it’s steep and my balance on it would mean I’d be tumbling down the hill to the bottom of the road. Walk up that access road which is a dead end and you get great views to La Maroma. I know. I’ve done it once or twice in 5 years.

When we bought the house there was a stump of an old mimosa on the bank. I eventually cut it right back but a shoot was growing about two feet away which I was too lazy to deal with. It has now become a large tree bearing amazing hanging branches of mimosa. I will give it a prune after flowering but it’s full of bees at the moment and frames the gate perfectly. Not great for my hay fever but I’ll live with it. Plus it looks great picked for the house.

‘ How are the cactus doing’ Ian asks. We don’t have any I say. Yes we do. The ones tied to the railings. Ah. They aren’t cactus they are Euphorbia candelabrum. Whatever is his reply. You’ve looked that up. Let’s stick with cactus. It’s less of a mouthful. Well they are doing pretty well. Once in a while Ian sees something he wants for the garden. These were one of those purchases.

The gorgeous banksia rose is a little sparse on the flower side this year. Climbing the jacaranda tree it’s such a pretty little flower. Makes note to give it a tidy up for next year.

I walk through a little shrubbery on my way to Peckham Rye station and they have some amazing Melianthus major growing. I didn’t expect to get them here in Spain but I have. Great plants from Lorraine Cavanagh where I buy most of my plants. When we made an offer on the house I bought a book on Mediterranean plants ready for the new adventure. When Ian saw the price (Amazon). He said how much? He changed his mind when talking to the sellers and I mentioned I’d already bought a book to help with the plants. Oh. That’s Lorraine. The garden centre is here in Competa. Lorraine has been invaluable these last five years and will message me to say ‘ we have had a delivery. I think you may like x. “ It’s one place Ian never minds going. Lorraine also has a book on citrus. .

As well as the gardening books Lorraine has written about Cómpeta in a book ‘ There are no flies. Only foreigners’ about Cómpeta and the surrounding areas. She has been here for 37 years and seen many changes. imagine no mobiles in the campo only walkie-talkies! It’s a really great read.

I know not where this came from. I can’t remember planting them but they are springing up around the garden. I’ve checked back at purchases but can find no trace. Maybe I bought them locally. But I hate planting small bulbs. I’m reliably informed it’s Allium Triquetrum but can’t recall planting it at all. The alliums I know I have planted are on the way up. Even the dreaded drumsticks. I love them. But as I said. I hate planting small bulbs. Patience is a virtue. Sadly not one of mine.

I’ve had a move around of the pots. Something I do occasionally. That’s the joy of them. . As long as they aren’t too heavy they can be moved around. I cut the pelargoniums back hard and they have come back stronger. I’m hoping they will flower better this year. And for longer. I forgot to photograph the society garlic. I could smell it before I saw it and it’s starting to flower already. Supposed to deter mosquitos. Not in this garden. They were hideous last year. I looked like a dart board. Or a dot to dot picture.

Ignore the dirty wall. it needs cleaning and repainting. A job for another day. . I had this rose arch made locally and fitted. All done without me being here. Our neighbour took in the sketch of what we wanted. Think a 5yr olds drawing. They came and measured and fitted without us seeing it. Perfect. I’ve finally planted a climbing rose ~ Rosa Zephrine Drouhin and a star jasmine ~ Trachelospermum jasminoides. When we first moved in I had to go and look at a rose on a house opposite. A gorgeous red rose which I thought was fake. It wasn’t of course. . But I was surprised that it was growing so well. Fingers crossed this will. Although it’s pink. And Virtually thornless.

More rain is forecast. More Sahara sand. And more planting. Tomorrow is another day

Posted on March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 by happyretiredblog

Up the garden path ~ again

Well we are back. But it looked a bit shaky when we were waiting to board the plane in London. Booked well in advance like most of our flights for the year to get a decent price or moved from the last two years supply of vouchers. A packed flight checked in and waiting to board only to be asked for volunteers to not take the flight. Weather was going to be bad. The plane was too heavy. Not with our luggage ~ we had the smallest bags imaginable but they needed 22 people to volunteer.

Guess how many they got. Yep. None. So there was a roll call of names. They decided and the luggage had already been removed. We’d escaped the roll call. But to be honest I was tempted. The compensation was generous.

We had a car to pick up. Oh. And the fire had been lit ready for our arrival. Hot water was on and there was the essentials in the fridge. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold.

It is 5 years to the weekend we first viewed this house. 5 years and I can’t quite believe how fast the time has gone. Even with the two lost years when travel was sparse.

I still get the joy of arriving at the gate and opening it into the garden. Ian will tell you that I didn’t want to see the house. It had everything I didn’t want. 10 mins from town . A decent sized garden. A pool. But he will also tell you that I only walked through the gate and I’d made up my mind.

The garden has changed a bit over the years we have been here. We have had to adapt to the fact that we aren’t here all the time and that we need to plant even more drought tolerant plants. Rain this last year has been especially scarce although it’s chucking down a storm right now and rain is forecast for the next week. By chucking it down I mean chucking it down. Apparently it’s Celia’s fault. Storm Celia hitting the Costa del Sol. The next few days are forecast between 10-20 mm. each day. But even that will only have a marginal effect on the reservoirs. To the west of Malaga water restrictions start this week.

We arrived later than planned. Late departure and arrival. A massive queue at border control. Gone are the days of a cursory glance at your British passport and a wave through. Now every British passport is scanned by the two people on duty. And stamped. Don’t forget it needs stamping in and out for recording of your 90/180 day limit.

Despite being late. Despite being tired I always have to have that walk around the garden to have the cursory check even though it’s dark. For a minute the concerns over electricity prices are thrown to the wind and as my mother would say ‘ with all these lights on it’s like Blackpool illuminations’ I’m still getting my head around the price timings here. There are three time bands at various times of the day. The whole of Spains washing machines are either on at weekends or between midnight and eight am.

I can see that despite the late planting of tulips at the end of January that they have pushed through and the pots are all showing a good success. Hopefully we can time our trips to be here when they are out. I can look closer tomorrow when there is a break in the rain. If there is one.

Well there was a break in the rain. The tulips in the white wall planter are doing well. Not much further behind the ones I planted in London. I’d tell you what I’ve planted. If I could remember. It was a mad dash to,plant and I can’t find my plan. ( Did I even have one). The other pots are also doing well and should make a good display.

I’ve planted a lot of Rosemary around the garden. The windey path has a creeping Rosemary edging on one side. It’s taken and it’s flowering but I think I should either add some ‘normal” Rosemary or rework the edging. Not a job for now. But the flowers on the plants are looking great and they do well with little water.

The clivia are out in full force. I’ve mentioned before that I first had these as houseplants. Bought in Somerset from a neighbour who had the most fabulous garden shop in Castle Cary. Clare introduced me to these and I always think of her when I see them now. But now planted outside in the Mediterranean garden rather than indoors.

I cut the cistus back quite hard as it hadn’t been touched for two years. I wasn’t expecting it to be flowering now. But it is. Gorgeous crepe paper like flowers though today battered by the rain. But a welcome sight of a bit of colour.

I first planted freesia here in 2019 or was it 2018. Whichever one they do well. I have added more each year all~ from Peter Nyssen. I didn’t see any last year as we didn’t come out when they were in flower but our neighbours enjoyed them. I told them to keep picking them. I have tried them in pots in London but they just didn’t work. These are a mixture of pots and in the ground and a mix of single and double flowers and give a fabulous display.

The dodonea is a spectacular colour at this time of the year but has really insignificant flowers. I need to get some more plants as they are great drought tolerant plants and the colour is vibrant. I must pick some for indoors.

I’m not sure where this came from. I haven’t planted any in over two years. Must be a self seeder which has appeared in a pot. Just the one though. It’s a very welcome addition and I hope it will self seed again. It reminds me of my parents garden as they always had some in the bk garden.

The yellow banksia rose climbing through the jacaranda is a bit straggly this year. A reminder I need to do a tidy up for next year. It’s such a lovely little rose and another welcome sight so early in the season. We had a rose arch made for the side gate and I’m off to pick up the climbing rose tomorrow. No doubt there may be more than just one rose purchased. I’ll make a list this evening.

The bathroom bed is a bit of a hotch potch of a bed. A real mixture of plants. Two large pomegranates dominate , well they did until we had them severely cut back. There are succulents. Some canna. Agapanthus. The lovely dodonea. A large lemon grass and like everywhere else lots of Rosemary. Oh and some drumstick alliums ( I’m never planting them again). Oh. I forgot. The large leaves of the strelitzia Reginae and the Swiss cheese plant.

There are three of the bird of paradise out with three more flower spikes to open. I’m more worried that I can’t see any sign of movement on the strelitzia Nicolai ~ the lovely black/blue and white variety. I’ve planted three more as I love the size and the flowers. Fingers crossed. No doubt I’ll tell you when and if there are flowers.

Meanwhile on the bank by the front gate the mimosa is about to open fully. Not bad considering the original tree had died and the new shoots are now a 10ft tree. If open fully this visit I’ll be picking for vases indoors.

Above the mimosa are the Pines which are looking the best they have since we have been here. I love the colours.

I’ve seen a window in the rain for tomorrow which means a bit of a feed. The plants not me and a bit of a tidy of the agapanthus and a look at the other parts of the garden and the pots. In between seeing friends. A visit to the bank and shopping. But. I’ll be back.

Posted on February 8, 2022February 15, 2022 by happyretiredblog · 4 Comments

Nuestro Jardín Mediterráneo

Well that was a short break. One of the shortest trips to Spain ever I think. But to be honest any trip is a bonus after the last two years. This time in 2020 we were just back and preparing for a trip to Mexico. With trips planned for the rest of the year. Little did we know then that in 2020 I would get about 6 weeks in late summer then nothing again until exactly a year later. 3 weeks. And then nothing until this trip. So it may have only been 8 nights but it felt like a lifetime.

If I was professional blogger that hose would have been moved as would have the plant holder. But I’m not ~ I say this is much a diary for me and not for publication! The garden has fared well in our abscence and we are so lucky to have great neighbours and a gardener who goes in once a month. It’s funny how I wandered around the garden for a week and then at the end of it realised what had been done. Without asking. The citrus had been pruned. The almonds had been cut back. All things I had meant to,ask for but didn’t. It was just done.

We spent the latter half of the week collecting leaves and just generally tidying the beds. Unlike Somerset we didn’t have to spend so much time swearing at ground elder and the multitude of weeds we get there. To be fair it’s been so dry here the weeds would have shrivelled and died. And the serious over waterer has been absent. But we still managed to fill bags of garden waste. We have room for a compost heap but I don’t want to leave heaps of dried leaves and garden refuse as I’m worried about fires. The area around the house has been cut back as I’m paranoid about it catching fire.

I was so pleased to see the prickly pear ( the plant not us) had survived the ravages of the cochineal bug which are commonly found on the cactus Opuntia. Boy. Are they prevalent here. When we are here regularly I can keep an eye on it but when we aren’t it goes crazy. There are very few around the area now which haven’t succumbed. This one even had fruit. Not that I have ever eaten one. if you squash the bug you’ll get covered in red dye. Try getting that off your red wall. Or white T-shirt.

last year the roundabout that’s not a roundabout was cleared of all of the dry vegetation. By now I’d expect it to be covered in the yellow oxalis pes caprae but the dry weather has put things back. There is a small patch at the bottom of the access drive which I suspect was watered from a water leak we had. Don’t ask. It was a big one.

The flowers are really an acidic yellow but en masse make a lovely colour splash. The roundabout which isn’t a roundabout then has a succession of wildflowers to add to its solitary almond tree and two small fig trees which produce very small figs. Tasty if you can be bothered to climb the bank. Which I don’t often. Not with my balance.

Let’s talk about pots. The two at the edge of the path have been filled with tulips. I ordered Tulip Ballerina. El Niño. Temple of Beauty. I think El Niño is planted here. Along the white wall I’ve planted Armani. All tulips which I had planned to,plant when we arrived mid December for Christmas. But we didn’t arrive so they have had to go in in late January. Hopefully they will be ok. I’ve also planted four more pots dotted around the terrace ~ Temple of beauty and Ballerina. I’m hoping we will be there to see them this year. I also moved pots around. The bird of paradise ~ strelitzia Reginae into a bit more of a sunnier spot. It has four flower spikes forming so maybe. Just maybe I’ll see them. Empty pots should have been moved to the side of the house. Looking at that pic I realise I didn’t do it.

To the other side is one of my favourites. The foxtail agave ~ agave attentuata ~ which has done really well, ~ probably better as it hasn’t been fussed over. The added benefit is that there are about four more that are growing in the pot which I need to replant into their own pots. Then later I will plant direct into the garden. But not this one. When they flower they have a fabulous long tail,like flower. Then die. So I don’t want this one to flower ever.

This spikey blighter is on the slope where we don’t venture. Which as just as well as it’s lethal. We won’t be having one of these in the main garden. Ever. But it does have pretty flowers. Just along from this are the mimosa trees. Huge. Usually full of flowers. Not yet though.

The almond blossom is out in abundance around the Campo. Except in our garden. We have five almond trees at the rear of the house and there is a little blossom but it’s always later than most. Don’t ask me if it’s sweet almonds or not. I don’t have a clue. I have picked the almonds. Dried them but haven’t cracked them. I have tried and failed. They are a hard nut to crack. But the blossom is a amazing.

We also have two loquat or nispero trees behind the almonds. I would grow these just for their leaves whicrh are huge. The fruit rarely ripens on the tree and when it does it has to be picked quickly. I find it doesn’t keep well and certainly doesn’t travel.

The border if I can call it that at the side of the house pretty much looks after itself. I have added a few things to the original plants that were there when we bought the house. Which I can’t believe is coining up to 5 years ago. 5 whole years and my Spanish is still not as good as Ian’s. I digress which I do a lot. Back to plants. The Swiss cheese plant is still alive and I’ve grown to like it. The trouble is that growing up we had one. Indoors. Along with the rubber plant. The Christmas cactus. The spider plant. Who knew they grew outdoors. Everyone but me. T have planted more agapanthus. That’s a surprise. Another strelitzia. Some Allium.

I’ve rescued the aeonium ~ replanted. Staked and moved to a better position. It could do with a wash looking at this photo.

I’m surprised just how much gardening we did. But you know ~ it’s never ending. I have a list already for our next visit. And the three after.

To be fair it wasn’t all gardening. A trip down the windy road to Nerja. A trip down the wiggly road for lunch in Caletta. Friends around for wine and cake. There has to be cake. I was surprised I didn’t get stopped with my pots of powder. Liquorice powder to make a chocolate liquorice cake. One pot for me. Two pots for friends. Along with eye drops for another. Friend. Not cake.

There was a little walking. Not much to be fair. We walked for miles on Sunday then realised it was all uphill back. An idiots mistake. Mine.

There were sunsets. I won’t bore you with the amazing sunsets from the terrace. I can do that with my Instagram posts.

But my favourite part is always the garden.

Until next time.

Posted on July 11, 2021July 11, 2021 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Local parks revisited ~ Burgess Park

It’s been a long hard slog this lockdown business. Never knowing how long we’d be in lockdown. When we’d be released. What we could do and what we couldn’t. How far we could travel. Where we could travel. How much exercise and when. But there have been benefits.

It was the exercise rules that forced us to walk more this last year. By allowing us to get out at the start for an hours exercise meant that we just had to get out of the house. The car stayed outside the house for months except for the very occasional trip to the supermarket. Mostly we shopped local so as well as our daily walks we walked to the shops. Every day. Sometimes twice a day. Sometimes for no reason other than to get out. But we walked.

Walking gave us the opportunity of finding the local parks along with everyone else. I say the opportunity of finding the local parks like we are new to the area. Funny that. We have lived here together for nearly 30 years. Me a bit longer so we aren’t new to the area at all. Yes. We know the area but when we were both working it was out of the front door to the office at 6.30 and often home 12 hours later. At weekends we would head west to Somerset. Now we had time on our hands. 24 hours a day in fact. 24 hours a day together which was in itself unusual especially as that 24 hours also meant 7 days a week. For the last 16 months. To be fair we haven’t got to nearly 30 years together by being together all day. Every day.

Yesterday we revisited Burgess Park. A park we walked to a lot in lockdown. It’s a short walk from the house and to be honest up to lockdown I skirted the park a lot. We’d often cut along it in the car. On our way to the flower market. Sometimes as a cut through on my way home from work. Always driving. Often at the Walworth Road end on the no 12 or the 171 bus travelling into or from central London. The good old days ( there’s my mother speaking again ~ sometimes I open my mouth and her wisdom comes out) when you could hop on and off the route master. I loved sitting downstairs just by the open door ~ there wasn’t a door in fact ~ on one of the bank of seats. Never upstairs where smoking was allowed. There was one exception. On summer weekends you could often find the no 12 ~ which you could get at the bottom of our road and heading all the way to Shepherds Bush ~ Was an open top bus. An open top route master which wasn’t a tourist bus. I loved it. And definitely sat upstairs.

But lockdown forced us to explore. Burgess Park was an eye opener. Large. Diverse. A lake. A cafe. A skateboard park. Avenues of trees. It held a large annual Latin festival. So it became one of our favourite circular walks.

I can’t remember being there at this time of year in 2020 but looking back at my photo timeline it was the first time in 6 months that we were able to get to Somerset. So we missed July. I know I would have remembered it as the planting is amazing.

We walked to the park from the house past the award winning Peckham library and past the new Mountview theatre school and theatre space into the end of the park.

Further into the park the line of trees follows the route of the old Surrey Canal ~ from the Friends of Burgess Park ‘Burgess Park is one of London’s biggest parks. But its significance is due not so much to its size as to its history, and the unusual way it was created. Inspired by the Abercrombie plan and post-war optimism, the park was set up after hundreds of dwellings, factories and churches were demolished, thirty streets were covered over, the Grand Surrey Canal was filled in, and bomb-damaged areas were incorporated and grassed over. This unusual method of park development took place gradually, within living memory. The ever-increasing patches of green which stretched along the canal route were named Burgess Park in 1973. Over the following years various additions were made to the park such as the community sports facilites and the tennis centre.’

https://www.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk

The park also has listed buildings. The early 19c lime kiln which I’d walked past quite a lot before finding out anything about it. The almshouses of Chumleigh gardens. The former church of St George designed by Bedford, now converted into flats, is also listed and Its war memorial of Christ, head bowed, holding a crown of thorns, by the Danish artist Arild Rosenkrantz is also listed

Continuing our walk I know I would have remembered this planting from last year. It’s pretty spectacular and colourful and something I’d love to replicate at the bottom of the garden in Somerset. One can dream. It’s natural and not forced. It has a kind of flowing rhythm.

It was completely different to when we were last in a few months ago and is exceptional for a council maintained park. Hats off to Southwark Council who do a great job of maintaining their parks. Mt memories of many parks is the municipal style of planting. There is nothing of the sort here.

We didn’t walk around the lake which I’m disappointed about as I now remember that the last time we were there was a nesting swan in situ. I’d like to have seen if the cygnets had hatched. Maybe that’s tomorrow’s walk. But we headed past the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ built in the early 20th century and spanned the Surrey canal saving a long walk to a place to cross. More information from The Friends of Burgess Park

Our destination was Chumleigh gardens another area within the park itself. First to the cafe ~ and then into the gardens.

From the London Gardens Trust ~

‘In 1821 the Friendly Female Society, founded in 1802 ‘for the relief of poor infirm aged widows and single women of good character who have seen better days’ opened its almshouses for 20 occupants in Chumleigh Gardens, the north and south sides built in the early 19th century, the west side c.1840. They were occupied until World War II, when they were bombed.

After remaining derelict for many years, the almshouses were renovated and now house meeting rooms, offices for Park Rangers and the Art in the Park team of artists. There is an English Garden in front of the buildings and a World Garden with four different styles of garden – Oriental, Mediterranean, African and Caribbean and Islamic – at the back. There is a café round the corner on the north side of the buildings.’

The English garden at Chumleigh gardens changes with the seasons. When we were last here it was Spring and there were tulips and spring flowers in these beds. Which was really pretty. Also I’m sure at this time last year the gates were locked and we couldn’t walk around the garden.

Through the gate into the African and Caribbean Garden with its tree ferns and large plants. In the centre a now empty small pond with the remains of a little boat. All overgrown. Around the small area into the Islamic Garden, with a very large palm and a geometric pond in the centre. A lovely cool place to sit. Not in the pond but on some of the table and chairs or the bench.

Walk around the blue tiled pond and though the pergola and back out into the park. Don’t miss the glorious colour of the tree on your right as you leave.

The flowers change in the park as the seasons change and along the edge of the park in Spring is some surprising wild flower planting. This is from Spring this year.

We are so lucky to have so many well kept and maintained spaces in London and in lockdown they have provided an essential lifeline to people who needed to get out where many didn’t have any space of their own.

The friends of Burgess Park website gives a lot more information on the park. Details of walks. Some history. Fundraising. There is also a good book available from Amazon ~ which I have bought.

Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow is another walk.

Posted on July 4, 2021July 11, 2021 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Summer in the Country

When I retired (early before you ask) in 2015 the intention was to,spend more time in Somerset. To travel. We bought a house in Spain and spent time there. Our time in Somerset diminished. We were going to sell the cottage. Three places was excessive. Expensive and time consuming. One had to go and we decided on Somerset. Things were slow. The cottage didn’t move. So we kept it with a decision to review.

Along came the pandemic which changed plans even further. We arrived home from a trip to Mexico in March 2020 to lockdown. I escaped to Spain in late July for 3 weeks and ended up staying 9. More lockdowns. Quarantines. Plans were changed and we haven’t travelled anywhere in nearly a year. We’ve followed the lockdown rules and quarantined in London. Not venturing to Somerset until allowed.

Which has set us into a new pattern. Interestingly this last year has seen us receive a written note asking if we would sell the cottage. Contact through an acquaintance in the next village asking the same question and estate agents asking if we’d like to put it back on the market as they ‘ could sell it tomorrow’. The thing is. We’ve done a turnaround of sorts. The plan will be to spend more time here and Spain. Here and there. There and here.

The day after we were released from lockdown prison and could travel down. We did. Car packed with stuff as after 5 months absence we didn’t know what we had here. We had been lucky for the whole of the lockdown absences. The cottage was checked weekly. Cleaned. The grass cut, but the garden was untouched.

What was the most exciting thing about arriving here. Tulips.

In 2020 we didn’t get to see the tulips. At all. Planted in Nov 2019 we missed them through quarantine in London.. By the time we could come they had gone over. I’d hastily planted the tulips for 2021 on an in between lockdown visit and had to do it quickly. But to be honest. I wasn’t disappointed. All the planning I’d done on colours and numbers went out of the window and I threw them all together. No artistic thought at all. But it worked. We arrived to a glorious display. Even if I say so myself.

A bit of an eclectic mix. Glorious brown sugar. Dutch dancer. Ballerina. Queen of the night. Barcelona. Hocus Pocus. The white of Maureen. I have to try and beat the show for 2022. Quite how I will manage I don’t really know. I have some thoughts but I’d better get my act together before my choices become limited.

Well the tulips have gone. Some to a good home. It was an awesome season but I’m so over tulips. Till next time that is and I’m busy planning the tulip choices on another wet weekend.

For now replaced with geraniums and coleus. Not earth shattering inspiring but needs must and practicality has to ensue. Worries of more lockdown when we couldn’t get here and the summer weather. Two lovely salvia in pots along the front door. A gorgeous scent as you brush past. I haven’t grown coleus since the 80’s but I’m a fan once more.

The biggest problem with the geraniums has been the lashing rain. Once beautiful flower heads quickly rot and turn to mush. But there are more coming.

So it was onwards and upwards. Well not quite. More like downwards and weeding. The thing about being away for 5 months are the weeds. Here in Somerset we are plagued with ground elder and bindweed. Anything else I can cope with. Not these two. You turn your back and they are halfway up a rose tree. Leave it three days and it’s smothering the sweet peas. In Spain it’s just the heat. In London the snails. Wherever you garden there are challenges.

Project one was to revive one of the beds next to the terrace. It was full of yellow daisy and golden rod with a massive clump of day Lilly. Can I just say I loathe golden rod. I’d only kept it as it was something my parents grew in the garden as I grew up. But someone who helped in the garden used to divide it. Then plant it everywhere. We were overrun with it and not surprisingly I swore every time I passed what seemed to be a new bit.

The patch was tired. Overgrown. Some of the roses needed a good hatchet job on them. Which I did. We were late to the pruning party this year so after a shout out on Instagram for advice I did as I was told. Light prune and some later flowers. All in all it’s been a good rose season so far. Including the new roses I bought for the revived bed. The golden rod disposed of except for a small bit and the taller plants moved. But as usual I’ve over planted. I also overwater. Which bearing in mind the rain we have had that’s difficult.

I’d forgotten how many roses there are in the garden. With things cut back and tidied they have been given a new lease of life. So much so that I bought half a dozen more for the revived bed.

I have planted a lot of new perennials. I suspect all too close and too tight. But you need to hide the weeds. Don’t you? Existing plants have been feed ~ or as I like to say I’ve poo”d my plants. Using alpaca poo from Lou Archer. They’ve had a really good feed and it’s showing in the results. The Astrantia are fabulous this year too.

There are two new dark red Astrantia. Hadspen”s Blood was one of the first I ever bought. We bought it at Hadspen gardens nursery when we first moved here over 25 years ago from Sandra and Norrie Pope Over the years it’s disappeared and I managed to get two this year. They are just coming into flower and I expect there may be a pic or six.

Added to that is another whose name escapes me and I’m too,lazy to go and look it up. But I will for next time when I can also get a good photo.

I’ve discovered a new nursery not far from us. Blooming wild Nusery owned and run by Will and Lauren. They have a great selection of plants and are really helpful and knowledgable. Added to that the quality of their plants is awesome. I have developed a bit of a thing. It’s dangerous and expensive. I’ve got a bit of a thing for Persicaria. Which is a good thing as Will at Blooming Wild likes them too and they have a great selection.

We are getting into the swing of things here this summer. Up and down the A303 to london and back. But we are getting the benefit of the garden. We are also seeing things in the garden that we would normally miss. This year the Cornus is an example. It’s pretty glorious and we missed it totally last year. But I always struggle to get a good photo of it. This was taken from the bathroom window.

It wasn’t all weeding. We took some time to walk up the Lane to Rye Ash. Over the years I’ve got to know the names of the various fields. Rye Ash. Alders. Pump Ground. Big Ridge. My godson and Grandad were hay making and we went to sit on a hay bale and watch. Not the first time and Grandad ( not mine but I’ve called him that for years) reminded me that we sat in Rye ash over 15 years ago on hay bales and had a picnic lunch during a break. He remembers as I took a photo which he still has on his wall.

We were privileged to see a red kite hovering over the field. Such a magnificent bird. What a great place to sit and watch the farming traditions. Especially when you have the hay fever day from hell.

Things are moving. One of the things I like the least about the West Country is that when it’s wet. It’s wet. The the sun shines. Then it’s wet again. In June I grew webbed feet. Try wearing flip flops with webbed feet.

But the salvia have started to flower. Some I thought I’d lost through neglect have come through. Some that shouldn’t have minded the neglect have got the hump, and disappeared .

We also have fruit. And one type of veg~ runner beans. No. I didn’t dig a trench and I know that somewhere my father is appalled. But they are now at the top of the bean sticks and heavily flowering.

There are green & red gooseberries. The red so sweet you can eat straight off the bush. The raspberries don’t even get into the house.

I always check underneath before I pick the gooseberries . As a naive child I though that babies were found under a gooseberry bush. Imagine. What would I do if I found one? It was either a gooseberry bush or the stork. Thankfully we only have herons.

There are currants. Red and black. Some rhubarb. Apples. One plum ~ disaster and the pigeon will eat that I’m sure. A couple of pears.

We’ve had a walk or two. Through the village mainly as my foot continues to be an issue. Plantar fasciitis is a pain. A pain in the heel and the sole literally. That’s my days of wearing heels and flip flops over.

A walk along church path. Something we hadn’t done for a while. Well we couldn’t really. We had either been in lockdown london or if here weeding.

Ian said . ‘Remember when we first walked along this path”. ‘ i was 25’. Thanks. That was decades ago. Someone said ‘ Ah. That’s romantic’. Really. You don’t know us very well. Romantic we are not. It’s scary. We have been in the village for nearly 30, so maybe now we are the village people and accepted.

And so it’s back to old London town for a few days. a few appointments for me. Another trip past Stonehenge. Another time I say to Ian. “Will be nice when it’s finished” and another time he says “when will you stop saying that” . Me. Never.

Back to a very different garden. No ground elder. No bindweed. Just snails. Tree ferns and agapanthus and the two old boys. Not us. The 16 & 17 year old cats.

The tree ferns have gone bonkers. The feeding Friday regime is working as well as a handful of alpaca beans in the crown at the start of the growing season. With a weekly liquid feed. Another line to wind up Ian. I’m off to poo my plants.

The front gardens looking good. All but one of the agapanthus are flowering. The one that’s not just happens to be my favourite. A tall fat white flowering one. Except it’s not. Why? Who knows. Maybe like me it’s a sulker.

From September there will be garden number three to contend with after an absence of 12 months. Well. Maybe. Dependent on the Delta variant. Or as some radio presenters are calling it. The Johnson.

Who knows. At the moment it’s just one day at a time. We are healthy. Double jabbed and at least have the luxury of being able to get out into a garden. Or two. And to deal with the humongous number of airline vouchers we have for cancelled flights. Enough to paper the sitting room.

What will be will be.

Posted on April 23, 2021April 29, 2021 by happyretiredblog · 5 Comments

Release from Lockdown prison

We weren’t quick out of the blocks on 12 April when the rules were relaxed. We couldn’t. We had hair cuts booked. Six months of cutting my own hair. It wasn’t my head that was lopsided. It was the hair.

But the day after at the crack of dawn we were off. It was strange. Packing the car. Actually driving over 20mph. Driving out of the Borough of Southwark. A motorway. A service station. Past Stonehenge ~ will be nice when it’s finished.

Finally singing the good old Peters & Lee song. “Welcome Home’

We had been away for nearly 5 months. Lockdowned in London. I’d planted tulips in haste in late November and crossed fingers that they would pop up. Crossed fingers that this year we may just get to see them. Unlike last where we relied on the generosity of friends and neighbours sending photographs. Watering the pots. By the time we arrived after lockdown 2 they had gone. The tulips. Not the friends and neighbours.

It’s amazing the difference ten days makes. Well. Ten days and sunshine. Cold nights. Some frosts. No rain. Georgie from Common Farm Flowers down the road said there had been no rain since 16 March. You can tell. Talk about dry. We are lucky to have a spring opposite the cottage ~ Jack’s shute. Don’t ask who Jack is/was. I haven’t a clue. But the water gushes unless it’s the end of a dry summer and then it’s a dribble. But the water is cool. Drinkable. And free. And great for watering the pots. I leave a watering can by the pots and kind people water them when we aren’t there!

Now I know that people say a weed is just a flower in the wrong place. Yes. The wrong place is in my garden. The weed. Mainly ground elder of which I must have the National Collection. Imagine. 5 months of the stuff. Romping away in the garden. No control. That question. Why don’t slugs munch on it. Or the rogue badger digging up the lawn.

We had dug out the ground elder from two beds during the period between lock down 2 and lockdown 3. Had planted up. Had put a cover over part of another border. Turned the key and left. The two beds weren’t bad. Anyway I had to clear one bed of the perennials. Well it wasn’t had to ~ I wanted to plant a bed of roses and agapanthus with some acedanthera amongst other things. These beds still had some ground elder but they were manageable.

We also hadn’t been able to cut back the perennials. To prune or just to generally tidy last years growth. So there was a lot to do. Trips to the dump. Decisions to be made.

We also had builders in which meant for 3 days we couldn’t really go out. Except to buy biscuits. Coffee and milk. My mother always said ‘ look after the workers and you’ll get a job well done’ We did. And we did. Apparently we have set the bar high. But as soon as they had gone we did manage to go out. Food shopping. A bit. But better still to a local nursery

Blooming Wild is lovely nursery with a great plant list and helpful friendly owners in Will and Lauren. All set down Cabbage Lane, a great name for the address of a plant nursery. The added bonus is that it’s not far from us.

I of course bought plants. It would be rude not to wouldn’t it ~ some Baptisia. Both the blue and the Dutch chocolate. Some geums, some cowslips which will hopefully self seed. I will be back. They have a few things on my list and will reserve them for me.

I also planted 80 freesia along the path ~ it’s an experiment but the ones I planted in pots in London two weeks ago are up and running. I planted some in Spain three years ago and to coin a phrase they are ‘blooming lovely.’ This year they have adorned our neighbours table as I have asked her to pick them. Which she happily does.

Just past the old loo with its broken door and ivy clad roof is a small sitting area with steps down into the river. At this time of the year you can cross the river with barely getting your feet wet. Don’t try it in the winter months. Steps have been cleaned. The seating area tidied up under the large spindle which last year was glorious. The bonus of not being at the cottage for such a long time is that things haven’t been pruned back. This old spindle has flowered brilliantly over the last 12 months and is set to do the same this year.

The two pots with tulips are a surprise as I potted up agapanthus in compost without fully clearing last years tulips. The lovely red Uncle Tom have pushed their way through. Amazing really as they haven’t been watered in months.

The old loo is due a makeover. New doorframe. A new lock but we are trying to keep the old door ~ some clearing of the ivy from getting under the roof tiles. I don’t have to say it’s not used these days. Trotting 120 ft down the garden to the loo in the rain wouldn’t be my idea of fun. I remember having to use the outside loo at my Aunts. In the dark. In the rain. Thanks. But no thanks.

Being down in the bottom of the U in the valley we are prone to catching the frosts which means we often lose the apple pear and plum blossom. Despite the late frosts so far it hasn’t hit. But who knows. Apples are usually fine but the plum usually gets it. That or the wasps and the birds getting the little fruit that does develop. I don’t mind feeding the birds but wasps aren’t welcome. Two years ago I got stung near my eye by a wasp and had to go to the minor injuries unit. Apparently at my ripe old age I was allergic to wasp stings. Not epi pen allergic thankfully but enough to make me look like I’d done ten rounds with Henry Cooper.

A singularly unattractive specimen which needed a tidy up. I missed the timing for pruning but a call for advice from insta friends helped. This rose bush gives plentiful pink flowers repeatedly through the summer ~ so it’s been pruned a little and fed. Underneath the rose Pulmonaria have gone mad and are covered in bees. Again had we been around it is likely that I would have cut them back a bit. Lesson learnt as the bees love them early in the season.

It’s a little surprising to find that some of the salvias are romping away and that the canna are starting to poke through Why? Because these are in the greenhouse which hadn’t been opened in 5 months. I bubble wrapped the inside in December, watered and shut the door only to be reopened mid April. So yes. It was a surprise. A pleasant one.

Salvia super trouper. Canna Annei. Canna musifolia and a couple more canna.

The boxes are the 5 new roses from Todds Botanics along with the 6 agapanthus to go in the new bed. Thankfully I got the delivery address right unlike last year.

As the days went on more and more tulips opened. The pots were full of tulip Brown sugar which stand head and shoulders above the others. The others will be out. Hopefully when we get back.

I have sweet peas growing in London to plant in Somerset in the middle of the rose bed. . Two things I’m rubbish at are seed sowing and plant labels. I must do better in both. I labelled the sweet peas ~ but!

The dahlia tubers I bought from Todds Botanics are popping through and will be taken to Somerset to plant out.

It’s back to the London garden and an easier time to sort things out. No lawn. All in pots. Tiny garden. Lockdown 3 has meant it’s manicured of sorts to a T. Ian would say with a nail scissors. It’s not.

But from now until September I suspect we will be up and down the A303. Then to tackle a Mediterranean garden where we have been away from for a whole year. That will be a whole new story.