I love pumpkins

I love pumpkins. Any pumpkins.

I love to look at them, carve lanterns out of them, chop them up, roasting them along with
their little seeds. I am Myrtle, Myrtle, pumpkin eater.

When I first came to England, long ago, the sight of a pumpkin would make me so very homesick. There were fields and fields of pumpkins near where I grew up.

But, now, pumpkins are everywhere. I am in heaven. I wish I could say that I grew my lovely, green pumpkin, above, but, no. I got it from a local farm. I have never had much luck growing pumpkins here. Even my squashes got a form of mildew this year, the fruit never grew to a significant size. I had to rip them all out last week.

Anyway, back to my stomach. The green ones are my favourite to eat - the flesh is bright orange and loaded with flavour. I will peel it, chop it, drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle a bit of chunky salt over it, then whack it in the oven at a very high temperature until it is nice and brown on the edges.

Yum.

I also love figs, but not as much as pumpkins. These are in the garden, I hope they ripen before it gets too cold. This has been a good year for figs.

It has also been a great year for our apple trees - but we ate them all before I took any photos.
The apples, that is, not the trees.

Must dash, early start tomorrow.

Myrtle x

Susie's New Garden

This is Susie's new garden.

It has a strong Oriental theme.

It is being built by Martin and is coming along nicely.

A few floral details.

Scleranthus uniflorus - moss

The raised pond.

The fish will arrive on Friday.

Mummy told the white wolf not to stray from the path.

Children might be prowling about.

Laika's inspection

Sea view

Looking pleased (with the garden, of course).

The opening party is on Friday.

See you there.

Myrtle.

p.s. Photos of the finished garden to follow. M x x x

Thank You

Ginger Lily - Hedychium gardnerianum

Ginger lilies grow well in Cornwall. They are a welcome sight at the end of summer. This one is from a garden just down the road. They grow easily from a thick rhizome, which is also very good to eat. We love it grated fresh into carrot salad or carrot soup.

Just a quick note to say thank you to Kelly and Madeleine, Melissa and Nolan, all those at Garden Voices as well as family and friends who have been so supportive.

It wouldn't be any fun without you.

Myrtle. x x x

September in the Garden

Things are slowing down in the garden and greenhouse.

Time to clean up and put things away.

The Virginia Creeper has berries this year.

Passion Fruits, which look better than they taste.

Rowan berries, which I have never tasted.

And a brave, solitary Calendula, probably the last of the season.

Silhouettes on the Shade

It is getting colder. The days are shorter.

The children are back to school. They want hot drinks before bed
and then do not want to get out of bed.

Summer is over.

But there is some fun to be had with a lower sun and the direction of light. .

Silhouettes and shadows are everywhere.

Myrtle the Moocher

Morning contrasts.

Gates and fences.

Have a seat.

Misty is not impressed.

As black cats are shadow and silhouette personified
she finds the whole thing rather tiresome.

Ebony and Ivory

Please, let me introduce Laika.

Laika likes coming to our house for dinner and a play in the garden with the kids.

She loves going to school, the pub and our local oolong cafe.

She is particularly fond of salmon and children.

She likes to eat salmon, not children.

Laika has an interesting story, but I will have to clear up which parts she is happy for me to write about.

She is a private and sensitive soul.

She takes me out for walks, for which I am grateful.

Misty isn't so keen.

But she is coming around.

I hope.

Ruby and the Magpies

Here is Rosie - getting bigger every day.

I was rather excited to find her frolicking with a pair of magpies one evening.

The three of them seem to have a grand time, chasing each other around the garden.

I assume that is was friendly.

Rabbits don't eat magpies, or vice versa, as far as I am aware.

Strange, and yet, heartwarming.

Here is a bit of Cornish sky.

It pays to look up every now and again.

I Love Tea

I love tea. This is convenient, as I live in England. But, fond as I am of a strong cup of 'Builder's Brew', I especially love the delicate flavour of white, green, jasmine, oolongs, pu -erhs - just about anything made from Camellia sinensis.

Camellias have grown outside here in Cornwall for over 200 years. About five years ago, a local estate, Tregothnan, near Truro, decided to have a go at growing its own tea. They have thwarted by snails, slugs, the pheasants, rabbits and deer, all of whom wanted to nibble the raw product.

The harvest has been small, but it is early days, and things are looking very promising. If they succeed, they will have the first tea garden in Europe. Good luck to them.

I first read about Tregothnan, as well as Jasmine Pearls in a magazine from a Sunday paper, some time last year. Jasmine Pearls make a divine drink, that is almost impossible to describe. Let's just say that it is very beautiful. It is also very expensive and difficult to find.

I did find some some at Wholefoods in North Carolina (whilst on holiday) and have found it on the Internet. It is worth giving it a try.

More about Tregothnan, tea, pearls and dogs (don't ask) later.

Myrtle x x x

I am back

Hello.

Summer is a busy time - there is still so much to do, but accompanied with children.

Bored children. Often hungry children. Children, whose internal radar knows instinctively when they are at precisely the furthest point from any sort of civilized toilet. (My girls are persistently aghast at the thought of using a bush for cover).

Bless them.

They went back to school yesterday.

Bliss.

I have been doing some research for a tea project.

High quality, whole leaf tea is delicious, restorative and healthy.

Tea - black, white, green, oolongs etc, all come from the same plant - Camellia sinensis.

It was one of China's greatest secrets for hundreds of years.

I have much more to say about tea - hope I don't bore you all too much .

It's good to be back.

Myrtle. x x x