A Spring Walk

Bluebells - English or Spanish?

Azaleas

Wild Garlic

Tree Ferns

Gunnera - Fan Palm - Tree Rhododendron

Tree Rhododendrons and Azaleas with a view leading down to the sea.

I took these photos months ago.

This is one of my favourite walks.

It is a classic, Victorian, woodland, ravine garden in Mawnan Smith.

High tide with a hazey view of Falmouth in the distance.

Bye for now,

Myrtle x

Slugs In Love

Everyone loves lovers.

These slugs are in love.

I am not a slug lover, but, these two are sweet.

And they aren't out in the garden eating my lettuce.

They are in my kitchen, in a jar, eating lettuce.

These slugs have manners.

They were found by a sweet, little girl, who loves finding things that move without batteries.

She asked me to keep them for a while.

How could I say no?

They are called Herbert and Hermione.

Hermione escaped for a few days - running free somewhere in the kitchen.

I found her in the sink this morning, and was able to reunite these affectionate gastropods.

There is a fine line between pests and pets. I have not used slug pellets or any chemicals in my
garden for years now. I grow lettuce in raised beds, protected by an occasional sprinkling of salt
and eggshells on the gravel around. I do get slug and snail damage, but as I grow more than we can eat, I am happy to share.

Carry on loving.

Myrtle x

March Roars Like a Lion . . .

These are beautiful, but, alas, not mine.

But, I have pleasure of seeing them digitally, and like to share.

This is a March Bouquet from the garden of Minerva, a dear friend and fellow gardening fool here in Cornwall. She has long, green fingers and great talent in the garden.

These were a well intended, winter purchase, inadvertently put to one side.

No one can keep a good Daff down.

Go girls.

Mrytle x

Happy Birthday to Me

There are no adequate excuses for my absence.

But, it wasn't my fault.

I ran out of petrol. I had a flat tyre. I didn't have cab fare.

An old friend came in from out of town. He stole my computer.

(Actually, First Born really did spill a plate of spaghetti bolognaise on the sofa).

(And, Mad Dog has been refusing to attend school on any days that have a 'y' in them).

There was a train crash, an earthquake, a flood, tornadoes in Alabama, global warming, and, my worst nightmare of all, Estate Agents.

But, you know I love you, baby.

Seriously, I have been extraordinarily busy lately and it has been my birthday.

Tooney and I dined on Tempura to mark the occasion.


I have included two cards, one of figs and one of hellebores.

Thanks to Minerva and Tooney.

Acacia pravissima

Spectacular in the spring - vibrant colour, heady fragrance, and a graceful, sweeping habit.

I adore this plant.

I cut some to bring in the house and haven't stopped sneezing since.

I am cursed.

I have both an obsessive love of plants and hay fever.

Still, I am blessed with a large circle of sympathetic family and friends and an even larger box of tissues.

Thanks for all the cards and presents.

Who loves you?

Myrtle x x x

The Art of Seeing

I have been looking for inspiration. I need to learn how to use light as well as water for a project set in Arizona. I need look no further than Luis Barragan. He is one of the foremost architects of Mexico and a winner of the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in 1980.

His work has been called minimalist, but is nonetheless full of colour and texture. Pure planes of stucco, adobe, timber and water, compose the elements, which interact with the surrounding environment.

Barragan called himself a landscape architect. "I believe that architects should design gardens to be used as much as the house that they build, to develop a sense of beauty and taste and an inclination toward the fine arts and other spiritual values. Any work of architecture which does not express serenity is a mistake."

He is noted for remarking on the importance of religion and myth, beauty, silence, solitude, joy, death and gardens.

Luis Barragan 1902-1988

Mirror, mirror . . .

Mirror, mirror in the garden, who's the fairest camellia of all?

Stripey or

Patchy?

Rose Red, or

Snow White?

Or a simple pink blossom.

I love them all the same.

Myrtle x

The Fabulous Mr Fox

This fox stands guard outside Glendurgan Gardens, in Mawnan Smith, home to the famous Fox family of Falmouth. The gardens have been given to the National Trust, but the house still remains with the family.

This is just one of the views down to the Helford River.

Pretty, pink Nerines. These photos were taken before Christmas.

Strawberry Tree, Arbutus unedo.

Cornish Agaves

The Laurel Maze

Hope you can find your way out.

Love from Cornwall,

Myrtle x x x

It's All Happening

I know of few better antidotes to humdrumness than getting outside, getting a lung full of fresh air and finding an early crocus, poking itself out of the ground.

Witch Hazel, Hamamelis, elegant, but scantily clad for the catwalk.

Christmas Box, Sarcococca, fragrant blooms in winter, shiny berries in early Spring. A useful addition to every garden.

Christmas Rose, Hellebore. Such delicate beauty defies description.

Acacia Pravissima.

This Acacia is intensely yellow, robust in its weeping habit and incredibly, unbelievably and almost obscenely, fragrant. Wish we could do smelly blogs.

Happy Springing.

Myrtle x x x

Cutting Edge

Well, okay.

Cut flowers are not exactly cutting edge.

But it is fun to have fresh flowers inside that reflect what is going on outside. This magnolia is glorious, but, unfortunately, only for about a week. The wind and rain usually knock the petals off as soon as they begin to open. But, I love these magnolias that bloom early, before their leaves appear.

Chrysanthemums - left over from Valentine's Day.

Glorious hellebores.

And again.

A camellia from the back garden.

Flowers in Jugs by Emma Dunbar.

Spring has sprung.

Hurray!!

Holy Hellebore!!

I love Cornwall in the spring. It is magical, beautiful and reminds me why I have stayed here for such a long time.

Here are a few of the Hellebores that I have been given by friends or bought from the Hellebore centre of the Universe - Bosvigo House in Truro (www.bosvigo.com).


Hope you love them as much as I do.

Yes, that's me. I seem to be missing a finger. I am certain that I put it somewhere safe.

Mrytle. x x x

Missing You Madly

We have been away. So many things to do. But we are back. And I am back, behind the lens.

I won't make excuses. Please let me offer up a few images of our recent trip to Arizona.

I am studying desert plants, desert environments, in fact, all things dealing with the desert.

Quite a contrast to Cornwall.

All comments are, as always, welcome.

Teddy Bear Cholla Opuntia bigelovii

Aloe

Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea

This is pronounced suh -WAR- oh by the locals.

Agave

Arizona was beautiful - we had a lovely time.

Tristan is a living doll.

Myrtle x x x