Come Visit and Swim . . .

I'm serious.

Come and visit.

Come and visit us and swim in our rat infested pool.

Ignore that last comment.

It really is lovely here.

Especially if you like small, furry mammals.

Ignore that one as well.

Please.

Here are some of the nicer things that we see everyday. . . .


We have several trees in our garden with this flower.

Any guesses?

Cannot find it in my books.
And I work in a book store.
Suggestions welcome.


As the blooms fade, long bean pods appear.
It's interesting to watch.
I don't get out much.

Help.

The winner gets a round of applause, adoration, a seat and . . .

an imported beer.

With a bull on it.


This flower is from a small, standard hibiscus tree.

From Home Despot.
Ooops, I meant Home Depot.

No prizes for this one.

Love you all,

Myrtle x

Rough on Rats

Rats.

One can never be too rough on rats.

If you love them, please look away now.

I don't care for them.

I tend not to be particularly generous towards them.

And yes, I have seen and enjoyed the film Ratatouille.

And?

Cartoon rats are lovely.

They talk and have feelings.

You can turn off the telly when you have had enough.

I understand that some folk keep them as pets.

It's the wild variety that make the hairs stand up on my arms, legs, back of my neck, on top of my head, as well as other places.

Anyway,
Little One found a dead rat in the pool yesterday.

A big rat.

A big, dead rat.

Yuck.

So, I phone my wise and knowledgeable little brother.

When is it safe to swim in a pool in which a rat had died
(and sunk to the bottom?)


He was very reassuring, but didn't have a definitive answer.

Yuck.

I have many more rat stories to tell.

But, enough for now.

Myrtle x

Arizona

Life leads one in different directions.

My life has a sadistic sense of humour.

It has landed me in the desert.

My life knows that I love flowers, plants, and lettuce.

I am sure that I hear spiteful laughter as I sprinkle seed around.

It hasn't rained here for months.

Still, my laundry dries in 3 minutes outside.

I had a t shirt shatter into pieces yesterday.

'Dry heat' they said.

???

I hope that that sort of thing doesn't happen to humans.

Tell me it doesn't.


Water

I love water.

Myrtle x

I'm Back

I'm back.

Sort of.

We now live in Arizona.

Scottsdale, Arizona.

It's a long story.

I won't bore you.

It's beautiful and dramatic. The mountains are spectacular.
The saguaros defy words.
Spring here is wonderful, the colour is indescribable.

It is hotter than the hammers of h%$l.

But it's a dry heat.

???

That means if you don't drink four gallons of water before you leave the house, your dry bones will be found outside your car.

Don't leave the house without drinking four gallons of water.

Ever.

It's life or death.

It's dry heat.

It's Arizona.

I do have the cutest nephew, a pool, and watch hummingbirds in my yard.

We are happy to be here.

(There are other good things too).

Like flamingos at the zoo.

Have missed you all.

Myrtle x

Last, but not Least

This is the last batch of flora photos from Lanhydrock.

This impressive Dogwood - Cornus ??? is smothered is blossom
(actually, they are white leaf bracts, but, this is a light hearted blog).

Cornus up close.

Pink Kalmia - commonly known as the Calico Bush.

Ligularlia - loves living near a stream or damp place.

Flag Iris - also adores boggy abodes.

Yellow Loosestrife - Lysimachia vulgaris

Dahlia

A dozen Dahlias.

Lilies

Globe Aliums - massive.

I love plants. The gardens of Lanhydrock are exceptionally well cared for, everything looks robust, healthy and happy.

I highly recommended it as a day out.

Myrtle. x

Ladies in Red

My companion doesn't like red flowers.

We are still talking, but only just.

How could anyone not like red roses?

Okay

Dahlias aren't everyone's cup of tea,
but these red ones were very smart, if a bit buttoned up.

This acid coloured Rhododendron was screaming RED, in a high pitched, hysterical voice.

We didn't hang around for long.

This demure, delicate Scabious merely murmured 'red', as we passed.

This husky, dark red Rhododendron wanted to meet up later for a glass of Merlot.

This sunny Aqueligia seemed happy to just smile.

A shy, little pheasant hen. This seems to be my week to snap birds.

Selection Box

Zantedeschia - Look into my eye.

Rodgersia and Zantedeschia

Rodgersia

Cistus - Rock Rose

Eremurus - Foxtail Lilies.

One of my favourites.

Strelitzia - Bird of Paradise.

Phlomis, soft and a bit furry.

Eremurus, again. Aren't they pretty?

These are just a few shots I took at Lanhydrock at the weekend.

More to follow.

Myrtle. x

Lanhydrock

This is Lanhydrock, near Bodmin in Cornwall.

It has excruciatingly beautiful formal gardens, well stocked mixed borders, a mature
woodland walk with trees from around the globe,
as well as jolly nice lunches.

My Companion and I had Robartes Pie, which is a thick, wholemeal crust filled
with a layer of apple, West Country ham, topped with
cheesy mashed potato.

Mmmmmm

The proportion of the yews and landscape is not unlike something
out of Alice in Wonderland.

A rose covered seat.

The rose close up, red buds with fragrant, pink blooms.

A beautiful door - locked, unfortunately.

Pretty Things

This beautiful painting by Gareth Edwards.

It is the signature piece from his current exhibition at the
Lemon Street Gallery in Truro.

I wish the colours on a computer screen could do it justice.

It is much more than pretty.

Nice Weather for Ducks

Ducks at the back door.

Breakfast of stale bread. Yum.

Seagulls insanely jealous now -
phoning the house and breathing heavily for
minutes before hanging up.

I know where you live.

Poppy from Grandma Dolly's garden, battered by rain.

Fowl Play

Our neighbors have ducks. Mallard ducks.

Our neighbors also have a pond. The ducks apparently use this pond as a
holiday home for a few weeks each year.

This drake is impersonating a weather vane.

The ducks decided to visit us today.

The seagulls were jealous and made a fuss.

Foxgloves in full flower.