Caution

Hosta

It is all about getting your timing right.  As gardeners we walk the dangerous spit between the first damaging frosts and the desire to admire the swansong of our tender plants.  Lord and Lady Mantle’s estate is protected from wind but prone to cold and in my wisdom I have introduced some delicates to their merry band of players.  These were not purchased to be canon fodder, we want them to survive the winter war to shine another day.  But still they flower, innocent of the enemy that lurks just around the corner.  What to do?  Dare we wait?  No.  Today we erred on the side of caution and, whilst the warm sun stripped our backs of jumper and fleece, we potted up gazanias, tuberous begonias, osteospermums and zantedeschia.  The new greenhouse will be fully glazed by the end of the week and its new tenants are forming an orderly queue outside.  Perfect timing.

This hosta’s albino leaves indicate it is sensibly preparing itself for autumn.  If you peep below these corrugated parchments you will find fresh green shoots.  It is not quite ready to slumber yet. Impetuous fool!

Heat

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What a day!  I had forgotten what it was like.  Rain; torrential and unremitting.  It rippled down the roads carrying detritus, blocking drains, finding its way into gaps and grooves.   We squelched our way home, dripping a trail into the house, leaving sopping clothing along the way.  We had forgotten the joys of a North Devon autumn.

This photo of Dahlia “Mystic Spirit” warmed me up.  Can you feel the heat?

Defiant

Malope trifida "Vulcan"
Malope trifida “Vulcan”

This is Malope trifida “Vulcan”.   A great favourite of mine.

There are many things I  love about this ornamental mallow.  The pleated pink petals, sugar plum fairy to deep dark furrows.  The etched out centre, revealing limy green beneath,  a verdant silhouette.  The candied peel stamen, irresistibly delicious and I’m not even a bee.  But more than anything I love the fact that I had no idea of its existence.

Months ago at The Farm we sowed a random selection of seed, dregs from my seed box, in an attempt to clothe a difficult corner.  This was one of my least successful plans.  The corner proved more difficult than expected.  Nothing happened.  At all.

Weeks pass and one plant is defiant.  Tucked into a neglected corner, like the star it so obviously is, showing true class.

Perfection

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The other morning OH said to me “there were two young women on the television” “oh yes” “and they said how much pressure they were under to be perfect, was that the same for you?” “um, no”.

It got me thinking.   Yes, I’m afraid I’ve been weeding again.  I am very vulnerable to excess of thoughts whilst in this condition.

I thought, what a terrible way to live, with the belief that nothing less than perfect will do.  Perfect exam results, perfect hair, perfect boyfriend, perfect job, perfect children.  An unachievable goal which means you spend your life unfulfilled and frustrated.  It goes part way to explain the incessant selfies, the public yearnings for approval, the need for friends to say “you are beautiful” “you are wonderful”.  No it was not like that for me and I pitied them.

Then I thought, but I am guilty too.   I discard any photographs with a miscoloured petal, or blotched leaf.  Although I don’t use photoshop I often crop my pictures, getting rid of an unsightly defoliated twig or spent flower.  Perfect plants, perfect people.  They really don’t exist.  Well except me of course, I am just faultless!

Here are some roses, they are less than perfect, they are wonderful in their imperfection.

 

Insignificance

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I’m not usually a fan of this “Day” thing.  Every week there seems to be another one – Hamster Day,  Flares Day,  Macrame Day …… you name it, there is an appointed date.   They are rarely of any import.

Today is International Peace Day.  Which of course is quite different.

The photograph above was chosen especially.  The observant among you will have notice the figure on the right, dwarfed by trees in both stature and magnificence.  He is insignificant in comparison to the noble arboreal giants.  It is time to accept our transience.  Let us make the most of our fleeting days on this beautiful earth.  We need to desist from snatching what we want from those who are weaker than ourselves.  Instead we should share the great riches that we do possess.

Come on, leaders and followers alike, shall we make harmony not discord our watchword and strive towards every day being International Peace Day?  Simple words I admit, but can it really be that difficult?