Off The Edge Gardening

Blazing

It would be hard not to mention the weather today. Advertised as the hottest day of the year and so it was. Wonderful for going to the beach running into the sea when it all gets a little too much, or perhaps a meander through the woods where the sun is filtered to gentle by the hungry trees, or maybe sitting outside a chic bar sipping Pimms whilst watching the world go by. Dreadful if you have to go to work. If your job is inside then the cruelty seems immense. If you are employed outside then it is a sap draining, head frazzling, limb scorching nightmare. No matter, back to grey tomorrow. Thank goodness for that.

Early

I was early, so I went for a stroll.

If you can’t take the heat

The heater in my car is jammed on. I have had it fixed but it has broken again. This makes any journey over 5 miles long challenging, especially throughout the summer months. The experience of driving from South Wales to North Devon today was interesting. It was like being in a Native American sweat lodge without the benefit of a spiritual experience. All we had were butter mints and a luke warm bottle of water and I’m not sure they count as sacred fare. Three of my passengers however were quite thrilled at this tropical trip: Mexican firecracker Dahlia “Mystic Spirit”, Asian beauty Hibiscus syriacus and the Mediterranean siren Teucrium fruticans. At least somebody was happy!

Common as Muck

Purple Toadflax, Linaria purpurea, self-seeder extraordinaire, purple menace, scourge of gardens, elegant foil, beautiful perennial. Take your pick!

Stillness

I cannot be certain but I think that the craziness of spring and early summer may be subsiding. Today there was time to consider and enjoy instead of ticking off an arm long list of chores. It was perfect working weather and I was surrounded by chilled out people, the ideal combination for pain free achievement. I was reintroduced to the joy of getting to the end of the day without the dissatisfaction of jobs not done or the disappointment of necessary short cuts. There was a stillness. There may have been a quiet moment.

It is said that nature always fills a vacuum. Today my head was full of plans and scheming for next year. Big and better and brighter!

Words for Lunch

Last week myself and Max’s Dad were talking about alstroemeria. We were standing in front of a pathetic specimen poking its weedy head through the wisteria skirts. Although I can’t remember the conversation in full it went something like this:

Me: Don’t really get alstroemeria, I’ve never really warmed to them.

Him: Nor me.

Me: I can see they have exotic blooms, are reliable performers and if they were good enough for the Incas they should be good enough for me. It is a complete mystery why they have zero appeal.

Him: And me.

Me: Shall we dig them up?

Him: Maybe.

This week I arrived and MD had been shopping. Amongst his haul was this Alstroemeria “Indian Summer”. For lunch I ate my words.

Confused

A rather bizarre day; part equatorial monsoon, part temperate autumn chill, with just a smidgen of summertime shine. My waterproofs didn’t know if they were coming or going. Goodness knows what the plants were thinking?

Androsace lanuginosa – Wooly Rock Jasmine

I was entranced by the diminutive Androsace lanuginosa recently discovered in Phlomis Flo’s wonderful garden. Actually it wasn’t lost, just new one to me. And what an impression it made! It sucked me in but didn’t spit me out and still it haunts me. The charming white flowers, variously red and yellow centred, are held high above the downy foliage. Far from its native Himalayan hills it is thriving in its North Devon adopted home. Stunning and now lusted after in a slightly scary way.

Municipal

Yet again there are some splendid floral displays in the our little seaside town. This bed was particularly striking with its marigolds, verbena, cordyline and kale. Yes kale. And why the devil not?

Velour

The quince tree at The Farm is the first time I have come across this ancient fruit. This is not the flowering quince, Chaenomeles japonica, widely grown as a wall shrub for its decorative spring flowers. We are talking about Cydonia oblonga grown for its fragrant fruit, which like medlars must be bletted, or left to almost rot, before eaten. If this does not appeal then they make delicious jams, puddings and wines. Allegedly. The Portuguese word for this golden pear shaped fruit is marmello, and it is from this fruit that the original marmalade was made.

Last year this tree managed to flower but produced no fruit. The fact that it spent some of this time horizontal, until properly staked, may have had something to do with its barrenness. This year we have had flower, it has set fruit and had another go at flowering. I am hoping that this fruitling, snug in its velour all-in-one, will hold on tight until autumn, when we can sample its delights.