Off The Edge Gardening

As gardeners we often spend our days looking soil-ward.  We should remember, on occasion, to tilt our heads backwards and enjoy the view.

There are ways and means.  You may not need a hammer to crack an egg, but it is very helpful to have a mini digger to get out an old root stump or ten.  I explained to Lord and Lady Mantle that all the aristo’s have stumperies these days, but they weren’t convinced.  In fact I don’t think they believe me that such a thing could exist.  A gently sloping lawn and a rose covered arbour were requested, none of that mucky modern upside down rubbish.  Very tasteful, very classy.   In the earth-moving process several more of Her Ladyship’s empty gin bottles were uncovered and a pile of old bricks, possibly the former outside privy.  Very tasteful, very classy.

ps  I don’t really mind that they don’t want a stumpery, they are quite fun though.

pps Teasing aside, Lord and Lady Mantle are classy in all the important ways eg they make good bacon butties.

ppps First one to spot Lord Mantle in the photo gets a blue smartie.  Helpful hint – he isn’t the one driving the JCB.

My friend Bobby foolishly ate a dead fish that she found on the beach.  For this reason she wasn’t feeling herself yesterday.  Then she ate the plastic pot from the cistus I had just planted. Some little dogs just wont learn.

This hairy poppy bud is sitting patiently waiting for the weather to warm.  Like me.  Except I am not quite so hairy.

Like candied sky, this lithodora flower sparkled in the spring sunshine.

Sometimes a day is more difficult than it deserves to be.  It was a little like that today.  For no particular reason, I was more Eeyore than Tigger.  Lavinia, not tip top herself, was patience itself whilst I walked into bird tables, tripped over bricks and generally staggered about the place like a lump of over-proven dough.  Just as I was leaving, a little tulip caught my eye.  Earlier we had been inspecting this bed and it was yet to open, it made for a precious private moment.  Now tell me that pink and yellow don’t go.  If you dare.

I found this in the Farm greenhouse today.  Thought I would leave it with you.  Got to rush …..

Yellow, who would have thought it.  That was a nice surprise.

In my humble opinion, there is little to beat a good euphorbia.  Euphorbia amygdaloides “Purpurea” is such a plant.  Aubergine foliage with raspberry splattered lime green flowers.  Tasty.

Roots
When a phormium bursts out of its plastic pot you know it is ready for action.  More accurately it is time for your action.  Last week this constricted monster was divided and planted out in various areas of Max’s garden, where it is sure to flourish.  The strength and versatility of these feeding, anchoring, storing and propagating organs is immense and admirable.  Lying below the surface, supporting the show boys and gals, it is not often they are examined or appreciated.  We should remind ourselves once in a while that they are both the beginning and the end.  They should be respected and nurtured if you want vigorous, healthy plants.  Once you get past the idea that they look like a heaving orgy of Amazonian snakes, the turmeric coloured roots are quite beautiful too.

Routes
Didn’t serve me so well today.  On my way to the du Maurier’s I came across a “Road Ahead Closed” sign part way into my journey.  A handbrake turn later and I was faithfully following the diversion signs until, 14 miles later, I ended up at a sign saying “End of Diversion” followed by “Road Closed”.  Concerned that I had inadvertently become embroiled in some kind of avant garde film, possibly Swedish, definitely in monochrome, representing the meaningless of life in mime form, I made my pathetic excuses, “I can’t get there!”,  and went home.   A little Miss Marplesque investigation later and it seems that the “Road Ahead Closed” actually meant,”Five Miles Ahead, Well Past the Place You Are Destined, The Road is Closed and If You Follow the Diversion Signs You Will Only Reach the Other End of the Closed Road and With It Intense Frustration”.  In their defence, I suppose they didn’t have a large enough sign.