Saturday, August 23, 2014

Weird and wonderful

A present from Karen which at first was a mass of snail bitten leaves but is now about to sprout an exotic flower.  You knew it is a canna.
 
I have never ever seen a fruit on a camellia.  Have you?  What can you tell me?

Who knew that these monsters rising from the depths would morph into these beauties that smell of pear drops?  Nerines if you're asking

Mick my precious handy man has just scraped out the guttering on the front of the house so hopefully the waterfall will vanish.  He's about to be 65.  Help!

24 comments:

Granny Annie said...

Help who/what? You, the handy man or the wall?

Pat said...

Granny Annie; help! What will I do if he can no longer shin up ladders, climb out of the attic windows and check the tiles?

Anonymous said...

Google " Camellia fruit" and click images! I've never seen any on ours.

Pat said...

john: I will in a minute. I have people coming to tea. They should have been here at 4pm but the husband couldn't decide which sweater to wear:)
Alastair was lucky- I used to tell him:)

Unknown said...

The quintessential ritual of preparing an afternoon tea is something not to be taken lightly my dear lady. One must always assume that country slices are included on the menu, oozing with plump sultanas and drizzled with brown sugar and pure honey. The tea, itself the magnificent British sapphire in the crown, must always be purchased with the visitors in mind. Good old fashioned Yorkshire tea from the Co-op will suffice, fresh, served with milk, never lemon unless entertaining foreign guests.

Salmon with dill sandwiches, small finger rolls containing egg and cress, Devonshire scones with clotted cream and wild brambles and strawberries direct from the garden will have the desired effect.

I eventually went with a lightweight summer cardigan, Hackett by design of course. We arrive at six sharp... the buses you know.

Anonymous said...

I can skim up ladders,he b fine for 10years yet.!

savannah said...

I'm sitting here laughing because the MITM is now 65 and his idea of gardening is talking to the gardener and then coming inside for a cocktail! I adore your garden, sugar! xoxoxo

Pat said...

Chef: had I known you were coming I'd have baked a cake. You did say September. Or are you still there? Wherever you are it's lovely to hear from you as fastidious as ever.

Anon: right - next time you're over.

Savannah: your hubby's idea of gardening is not unlike my own.xoxox

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I like those 'monster' plants, they look like they're peeping to see whose coming :-D

I bet your garden smells heavenly.

angryparsnip said...

What wonderful photos as always.
I would have loved any tea at your wonderful house and garden.

cheers, parsnip

Pat said...

GG: I love the smell when the bay is blooming.

Parsnip: the tea morphed into champagne and sausages on the balcony and they didn't leave until after 8pm:)

Ms Scarlet said...

Mr Files has made me hungry so he'd better come back and post some recipes!
Sx

Pat said...

Scarlet: he did say adieu on Martin's blog which used to mean goodbye for ever.
We can only hope.

Pat said...

Scarlet: hope that he didn't mean it I mean.

Vagabonde said...

The pink flowers in your last photo look very pretty. So you have a 65 years old waterfall that you are going to get rid off? That’s what I understood anyhow. You did not show this waterfall – is it in your garden?

Anonymous said...

I can't say I have ever seen fruit on a camellia either, but they are seed pods. If you wait until the pod has gone brown it will crack open and you will be able to collect the seeds.

Pat said...

Vagabonde: my handyman will be 65.
The waterfall was caused by torrential rain flooding the blocked gutters:)

Helen: how exciting. If I put the seeds in a pot will I have baby camellias?

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I love those Beautiful flowers on the so called Monsters....lol. They are so exotic looking....
I hope your handyman will be healthy and agile for many years to come, my dear Pat....It sounds like your Tea was fabulous!

Pat said...

Naomi: yes I have great hopes too for Mick my handyman. He is very light and spare in build. Eighteen months ago he was told that if he didn't stop smoking
immediately it would be curtains and I am happy to say he hasn't smoked since.
He and Alastair were buddies.

Mage said...

Hugs from here. Lovely flowers.

Anonymous said...

They take a bit of cultivating but yes. here's a site with instructions
camellia seeds
there's no harm in giving it ago.

Pat said...


Mage: :)

Helen: thanks for that. When the seeds burst forth I shall deal with them.

rashbre said...

We've just got one of those waterfall gutter situations, although I think the magpies will sort it out.

Pat said...

Rashbre: from my own experience keep an eye on the inside wall which may be affected. Our French son spotted a few marks which I hadn't noticed. Being so much taller then I am it was easier for him to see and hopefully we caught it in time.