Monday, August 02, 2010

Monday Mumbles


On Friday I walked down the lane behind a middle –aged couple holding hands and was reminded of when MTL and I first came to see the house. There was the same hush – almost reverent, broken only by the rustle of the leaves of the giant Ilex. Nothing much has changed in 25 years.


After a disappointing experience I vowed never to send for plants by post again but Karen persuaded me to give Sarah Raven a chance. She has a great background - married to Vita Sackville West’s grandson and actually living at Sissinghurst which houses one of my favourite gardens.


I started with dahlias – her catalogue has the most seductive photographs, then moved on to pot plants and then chrysanthemums. Her instructions are clear and concise and make one feel a proper gardener as the little plug plants burgeon into gorgeous blooms. I love that there is always something to look forward to and must now decide what next. See some of this week’s stars below.

14 comments:

Queenie said...

I wish I could do gardening like you but I have brown fingers and kill everything I touch. Luckily my Paramour has the gardening gene.

Pat said...

Queenie: it came to me late life and my success comes and goes - all a bit haphazard but such a wonderful comfort.
You are fortunate to have a green fingered Paramour. Most men - bless'em - tend to be less creative in the garden and will ruthlessly rout out a rose that dares to scratch them.

The Unbearable Banishment said...

Your flowers always remind me of a fireworks display. Today's especially.

Anonymous said...

Mail order is always touch and go. So much depends upon the company doing the sending and the care they put into it. I'm glad you found a good one.

Cheers.

Pat said...

UB: that's good isn't it?

Randall: nobody's perfect and i still have problems knowing which box to tick to get my free postage.

sablonneuse said...

I think the mail order firms I use are pretty good and most failures can be put down to my incompeence. Unfortunately the local nursery is terribly expensive. I love the photos of your colourful garden, Pat.

Pat said...

Sandy: our local nursery is also expensive and doesn't always have what I want. I couldn't get sweet peas this year but it is handy for a simple lunch which we had today.

Leigh Russell said...

How lovely!

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Just want you to know, I've been working away in the garden after seeing yours, and reading about the woman who created hers after working at it for 2 years.

Pat said...

Leigh: :)

GG: feels good doesn't it?

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I'm tired like a dawg, Pat. I hope it's worth it, and the garden starts producing soon.

Or else!

Pat said...

GG: have faith and think of the calories you've burnt:)

Warden Files said...

A delightful post m'lady, the true words of a perfect English rose.

Pat said...

Warden: thank you kind sir.)