Light Duties to No duties!

Protea

Chief Blogger went from being on light duties to no duties at all!  In fact she swanned off to the Isles of Scilly for a few days and re-visited a positively tropical garden  on Tresco.  

Visiting the Abbey Gardens is a bit like going to a garden in South Africa or Australia as such a large proportion of the planting is foreign to our usually frosty winter climate and here at PTC,  wouldn't stand a chance.  

All of the islands were awash with these Amaryllis Belladonna lilies known as Naked Ladies locally as they bloom before their leaves show.  Just breathtakingly beautiful. What a change from the dreaded Ragwort which abounds in Worcestershire.

Naked Ladies Sunbathing

We also visited Trenoweth Farm where Christine, Francis, Jenny and Dasiy grow Narcissus and Scented Pinks for the cut flower market.  It was fascinating to see where and how they are grown. The flowers themselves are, of course, exquisite. 

http://www.islesofscillyflowers.com/buy-narcissi/ 

is the place to order your cut flowers.  They come beautifully presented and are delivered safely in a strong box.  When they arrive, they are dew fresh and perfect in every way.  The scent from these flowers has to be sniffed to be believed.  These are 'quality' and a zillion times nicer than foreign grown cut flowers.  They grow in tiny fields many of which are protected by Pittisporum hedges.  I lost 2 Pittisporum trees the winter before last!  What does that tell you about the climate in Scilly?  No need to rip out hedges to make huge fields to accommodate massive machinery when picking can only be done by hand!  The 3 photos of flower fields at Trnoweth were taken on our previous visit.

Anyway, it's back to more heavy rain and lawns that all need cutting and I'm still not allowed to use a lawn mower!  Sigh!

Trenoweth Narcissus

Trenoweth Pinks

Fields don't get much prettier than this!

More Scilly photos can be seen at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/SillyOnScilly

Chris's Japanese 'Enemies'

Japanese Anemone

This untouched photo taken by Chris using his phone is so lovely, it deserves its own post

Many hands make no work.....

Finished architraves

....at all for Chief Blogger (who remains on light duties!)

Having two extra pairs of hands in the garden this Saturday meant that all the old tomatoes were removed and the tender plants are now tucked up for winter in the greenhouse - courtesy of Sarah & Matt!  Matt also mowed lawns, orchard and verges.  Wood was chopped, pot feet put in place as well as general clearing up and ladder steadying!  Chris P. cut and trimmed all the hedges and also pruned the Hawthorn and Field Maple (giving us back our view of the clock tower)

In the meantime, Chris G. continued with door & window linings, sills, architraves and skirting boards (less ably than usually) assisted by Chief Blogger.  She might not have been much use but, she did learn about mitering, packing and wedging.  A friend's exercise bike has also been tried and tested for this new amazing construction.

Time for an......

.....official tea break!

More photos can be seen at:  

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/AnExtraBusySaturday

Plenty of butterflies in our garden!

A Red Admiral enjoying some autumn sunshine on the Michaelmas Daisies

Living in an Orchard

Living in an apple orchard at this time of year means that the apples glow like lights in the sunshine - when we have any! These trees - all 2,400 of them were planted 5 years ago for the production of Bulmer's cider.  They are equally striking when they're all in blossom and the scent is pure heaven.  Rob keeps his orchards perfectly manicured all year round and harvesting is happening as I type.

 For apples galore, check out:  https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/ApplesGalore

Chris's Secret Stump Seating

Chris's Western Red Cedar Steps

Re-cycled Bike Shed

Just to the left of the new recycled cycling shed is Chris's new secret seating area.  It's so dark and shady, photographing it was a tad difficult.  How clever of him to sculpt 2 such lovely old and gnarly seats out of hawthorn stumps and then hide them away.  As if that wasn't clever enough, he built the little wooden steps leading to them and then positioned the seats ensuring the best views across the garden and then supported them with left over 'Barnsley' stone.  Surprisingly, they're very comfortable and the one on the right even has a G&T holder on its arm!  Annoyingly and being on light duties meant that I wasn't allowed to do a single thing to help in any of it.  Maybe this Saturday, we'll have a scout round and find a few more suitable plants to sneak in along both sides of the steps

Now all we need is the time and the weather to sit in them!  In the meantime, we have the satisfaction of another garden feature which looks as if it's been there for ages

Hawthorn Stump Seats

Getting Arty

Being on light duties means having time to play with a few photos!

See more playing at:  https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/GettingArty