A Busy Weekend

On Friday afternoon G took me to Newcastle Airport in plenty of time to catch my plane. I was surprised to find that Eastern Airlines have a fast channel through security - you actually queue barge!. Consequently, I didn't need to leave lots of time for all the extra faff.


We took off at the right time and arrived in Cardiff Airport on time too. Finding the Hertz place was no problem and I was soon in my Ford and ready to set off. Fortunately, the route to the M4 is well marked and I had road numbers readily availabe. Once I had reached the first turn off the M4 it was well signed to Methyr Tydvill (Sp?) and on to Brecon. Popped round the bypass and on to the turn off to my youngest brother's nearest village. A call produced him in his car, very quickly to lead me up to their house, where they gave me gin to revive me and scrambled egg to fortify me. No 3 (youngest) daughter was already there. Next to arrive was No 2, with her new partner. Then my eldest brother and wife. They took us up to a nearby self-catering converted barn and we settled in.



Saturday was the day that youngest brother and wife were celebrating their 60th birthdays. We took ourselves down in time for breakfast - 10 people because No 1 and wife had arrived after we left. Excellent - sausages, bacon, egg, tomatoes, fried bread and baked beans!! After a bit of hanging around we set of for a layby on the Abergavenny to Brecon road where about 38 people gathered - many family members and some friends. My children were there, though one grandchild was on a school trip, so missed it. About mid-day we set off to climb the Alt. That's not the full name, which I cannot remember, but it was always called that by the family who lived in the big house on the edge of Llangorse Lake, below. I knew it was about 4 miles but I did not know what it would be like. Just as well! The pace was mostly fairly slow, luckily. The ages ranged from 6 to 76 (me) The young tended to go fairly fast but there was so much gossiping going on that it helped to slow people down!! At one point we stopped for a sugar break (chocolate biscuit) and the chance to look at a ruined hunting lodge. The next bit was horizontal across a steeply sloping field - not the easiest bit! Then the climb started again and rather steeper. It was a hard slog to the top - and I was not the only one to find it testing!


Some had finished lunch by the time I got there! Fun with a kite was just starting. We had each been given a plastic bag with an interesting picnic in it, so I settled down to eat mine - and still lots of gossipping. At one point a poor lady walker appeared, was barked at by one of the dogs, nearly attacked by the kite and horrified to find all these awful people on what should have been a peaceful resting place. Her face was a picture and she went on at a vast speed! Meantime, we were able to enjoy a view up and down the Usk valley, across to the Beacons (with no cloud on top) and in the other direction, the Black Mountains. It was fabulous. This pic is looking north over Llangorse Lake.


The walk down was much easier though quite a few of us suffered from pains in the knees. My middle brother was absolutely infuriating because he has had both knees replaced and kept going on about how HE was alright. When we got down to the cars, I couldn't believe how well and untired I was. Everyone who knew my age was as amazed as me!


The next stage was to return to our barn, have a cuppa and a bath and back to youngest brother's house. A mini bus turned up a little late and we all climbed in. Off to Brecon and the Restaurant that is part of the Theatre. It is beside the Brecon-Abergavenny canal, so we wandered about talking and drinking champagne cocktails before going in for dinner. I was sitting next to my grandson, which was nice, also middle brother. We had a fascinating and delicious dinner. Lots of smallish amounts of all sorts of things, served on dishes for 4 and coming one after the other. eg bread to dip in oily dips, lavabread and Welsh cheeses, salmon and a wonderful sauce, small pieces of lamb etc. Each was entirely different and equally delicious. Grand Son didn't like some of them, which meant more for us, but he did like salmon and lamb, so Granny went abit short there!! After this it was all change and I found myself with a nephew and, under the table, his 6 yr old son who was fast asleep in a bag. Also my daughter-in-law, who I love, and an artist. Masses more talk and the pudding - a choice of mocha creme brulee or summer pudding. The mcb was out of this world! Then not one but 2 cakes came in for the birthday people and a few words were said - not too many! After a while the minibus arrived and we were driven home at a vast pace as he had at least 2 other things to do and was running late! And so to our barn.

Next morning we did breakfast at the barn, then I found myself being taken round a large pond/small lake by a real plantsman. He has many trees and some shrubs of all sorts and varieties, some of which he has bred himself. There are 30+ varieties of oak, apart from all the rest. He is plant mad, used to show all over the place and knows every horticulturist worth his salt!! Fascinating! Then to Brother's house and tea/coffee/wine/beer or whatever you wanted. Quite a number of people from yesterday came + all the family who were still around. People gradually disappeared as lunch proper was not on the agenda. My young and I remained and had good food! Lovely bread made by a friend and all sorts to put in it. Eldest brother had gone off to the family home, aquired by our Grandfather and now owned by a first cousin once removed who had been at the supper. After lunch, my lot and I went to the said family home. Brother and wife were still there and we all ate lovely sponge cake and drank tea. Unfortunately, it was pooring with rain so we could not go and look at the garden, stream etc. which was sad as my lot had not been there before. About 4.0 they left for home in Sussex and I went back to base, where I found them glued to the Wimbledon finals so I joined them. What a match! Later we had roast Welsh lamb and then I went back alone to the Barn.

Next morning, after I had sorted it and left it as I would have expected when I did self catering, I had a tour of the vegetables and more trees etc. What a man! I left with cuttings which I hope will take. From there I went to cousins even older than me!! He was an Admiral in the Navy and is a great friend of G and me. I had lunch there and found that the controversial pipe line is passing right by - going under the Usk, under his fishing and also under the way down to his house. He seems very calm about it, but had just thought that perhaps the concussions from pushing the line under the river might kill the fish! Somewhat worrying. I left there at 3.0 and headed for Cardiff. By Methyr there was an almighty downpour, which reduced us all to 40mph! When I got down to the M4 I missed the pull off so was heading into Cardiff centre towards rush hour! Help!! Kept my head and managed to extricate myself and achieve the airport. Loaded on time then held by Flight Control Brussels for an hour. Luckily, it being a one horse airport, we were allowed to use our phones, so G knew not to meet me!! Had an untroubled flight to Newcastle, drinking Champagne and Sloe Gin on the house! Never tried it before - it is delicious! Then "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news again, but there is a fault on the runway, so we are being held for a while"! We must have circled for at least 1/2 an hour! Once down, I got straight into a taxi, who charged me less than usul, and arrived home about 9.0.

Quite a weekend! Did not really feel exhausted until the next day and on Wednesday, when I had to get up at 6.0 to get to Darlington in time to judge Northumbria in Bloom. We all find judging tiring, so you can imagine what I felt like on Thursday! However today, I feel fine and am on the count-down for the next adventure!

I am so sorry to have kept some of you waiting for the next stage of the guided tour. I really think that it is time to cross the 'drive' and go onto the larger lawn.





This is looking back towards the 'drive' from said lawn. It was taken a while ago so now the Aubretia is going over. The dead flower heads are still there and are great value. The blue stuff is going over too.

I think that I do not have a pic of the Clematis - Ernest Markham - which has been lovely but is now looking delapidated due to the rain, to the right of the front door. The other side of the window is a red rose.

When G came here, he didn't like the lead downcomers (extra-ordinary man!) so he planted an upright conifer in front. This was not liked one little bit by the rose, which somehow survived and occasionally produced the odd flower. Two years ago, (24 years later) I finally managed to achieve the removal of the conifer (which showed up rainwater damage to 16th Century stone!) and the rose gave one terrific cheer and then put all its energy into recovering. Now it is growing well and covered in red flowers.




The herbaceaus borders are growing well but have little colour. They are the least satisfactory things in the garden. They need a lot of attention and I am physically, or interestedly, not up to doing them properly. They run in front of the east end of the house - the 18th Century addition - with a path between. The back one is quite wide, but because there are two windows behind it is difficult to plant. I have a shrub between but the space is not really wide enough. The Paeonies in both borders were lovely but when the rain came, they turned into big brown blobs. I have at last got them cut off. There is lovely Geranium, which was there when I came. The picture does not do justice to the very strong colour.






The area at the East end of the house, when I came here, was just grass with a pear tree in the corner against the outside wall. It is a difficult area.Everyone says how lovely and sunny and sheltered. But in fact it loses the sun by at least 3.00 and the East wind hits the end of the house and comes back down and the West wind hits the wall and comes back over! At the back, from left to right, is a new Buddleia, (not visible) replaceing one which got too tall to prune, having been there for 20+ years. To the right is a Pyrus salicifolia pendula (Willow-leafed weeping pear) It has not been there very long but is doing well. It is not really suitable but at least it likes it and is growing! In front is a red shrub rose - loose growing and I can't remember what it is - it grows to at least 15feet and has red urn shaped hips. To the right of that is a shrub that I don't know the name of and it is not of much value. Then on the wall is a forsythia spectabilis (I think!) It is meant to absorb the wind coming off the house. It flowers quite well but is a bit wild! In the front row are
Hebe Diamond (very good value), and Cistus x hybridus Gold Prize planted in September 05. Beyond them is a small growing Buddleia and a small red-leaved Berberis. Geraniums act as ground cover and are currently flowering, so it is quite good, though the only other colour is the shrub rose.

Facing East, the next plant is an ancient white rose of some unknown age. It does very well, considering everything. Next to it is a Russian Vine, planted to catch some of the W. wind and deaden it. It does that quite well but ... it is enormously vigorous so I have to do a great deal of controlling! Most of the year the wind is in the West and it grows up and over the wall, taking some of the starkness away from the Green side. However, at some point every year (usually about June) there is a strong wind from the east, which blows it back into the garden and it looks dreadful for a while! 2 years ago, about 2 weeks before a step-daughter's wedding, that was exactly what happened. In fact, on the day there was the mother and father of a thunder storm, with accompanying rain so everyone made a mad dash for the marquee and only 2 or 3 came to look round the garden!






Next is Penelope, which I planted when I first came here. It struggled while partially shaded by the Prunus mentioned below, but is now doing well.

Beyond Penelope, when I came here, there was an Ash tree, which was a seedling in the early 20th Century. It finally grew so wide at the base that it pushed over the old wall. God bless the Insurance Company, who funded rebuilding. Having felled the ash, we put in a door in the wall, which is down some steps, as at some point the ground had been leveled off in the garden, so the difference between the garden and the Green is about 4 feet. I planted an old yellow shrub rose in the corner which I had brought with me from about two houses before! Also there were very old red shrub roses, probably planted in the 40's or 50's. In front of the ash was a Prunus, with a stem whose bark went round in a spiral, planted in the lawn. The spring of the wedding, we had to remove the Prunus which was dying, which left great scope for change. The new planting there has mostly been there for 2 years and now looks like this................
Not bad really for our position at 650ft and mid Northumberland, where everything takes for ever to get going!

We are now (in the pic) facing South. Go on to the right and you come to a pond in the lawn, with my Helebore/hosta bed behind. The pond went in exactly a year ago and is coming on well.

You can just see, to the right back of the pic, a holly which is called the Policeman. It is quite big but kept clipped and guards the front gate. Between it and the gate post is a Philadelphus, the old-fashioned single sort, which has a terrific scent.

So, roughly, that is that for the front of the house. Lots of plants not mentioned, of course, but I fear it gets pretty boring as it is, without adding any more!!!

Next time, we will go round the veg and cutting/holding/anything goes bed and the back lawn, or some of it anyway!

By the way, the reason this did not go up several days ago is that I took pics for back then and when I came to take them off the camera, the card was already in the printer, so there was nothing in the camera!!! How stupid can one get? Then we had nothing but rain or bad light, so only took the pics again today, IN THE SUN!!

A Day's Hard Labour

Have just looked in here and found several comments I didn't know about! Thanks to one and all. I hope that HB comes back in time to see her picture on yesterday's (20th June) front page. If not, I shall post it again when the weight of gardening eases.

This is just an account of a day's gardening - I haven't the energy to do a further walk.

I can't keep up with everything coming out - I suppose it is always the same at this time of year, but it always takes me by surprise!

The dreadful weather last week put an end to the Paeonies and one of my jobs today was to cut off the dead heads, with a lot of soggy petals hanging about all gone brown.

First job before that was to empty my barrow, which G had filled with very nasty manure that he collected from the road. It was dropped by the farmer clearing a barn where he had beasts during the winter. It had sat through the .6inch of rain that fell the night before last so was very soggy and the bad smell was agravated! The Lord alone knows what he has been feeding the beasts but it must be something nasty!! Also it is completely raw straw with urine and not much proper muck. I didn't show any of the gratitude that was clearly expected!! Anyway, it is now sitting in a shapely heap giving off its perfume.

Cut a few sweet peas for the third time this year. In the past they weren't out till G's birthday on 24th July. They are a cheat this year as I bought plants as I failed to sow them. Much better plants I regret to say, but not the ones I would have chosen.

Raised the string supporting the Broad Beans. Some of the mass of flowers on them were looking pretty soggy and no bumble bees polinating - I hope they haven't all been drowned in their holes. We had masses before the rain. No sign of set beans yet, but here's hoping.

Also raised the string holding the CD's over the peas. They had got lost in the vigorous growth, so not doing their job. No flowers there yet.

Then I got slap happy with the secateurs. A beautiful palest mauve Abutilon, probably mentioned on a walk, is now almost fully out and has survived the rain. The shrubs on either side are growing hard, so I cut them back hard and now the Abutilon can be seen properly.

There are 2 or 3 places where paths are really too narrow, or rather, I planted too vigorous things too near on either side. When ever we get really wet weather, it brings the new growth down so that you get soaked if you need to go by. The secateurs did good work here, but I won't know whether it was good enough till it rains again.

Then, after lunch, round to the yard by the back door. The Lilac flowered very well this year but it needed cutting back a little. It is a very necessary wind-break so I never want to cut off too much but Lilacs do better if they are cut quite hard. I hope I managed a happy medium. I cleared up some of my rubbish, but the lovely G had said he would do some of it, so I just took one barrowful to the bonfire. (A bit of a hike)

Then into the front garden. Found that the dreaded dead-heading of roses had to start. The Old English roses are just beginning to come out, so only one to cut off there. Isfahan is coming on well and there was a bit of work to do there. After several years, it is making quite a feature, on its support. Climbing roses on the front of the house needed tidying as did an ancient white rose on the garden wall and a Penelope ditto. A number of years ago I planted a Russian Vine against the West-facing wall of the garden, which was beating back the terrible winds we suffer from. I suppose it does its job, but it really is a thug! Sometimes it hangs over the outside of the wall, which is nice but then along comes an east wind and tips it all back, leaving it looking horrid! The current vigorous growth has hidden the last 'tip' and is beginning to grow back over, but there was a lot to cut off, to keep it in its bounds. By the time I had done it, and taken it to the bonfire I was very weary, so that was my lot for today.

A bit of rambling

What a lovely two days we have had! And it sounds as though it will go on. What a lot of gardening has to be done. Some of it has been - lots is waiting.

Yesterday was my Hexham day. Got there in good time and bought some bedding plants to put into a bit of the garden that has been wasted for several years. Then did the other routine things and then escaped to a Farm Shop which is arguably one of the best. Bought lots of vegs but disappointed that there was none of their asparagus. Apparently the cold nights had discouraged it! As that was the main reason for going there I was a little upset, but they were offering tasteing of an excellent ham, asparagus and cheese dish which was delicious so I went away happy!

In the afternoon, I planted some of the bedding plants and did some weeding in the veg garden.

It was there that I thought that you should hear about the strange behaviour of the Parsley. Last year I let a plant seed by mistake and covered some more with a cloche which meant that I always had some available. Earlier in the spring, I was sowing various seeds including parsley. Nothing came. BUT around the one that had been under a cloche, there are numerous parsley seedlings! So all will be well. I should have some to pick before too long and certainly some to cover for the winter. The one that was covered last winter will be allowed to flower and seed so I expect to have some for next summer.

Today, I had to go to my dentist to have a filling where I had broken a bit of tooth. Luckily, there was a filling there already, so I did not have to have the horrible numbing injections. I now have a renewed tooth. As the dentist is not far from the Farm Shop, I went back and bought some lovely fresh asparagus as well as a pack of the dish being tasted today. Yesterday's was much enjoyed, so bought some of those for the freezer too. I went on from there to my favourite Garden Centre. Couldn't resist some more bedding and also fell for a Ceanothus. We have not been able to grow them, but have a feeling that global warming has gone far enough to let us do so now. I actually went there to get a small version of any upright conifer in a small pot. I have a small stone thing with a fairly small hole in it. I grow upright conifers in it until they die, then replace. Found one and brought that back too.

This afternoon, planted some of the bedding plants - when (if) they are in flower, I will put up a picture. Also, planted the Ceanothus in the same area. It should be reasonably protected. The Thyme went into the herb area (I don't call it a herb garden because it is very hit and miss. Things go in as and when!) Then I went round the front garden, tying up and cutting down! A red rose on the front of the house, which we have not yet visited, is coming into flower and had two bits that needed tying in. The Russian vine, also not yet met, had a considerable lot cut off. As it can grow 40 feet in one year, that was not surprising! Then into a bed that again, you have not yet met, and found that there was rather a lot of a Weigelia that had died, It has just come into flower. I cut out the dead so it looks better. Then went to the area that you have travelled already and did various bits of tidying up.

Things are coming out so fast just now that I can't keep up. Hopefully, tomorrow I shall take you to the other side of the drive. And there will be lots more pictures. Till then - goodnight.

A re-vist to part of the Garden

This is the full picture which I tried to put alongside, but for some reason, I couldn't made it work. In fact, I have grown to be rather like the close-up of a small bit!

Things always move on in gardens. Some things go over and others come out - that is the nature of things.

Today we are going to revisit bits and add a bit.

These people were out on the Green, they are orphans. The black one has since died so the brown one is very lonely. The farmer always has a few orphans, who are brought up on the green, with lots of bottles of milk. Later they join the flock, but they never do as well as the rest. Very hard work.

This box was made by a local joiner to hold the papers. They used to be delivered into the

telephone box, but 'They' took it away, so we bought a plastic box and put it by the Village notice board, then we bought another and another because they broke, leaked, blew away and so on. In the end G decided that we had to do something better. All the people who get papers contributed. Unfortunately, today was the first wet test and water gets in when the lid is opened, so we have got to be inovative!

This is the second year for this Morello Cherry on the North wall of the house, near the back door. I hope that some of them will set and develop. I shall have to net it if so, otherwise my friends the Black Birds will get them all!

This does not do the Lilac justice. Maybe I took it a little early, it got better than that, but now the first flowers are beginning to go brown. It is by the back door and has been magnificent.

Here is one of two winter hanging baskets by the back door. I haven't had winter ones before, but saw these in a garden centre and decided to give them a go. They have been a great success. I am trying small trailing pansies for the summer ones - planted them yesterday but I'm not sure whether they will work.

These Hostas are near the Conservatory. They are two of many in the garden. I am extremely lucky that the slugs do not do much damage. These, like the rest are now much bigger. They were taken about 10 days ago.

This is a Viburnum - which one? It has been like a waterfall. Just going over now.

You can just see the bird feeding place. There are masses of birds about now, lots of them babies - standing there shaking their wings and saying 'Pleeease feed me' .

This is the same Viburnum seen from the other side - the vegetable garden.

Then I thought I would give you a view of said veg garden. Things are still small - it is no good sowing too early here even with global warming

That's enough for tonight. We will see some more of the front garden next time - soon! And cross the drive too before too long.

Catching up

I haven't blogged for ages, just a few comments on the main blog page. Now I can't remember what I last wrote about, apart from the garden on here.

Oh well - lets go to Saturday. A lovely day and I spent it in the car and a Hotel. It was worth it though. The drive was pleasant - not too much traffic and the countryside looking lovely. The Hotel was too hot but the people and the food were more than good - 103% perhaps?

I always enjoy my old School gatherings. Although the Association will have a limited life as there are no new members anymore, (for various reasons), I feel sure that it will see me out! We had a Committee meeting in the morning, which meant I had to make an early start, but we had lots of good discussions, then to the bar where the drink was free and there were a number of my old school mates and others I have got to know well over the years. No skool uniform but we do have a badge and I had remembered to wear it. Only problem - I had 1 3/4 hours drive home, so had spitzers. Excellent lunch in the best of company and then the Association AGM. I am arranging a visit to Durham later in the year, and was able to drum up some support. By the time it got to about 4.0 I was exhausted with all the lovely chatter. (It was abit like it might be if a group of us purple lot got together!) Got home without falling asleep at the wheel.

Had to leave this earlier as I was the host for a meeting of our new Local Ministry Group. This is a small group of people from the United Benefice (3 parishes and 4 churches). This evening we were discussing how to provide for the young in the parishes - not just the church people. Lots of ideas and I am sure something will come out of it all. Since then I have been talking to my son for at least 50 minutes. They are in the process of some major alterations to their house so he had lots to say (as if he didn't always!) Better be careful because I think he may well find us before too long!! As he is of a similar age to many Purple coos, he will probably understand more of the mad house chat than I do!! Only joking!

When I have got the notes written up from this evening, which will have to take precedence tomorrow, I am going to take those who are interested back to see one or two new photos of the first part of the garden tour, before we move on across the 'drive'. Look forward to seeing you there.

A Little Further Stroll

Before we move further round the right hand lawn, we must catch up on the way we have come already

Just inside the back gate, I mentioned a crab - it is now fully out. That shows you how far behind most of the country we are! Then, a little further along is a large white lilac. It had been promising much for some days and today it really is coming out, though still a way to go to be at its best.

The Kerria is just about over, but a Laurustinus in the bed by the Conservatory is flowering very well and I will try to take a pic between downpours to put here later.

On the way through the little gate, the yellow tree Paeony on the right is almost out. It sets seed most years, but I have not managed to germinate any.

In the far right corner, by the 'well' is a Prunus amanagawa which is blooming like anything,

Now, we follow the lawn back towards the house. There are a number of small plants in flower, which I thought I could show you, but can't find it. You've got one from May last year instead and taken from the other lawn. Half way along there is a Rose, Isfahan on a metal support. You may hear of this later on, when in flower. It looks hopeful at the moment.

And now the Broom - not as good a picture as I should like, but too late to get a better one this year.

As you look at it, behind your left shoulder, is a bed of Austin roses. Not doing very well but they will certainly flower before too long. Here is a picture of Graham Thomas taken on 27 December, 06, in mid Northumberland at 650ft up. Quite extraordinary!

So sorry, the pictures have a will of their own tonight and I can't make them go where I want! Still, they are there to see.

That's it for tonight. We will go to the other lawn next time, I hope!