Gardens, plants etc 2020

Well done for your hard work and being able to post all the photos I have difficulty posting one 

Hi all,

Have been trying for a couple of days to attach this, but what looks like a lovely, in focus picture on my laptop looks distinctly hazy when put on the site.  This is the ceanothus or California lilac blooming in my garden at the moment.  As you can see the bees love it.  You can hear the bush buzzing from about 15 feet away  The shrub to the left is a yellow jasmine which will flower next and to the right is a fuchsia which is a cutting from a plant grown from a cutting taken from a wild fuchsia growing in the Glens of Antrim in the summer of 1976.

Gragon x

Lovely 

Hi Gragon

My lilac is flowering too but I can't tell you what variety it is. Mine has larger blooms but I wouldn't have the volume you have. It's kind of a plant from yesteryear, not as fashionable to buy today which is a pity because it's such a beautiful and perfect bloom. 

Now I remember back in 1976 our news on tv was about a person seen taking a cutting from one of our wild hedges! It may have been me but mine didn't take lol. It's amazing to see how much wild fuchsia there is in that part of Co. Antrim and it flowers all summer long. 

That year was at the height of The Troubles as they're known and quite unusual for an Englishman to be in the area, some of the villages had people who wouldn't take kindly to the presence of you or any Englishman. My parents were both in the navy and my dad would have asked soldiers on patrol if they wanted to come in for tea which they frequently did. 

Nice to know that you appreciated my country so much that you took a bit of it home!

Tvman

Hi tvman,

It's actually part of the buckthorn family rather than the syringa genus so unfortunately it doesn't have the lilac scent, but no thorns either.

When I went to the Glens of Antrim I was 15 years old and went on a day trip from Stranraer to Larne with my mum, dad and little sister.  The trip was originally intended to go along the Antrim coast and into Belfast but because of the troubles the itinerary was changed and was it not allowed any nearer than 5 miles from the city.  I can't remember huge amounts about the trip but remember that the scenery was beautiful.

I had only just turned 15 and had a bet with my friends that I could grow a beard over the summer holidays.  My hair was as long as my school would permit, I was bearded and had a grungy jacket as well as my beard which whilst respectably grown in was untrimmed and scruffy, I was 6 foot tall and weighed about 14 stone.  On the ferry I was approached by a couple of men who started to ask me questions about who I was and why was I travelling to Ireland.  I mentioned that I was on holiday with my parents at which point they looked confused and asked me how old I was.  When I told them I was 14 they told me I could go now and they went to talk to a hippy looking man with a guitar case on his back.  It was only afterwards I realised that it was the security services looking for anyone who might be looking to cause problems.  There is probably a security file on me somewhere now but at least it is my dad's file that will record the theft of a fuchsia cutting as he was the culprit 

On the plus side I did win the bet.

Gragon 

Hi Gragon

How strange, my family and I used to go to from Larne to Stranraer on day trips. It was in Stranraer where I came across a memorial to passengers and crew who drowned after an horrific sinking of the Princess Victoria I think it was. I knew nothing about it and I was quite shocked.

I remember one time going to Stranraer with a mate, Trevor and two girls. He was really friendly with one of them, Heather, and absolutely everyone thought they were a couple but he insisted that they were just friends. I think he was shy or didn't want to be rejected. I was neither of those two and moved in on her and she and I did a lot of snogging. 

I changed jobs and lost track of him. The next time I saw Trevor and Heather was in Blackpool in September 1979. I was there on honeymoon with my present wife and Trevor and Heather were walking along the promenade towards us. Guess what? They were on their honeymoon too!

Good times.

Tvman

Yes ,,

Yes the fruit was outstandly delicious, fresh picked ripe fruit is always the best.

What  is did not add is that I started the pineapple from the top of fruit I had eaten (best tasting ones) as well as the papayas from seed of the best eaten.

So lag time for pineapple was 2 years from start to fruit and papayas about 8 months. Bananas took 2 years to start propagating. So delayed gratification all the way.

I waited 2 years for my first pineapple. got the machete my phone camera ready and asked George to take my picture.  However, we we got to the garden, George hands the phone to me and before I can count to 3, he has harvested by first pineapple! he had dementia and had forgotten I was supposed to harvest. But as you can see from the photo attached he was so happy I could not complain.

Next tour in a few days of the front garden. Daloni, how are things?

Warmest Wishes,

Millie

ie

Thanks anndanv and tvman,

Yes, I do miss the Kauai garden, but as my disease progresses, I had to leave the beautiful outer island.  I need to live near a comprehensive cancer and for the states, that means the Florida tropics. 

It was fun going out and picking plumeria flowers, bananas, pineapple, basel and papayas. Of course ripening schedule was when it happened.In Florida not much land to put a raised garden so it will be container gardening.. I just love growing plants of any kind.

I am doing well so far int eh Covid-19 period. How is it in the UK?

Warmest Wishes,

Millie

Hi Millie   It's a pity you had to move but worth it if you receive the best treatment! I'm wondering if you are on any at the moment? The Prime Minister talked today about 'starting' to come slowly out of Lockdown. However Wales & Scotland have their own Parliament now, I'm in Scotland and things are staying the same here for at least a further two weeks our First Minister has said and Wales have also their own agenda!

I wonder what the Lockdown meant for you in USA? I have friends in Vancouver and I know it was quite strict there. They got all their shopping online whereas here people were allowed to go to the shop or supermarket once a day for essential groceries. I was sad to read George had dementia but I hope it is in the early stage and is very slow developing but it must still be an extra worry for you!

I hope this finds you well and you enjoy your plants in pots. I have taken away some of my garden, as I couldn't manage it, and put in some very large pots. The flowers do very well in them, as long as I cover them after I plant bulbs or the squirrels and foxes eat them. Once you see the green shoot, it's safe to uncover them! Good to hear from you!

Thank you anndanv,

Sheltering in Place is a pain. Orders got confused, not always getting what you ordered, but it made for creative new dishes.I left Kauai 2 days before a strike military stay in place took place.  National guards had checkpoints, you either had to have proof you were going for medicine, to take care of old relatives or needed food. No beach time. You could stay outside in your yard if you have one. My house was on the beach and on a bike path, so not so bad could bike or walk everywhere. 

Northern California is slowing down but  California is about to start opening up and there is worry. Kauai is still dark no planes but there are 0 cases. You can really isolate an island. George passed away within 3 weeks of my first chemo. That was hard and the garden sugared after that. This is the first time in 2 years I felt well to garden and it feels good.

Word here is that the economy will open up soon, but the intelligent ones will still wear masks, gloves and not can get testing finally. The chaos originates in the White House. They cut off all treatment but are starting up soon These are crazy times. Medicine here is looking at cconvelesent sera for an interim especially at highest risk such as hospital workers. older people and cancer patients.  I am attending a webinar tomorrow at 3 to hear about the interim  convelesent treatment. .

Wishing all of us here for the best health possible,

Hugs to all

Millie

PS next week my growing garden to compare to last weeks post.

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