MICKEY’S BLOG
In the days before Instagram, Mickey kept a regular blog of snippets from Glenmore House.
You may enjoy looking back through them!
Aromatic memento….
It can be a challenge to devise a keepsake from the garden when large numbers are involved, and particularly at this time of year. I found myself still wondering if I could produce enough of anything for our guests at Sunday's Winter Concert, on Saturday...
Pumpkin thief of Glenmore….
Yes, that's me!!! Well.....not really.... I did ask Julie Jensen (Jensen's Garden Centre at the end of our road) in passing, a couple of months ago, if perhaps I could borrow some of her prize-winning pumpkins for our Winter Concert (knowing that I hadn't had a...
Winter concert…
The day dawned clear and gradually the garden filled with golden light....and great anticipation... Armfuls of winter flowering amaranth, elder, escallonia and fruiting olive were cut in the early morning chill, for a loose arrangement in the Dairy. The tables in...
Summer surprises….
While all the garden battles the heat and the summer veg are doing their best just to get properly established, some dainty delights are peeking from their hiding places. To my surprise, this Sunset runner bean is the first to flower (I rarely have much luck with...
How I love a garden structure…
And how excited am I at last, to have some here in the Barn! I've been mildly obsessed with structures in the garden for years - those who have visited Glenmore see all the loose ones.....tunnels and wigwams that I make of bamboo in the Kitchen Garden for climbing...
Season’s progress….
Things are making a move now......over these last weeks the seed (mostly) has sprouted and tentative growth begun. Most tomato plants have settled in, strengthened their stems (hopefully they and the cucumber seedlings are over the fragile stage when they're...
Enchanting shade….
I imagine I'll eventually tire of getting them out each day, but right now the vision of oriental parasols shading my hydrangeas from that scorching sun is bringing enormous delight (and so worth the 5 minutes of fiddling about morning and...
Worth waiting for….
Look who unfurled her exquisite petals this morning.....in anticipation of the heat ahead no doubt. What a treat, almost a whole year in the...
Heavenly lavender….
Spikes of my favourite lavender, L. angustifolia reaching for the sun, swaying in the breeze, just as they should at this time of year....
Poppy harvest time….
Today was the day....not a moment too soon, or too late: lantern-like seed capsules atop tall stalks have created such an enchanting vision these last weeks in the Borders, since their pink petals scattered on the breeze. But t'was time to collect these exquisite...
Honeysuckle time….
The intensely fragrant canopy of Burmese honeysuckle who's mound of golden flowers causes the laundry awning to almost groan under its weight is a short-lived vision, anticipated with such excitement each year. Its heady scent is wafting all around the house and...
Osmosis jam….
The cool of a glorious early evening brought the opportunity to pick and weigh rhubarb, collect elderflowers and begin the lengthy, magical process of turning the two into jam....
Honey scent….
How I wish you were here today.....to plunge your nose into the deeply floral, honey perfume of Buddleija Black Knight's first flush of the season's blooms. Totally intoxicating. Lucky visitors who are coming today - better get my skates on & stop floating on...
Seasonal tasks….
The last week has disappeared in a flurry of activity....I really meant to post this image of our structure-building efforts this time last week, but with preparation for Saturday's Summer Kitchen Gardening day, I got a bit distracted. Then the scene was no longer...
Meanwhile….
Back in the garden, Baptisia australis has joined the throng of deep pink Bourbon Madame Isaac Perreire roses and white valerian around the ponytail tree, pushing out the aquilegias after their early spring froth. I so love the intense blue of the false-indigo's,...
All the fun of the fair….
I was so thrilled to pick up these four darling pelargoniums from Sandy Crisp's stall at the Harper's Mansion Plant Fair at Berrima on Sunday. I thought they set off my pale green plant stand rather well....(and now it's time to get them into terracotta pots so...
Spring run-down….
All the citrus trees have been in blossom these last weeks - oranges, cumquats, mandarins and lemons, ensuring the garden is filled with their heady perfume (which is truly one of my favourite scents of all). Sadly though, we're nearing the end of the lemon...
Still Life Workshop….
Lights, paintbrushes......action! Early morning in the Dairy yesterday was all quiet following Justin van den Berg's visit to set up the day before. As pale sunlight filtered in, Justin's teacup painting, propped for inspiration, was set to delightful effect, and...
Oh what a scorcher…
Cutting back the rosemary.....before the heat truly set in. Gardening weekend....happy....
Denbigh Open Day….
I know I promised to keep these next posts short, but I just can't let this one pass you by.... One of my absolute favourite gardens (and house!), Denbigh, will be open on Saturday 10 October. Very rarely open to the public, the occasion is to mark the launch of a...