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!
Jubilee fever….
Even last week, London was in the grip of Jubilee fever.....with bunting criss-crossing streets and shop windows full of red, white & blue; messages like 'Steadfast & True' picked out in all manner of styles, to my favourite: 'Long Live The...
More tent exhibits….
Of course, another healthy obsession is one for geraniums & pelargoniums! And this display was pure heaven.....do we have a scented geranium and pelargonium society here in Oz? Not that I really have anywhere to put a collection, but I do love...
Tent exhibits
Of course, Chelsea wouldn't be Chelsea without the tent exhibits! And where would England be without the odd auricula theatre popping up? How could you not smile when confronted with this vision? Oh happy sight!! And if I lived over there, I'd long for a...
Chelsea two….
My other favorite main exhibit gardens were Cleve West's Brewin Dolphin Garden, for its strong symmetrical design incorporating truly wonderful stonework, water rills and balance of structural as well as naturalistic planting - this was sensational, and quite...
Gallivanting again…
And I was incredibly lucky to visit the Chelsea Flower Show last week....so I'll post a few pics over the next few days so you can see what I thought thrilling. The official wording for this garden: DMZ Forbidden Garden by Jihae Hwang, commemorating the 60th...
Compost finds….
Goodness this photo is a bit luminous....I so loathe the way the evenings are closing in early and the camera insists on using flash. Despite this irritation, its an excellent time of year for self-sown leaves and once again I've managed to forage a collection to...
New Autumn veg…
A few tantalising veg were added to last night's dinner! I found myself thinning the parsnips yesterday afternoon; the first celeriac are ready, while the odd zuchinni flower & tiny fruit are still lurking in the last warm, sunny...
Book launch & exhibition: Tjanpi Desert Weavers at Koskela…
I'm just back from a most exciting launch at Koskela - where a brilliant collection of lampshades and baskets are there for all to see, enjoy, perhaps to buy. The colours are quite mesmerising, the shapes enchanting. I would simply love to have them all! Above is...
Autumn leaves….
In fact we have lots of autumn colour at the moment, but I rather enjoy the way we have 'spot' colour, with plenty of contrasting textures in between....and the most glorious crisp, white/gold...
In praise of seed…
Perhaps not the best photographic example but it seems almost impossible to photograph the length of this bed that surrounds the veg garden....My point is that its difficult to achieve a naturalistic effect without the use of seed. I've managed to coax nigella to...
Baskets in the late afternoon sun…
Another collection of beautiful baskets, created by enthusiastic participants at last Friday's Weaving Workshop. When I contacted Harriet last year, full of excitement and a little trepidation to ask if she might consider holding a workshop here at Glenmore, I...
Labyrinth 3 weeks on…
I am so enthralled that the ephemeral Labyrinth has taken on a life of its own....I'm not sure what will happen next, but having originally thought it would all be gone by the end of our open garden weekend, I'm getting very used to its presence....in fact, should...
Autumn cooking…
Cooking up again for another Weaving Workshop with Harriet tomorrow! Sticky Ginger Syrup Cake done.....baked quinces next on the agenda.....kitchen smells divine.....
Kitchen table on ‘event’ days…
This is how my days begin - the kitchen table loaded with everything I need to prepare & serve morning tea and lunch... (and this is but a fragment). Always looks pretty though....
Another fabulous Weaving Workshop with Harriet….
Once again the concentration was palpable: a morning full of shared information in the Hayshed with Harriet, followed by a quick morning tea and initial forming up before lunch....but by afternoon the atmosphere was calm & focussed. And how different a...
Exquisite pomegranates….
I never fail to be amazed at the exquisite beauty of these jewel-like fruits. It hasn't been a good year from a growing point of view - they much prefer a dry season, so they're splitting too early..... But still they produce their glistening...
Not a bad haul….
For the last Sunday in April, this wasn't a bad haul...and almost all by chance! Except for three large Rouge de Marmande tomatoes which I did in fact plant on purpose (and this late fruit is proving to be the best of the season), the rest is by pure chance! I...
Lazy Saturday afternoon….?
No chance! After visiting the markets I thought it a good opportunity to replenish the dwindling supply of chicken stock....so I chopped my veg, added chicken carcasses, brought the lot to a simmer & went off to plant my seedlings. By nightfall I had my new...
Saturday morning market…
I love Saturday markets! And we've had so much going on lately, I just can't keep up with propagating to ensure we have food to gather for our regular lunches (as well as feeding ourselves).....so I always fill in my shortfall with Neil & Carmen's wonderful...
Kitchen Gardening lunch…
Friday's lunch all set to go...just add participants! And I forgot to list sorrel pistou on my last post - gathered & made yesterday morning while everyone was listening intently to Linda (& scrummy with the pots, arts &...