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!
Foliage and texture….
Where the Arc and Barn Garden meet, while mottled hydrangeas
Primping & preening for open garden…
At the weekend (so before the rain!), I spent some time deadheading dahlias, in hope of maintaining a billowing display in the borders; set off here by the bleached plumes of Miscanthus sinensis swaying in the breeze.... We cut the Cannas back hard in January, in...
Water, water everywhere….
Wonderful water! Gushing, spilling, rushing with a roar, flushing out previously stagnant pools; eddying and bubbling, before slowing to a flow, filling the creek bed and meandering away on its journey to the river. It's such a rare occurrence that I find...
Open garden colour….
One of a pair of old persimmon trees showing early signs of orange-tinted foliage, behind the boldly structural leaves of Agave americana. The passage of colour (given this week's chill factor) should be perfect (fingers crossed!) for Open...
Open garden countdown….
And so the countdown to Open Garden begins! 2 weeks away, 'til 2 & 3 May, with preparations well underway! The kitchen garden has newly-built structures of beautiful black bamboo that Alex and I cut over at Brownlow Hill a month or so ago. (For those who...
Cloth bound….
This is a call out to anyone who might be in, or visiting the Southern Highlands this coming Sunday 19 April, when Julie Paterson, founder of Cloth Fabric, will be celebrating the local launch of her new book ClothBound at 11am at Sturt Gallery, Mittagong. I credit...
Sweet potato story….
For years I've been experimenting with sweet potatoes in funny places....ie not in the actual kitchen garden! I don't know why...I guess we don't eat that many of them, although I think they're delicious, and I got excited if I produced just one. But I reckon I...
Fun fair….
What an enormous weekend at The Collectors' Plant Fair! So many friendly faces.....so many enticing plants! I thought I'd drop in this image of the passenger footwell of my car on the last return journey from the fair! i'm always struck by this most delightful...
Easter treats….
I love the days of Easter, which seem to have their own natural flow. I like to treat Good Friday as one of preparation for more celebratory days ahead, so by necessity, as well as bringing a great sense of satisfaction, the tasks tend to be good, practical,...
Persimmon longing….
It's a meagre persimmon harvest this year after last year's bumper crop, which is a bit disappointing. The crows took another half dozen & there are a couple for which I need a ladder. I'll save these till they're deep orange & translucent, for my annual...
Autumn Sunday breakfast….
From tree and hive to plate. Homegrown figs & honey....though I've drawn the line (for now) at yoghurt. Just don't ask me to milk a cow!
District exhibits 2015…
This year, the District Exhibits at the Royal Easter Show have taken on a whole new meaning....not only representing the finest and most diverse produce from their respective districts, but expressing the impact of war long ago, while life went on by necessity,...
Honey story….
A couple of weeks ago, I alluded to Alex's seemingly stymied hope of harvesting our first batch of honey any time soon. Well...that was in relation to the Warre hive and to be honest, I was quite content with the section of comb he'd so excitedly presented me with....
Garden life Saturday….
I thoroughly enjoyed my Saturday at the launch of Richard Unsworth's new Garden Life store (on a grand scale!). And the longer I stood at my table of goodies, surrounded by huge tubs, Moroccan pots, terracotta jars and many other temptations from Richard's...
Gathering delights….
With so many exciting events coming up on the Glenmore House calendar, I'm gathering together some enticing Essential Kit. Like my favourite French Market Baskets in the best three styles, and heavenly linen with which to tempt us all. This linen tablecloth is...
Seasonal crop rotation….
Seasonal crop rotation in progress: first the chooks, then barrow loads of our beautiful compost; straw, a string line, labels and seed. Well, in fact the chooks didn't go into the root veg bed & nor did the compost....as root veg like a 'hungry' soil....one...
Sunday wrap-up….
Well....what a day....another one! I've been trying to defoliate the prunings from the espalier fruit trees for the last month or so, to tie into bundles ready to use as we plant the new season's veg. So at last, this afternoon, after every other task was...
Gardening Saturday….
Some days are just overwhelming I think, as I sit here in the afternoon's golden light, feeling mildly dizzy with endeavour! I've stored away the latest batches of Elderflower Cordial & Fig Jam.... Sorted those beans I mentioned yesterday.... Picked...
Busy as bees….
Where oh where do the days vanish to? I don't know, but perhaps it's just 'that time of year'! There is so much happening...in the garden, preparing for events, cooking (to name just a few distractions), which is why there's not been much action here on the blog...
Bittersweet delight…
Experimenting with 'ripeness' of the Cape Gooseberry. I've only grown them once before, a few years ago, so I'm not entirely sure at which point to pick them. I baked these ones 'til wrinkled, and they were absolutely sublime. Exquisite tiny fruit, hiding in so...