Flower Festival

The Flower Festival, held at Pett Church over the weekend was entitled

"All that glitters is not...."

Based on well known proverbs and sayings, it was a colourful spectacle.

We visited on Saturday afternoon and the church was buzzing with visitors.

All displays were sponsored in memory of loved ones.

Here are some of my photos.

"All that glitters is not gold " and "A new broom sweeps clean."

"Empty bags cannot stay upright."

"Time flies."

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link."

"Strike while the iron is hot."

"Time and tide waits for no man."

The beautiful kneelers made by Joan Zeepvat.

Her daughter Charlotte sponsored the flower festival in her mother`s memory.

"Too many cooks spoil the broth."

"Two`s company, three`s a crowd."

"A throne is just a chair covered in purple velvet."

"Don`t count your chickens before they are hatched."

"The cobbler always wears the worst shoes."

There were many more lovely displays, books, tea and cakes and home produce for sale.

Well done to everyone involved.....a most enjoyable experience.

Sizzling September

The past few days have been sizzlers. For two days running we`ve been for an early morning swim at Pett Level. Today we took our lunch and met up with family too.

Yesterday we decided to get the two new trees in....not the best time, in such heat, but they have been in their pots for long enough.

The space was cleared earlier but the digging was hard in 30 degrees.

The holes were quite large. We used the lovely topsoil and watered them very well.

Here is the quince.

Here is the crabapple.

We hope they will frame the view.

Anne has been busy spreading the new chippings. A new load has been delivered and I think we will complete the rest of the paths with it.

We finished harvesting the damsons.....more jam and more frozen, though there is no space left in the freezers now.

The damson tree which is "Merryweather" is a little out of hand and unfortunately we have missed the window for trimming it. We will have to wait til next year now.

It is too tall to reach the fruit without using a ladder.

 

The pumpkins have been harvested. Although we love the big ones, it is much easier to process the smaller ones.

The dahlias continue to delight.

This one got stuck in the netting.

Some of the melons have been marked but we ate the biggest today and it was delicious.

They are called "Melba."

 

 

Borlotti beans and red cabbage.

 

Cucumbers still coming thick and fast.

The polytunnel was 48 degrees inside yesterday.

The sweetpea row has been dismantled, the area dug over and manure spread.

 Cardoons gone to seed and rudbeckia in full glory.

Sedums colouring up and attracting insects.

 

Late blooms on the roses.

I have new plans for this area. It is supposed to be a wild flower space but hasn`t been very successful for two years. Watch this space.

Magical Twilight Fairy Trail

On a dark, windy Thursday evening, we were treated to a twilight fairy trail, by Anne and Tim.

On arrival at Freshwinds Garden we were greeted by a crackling campfire, followed closely by welcome drinks and delicious stew heated over the fire. The sky went pink and it got darker.

After lighting a candle lantern each, we set off through the garden and down through the horse field to the beginning of the fairy trail. We could see fairy lights twinkling all the way.

Anne met us at the willow tree where we received our first presents.

The ladies had beautifully decorated wands and Steve had a staff with an all-seeing eye.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the troll`s bridge, we discovered an ancient tin box.

I won`t tell what was in in but it was a bit stinky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fairy hollow was beautiful, twinkling with fairy lights, which in turn made all the fairy jewels glitter and shine.

The hollow willow tree was lit from within.

Hanging along the bunting were fairy wishes and we were invited to choose one that felt  right.

 

 

We carried on along the path with a bright moon behind us.

That did not help us to see a goblin galloping across the field, but we heard him shout out about stealing the fairy treasure. It was a bit frightening.

 

 

The way was lit by solar lights casting star patterns across the dewy grass.

 

 

 At the witch ditch we played a game with jelly beans, some of which tasted disgusting.

 

 

When we arrived at the next stop we all sat round the low table on logs where Anne gave us exquisite dandelion seed sculptures....truly magical.

 

 Martha had a tiny box full of crystals.

 

At the goblin`s lair we were extremely surprised to see a very grumpy goblin at home.

He had a roaring campfire, muttered continuously and threw fireworks at us.

That was quite frightening too.

 

 

We left him to it and lit our sparkly way back to the garden, past the horses who wondered what was going on.

  

Back at the garden there was more gift-giving and finally a slideshow of all the photos taken on the two fairy days this year.

And here is a video of the goblin for all those people who don`t believe he is there at night time.