Bluebells galore!

As a family we have been getting out for longish walks about 3 times a week. We have a garden which, although not large, gives us some outdoor space in which to breathe and sit, so we don't feel the need to go out every day. We're very grateful for this and appreciate how lucky we are - many have no outdoor space of their own and precious little access to the sort of walks we have nearby. That's one of the reasons we don't go out every day - we feel we should leave the walks for those who need them every day, those with children full of energy or no alternative.

I was reminded by Facebook that this week was the Bluebell Festival at Enys Gardens. It was due to start last weekend and would have run all week, showcasing one of the oldest and most extensive Bluebell Lyes in the country. Obviously the festival was cancelled weeks ago, although the Bluebells will still be there, we won't get to see them this year. You can see a previous visit here.

And so I thought I wouldn't get my Bluebell fix this year, apart from the smattering that appear along the roadside in places. Little did I know that there were Bluebell woods all around me!

Pencalenick - 20 mins walk from my house...

drifts of lovely English Bluebells...

and Kenwyn Churchyard 20 minutes walk away in the other direction! 

I love a good Churchyard - the post-teens say that's weird but it isn't. I think they are restful and contemplative spaces, rather than creepy ones. However when the post-teens asked me whether I wanted to be there in the middle of the night I had to concede that I didn't, not because of ghosts and ghouls but more because I'd probably go flying and end up rolling to the bottom of the hill!

 There was a wonderful mix of Bluebells, Wild Garlic, and Three Cornered Leeks.

Not to be mistaken for white Bluebells. Three Cornered Leeks get their name from their stem which is triangular in section so if you're in any doubt check the stem - Bluebells have a round section stem, below is a white Bluebell and I think it's the first I've seen.

And then as if to make a point we went on another walk and came upon even more!

This day was gloomier so the photos don't show the colour quite so well but the blue haze was intense.

So we haven't missed out on the Bluebells at all. Although the Enys display can't be beaten and I did miss the lovely design and craft fair that is held at the festival, I don't feel entirely cheated - and I may have done some online shopping to make up for the lack of craft fair!

 

Greetings from my family to yours from an obelisk set deep in the heart of a newly discovered Bluebell wood!

It's amazing what you discover when you're bored and forced to explore your local area!!

-x💙💙💙x-

April review

Well April has gone and in so many ways I'm glad it's over. It was a strange month with so much going on but so little happening - my brain has been chock-a-block full - of nothing in particular!

The garden provides a constant as does family and both have been a great comfort. My favourite Tulip and favourite Rose both flowered in April and they were epic.

My Florentine striped Tulip is the only one that reliably comes back each year for me and was inspired by a trip to visit the gorgeous Gardens of Florence with my Mum 7 years ago. I love it - it is large, frilly and unapologetically loud!

It also lasts a good 10 days (if the weather is vaguely reasonable)

My other favourite was also inspired by the Florence trip and is my Banksia climbing Rose.

Thousands of tiny creamy yellow flowers glowing in the sun and smelling so sweet. The sheer quantity of the flowers means that it lasts well, although it only flowers once a year. Some of the Italian ones we saw were enormous and because it's thornless its perfect for scrambling over arches without snatching at passers by.

I was concerned mine might not be at it's best this year as a large section blew off the garage roof in a winter storm and had to be removed. But cheerful and resilient it's already back charging over the garage again already!

April is also the time for blossom - the Apple tree obliged...

and so did the ornamental Cherry...

both looking so pretty in different ways - one so delicate the other so blousy.

So the garden is coming along (I've been careful to give you close ups you'll notice - this is very much a 'curated view' of my garden. The in-between bits do not stand inspection yet (I say that as if they will at some point 😂)😳)

Chaotic and unkempt as much of it is, it's been lovely and a refuge for even the gardening philistines - the post-teens. 

Travelling Eldest has been turning her talents for baking to good use with a string of epic productions that were wonderful, largely chocolate based and no good at all for the lockdown waistline!

I hope April treated you reasonably well and that the outlook for May is manageable. As we wait to hear what happens next we're trying to stay relaxed here and not pre-judge anything or any one, concentrating on what we have some control over rather than things we don't (although it's mighty challenging at times).

 For a bit of beautiful Italian escapism you can read about our trip to Florence here, here, here and here, it was such a wonderful trip and is evidence that we used to travel, we really did - even overseas! 

And we will again - just maybe not quite yet!

Love from Cornwall 💚x