Of fire and flowers

Korean lilac

The garden has burst into bloom and flowers and weeds are everywhere. I’m trying to work my way through the borders, but as fast as I weed one, the previous one bursts into weeds again.

Clematis montana, covering a seven foot tree stump.

Now that the first lush greens of spring have come and gone, the early summer problems begin. Sticky residue on plants, aphids on roses and sudden death by clematis wilt, along with a lack of rain

Clematis montana romping along a fence.

This variety is indestructible.

This unknown variety had hundreds of flowers, then developed wilt, out of the blue, leaving me with five flowers.

Rhodos are coming into their own.

In other news, while repairing a display stand, I managed to superglue my thumb, and two fingers on my right hand together. I googled how to sort this, [with my left hand] and apparently nail varnish remover is the miracle solution, but as I didn’t have any, I had to carve them apart, with a sharp knife, using my left hand. How I didn’t lose a fingertip is beyond me!

Cherry fruitlets.

Curly is now spending more and more time in the garden, he’s happy to hang around until mid-day, then creeps off into the hedgehog heap of branches in the wildlife garden. I’m delighted with the progress to date, although he’s still sleeping rough, totally avoiding his shed and kennel. Baby steps!

I’ve never seen so many buds on this rock rose shrub.

Columbine season is upon us once again.

I just love all the different varieties, there’s about thirty different types at the moment.

Peanut, the peahen, is now sitting on fertilized eggs across the road!!! Oh, I can’t wait to see her babies.

Talking of babies, grandbabe of mine is utterly delightful. She’s now just over three months and is smiling and babbling and I’m utterly besotted, as is hubs. Obviously she’s the most beautiful, intelligent, adorable baby ever born, after daughter of course!

Two urban wildlife talks this week. One was with these charming Beavers and I was furious to hear how their lovely wildlife garden had been trashed by local teenagers. WHY??? I can’t understand why young people with so many opportunities and so many other things to do behave like this!!!

And Finally….

Chimineas have been enjoyed by people and dogs alike…

and I completed the firewalk. I freaked out a little when I saw them light the darn thing. It then burned for forty minutes, until it was raked out, ready for the firewalk.

I was shocked, during the training session, when the instructor informed us that we were expected to do the firewalk three times as spectators had arrived to support us. Two out of the three walks were fine, but on one, I did have a hot coal latch itself onto my foot so needed to dunk it in a bucket of water. I had a few blisters but they disappeared after a day.

I have to say that it really was a good laugh in the end!

If you’d like to see the firewalk, checkout the link below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfRgQdY1DYE&feature=youtu.be

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37 Comments

  1. Lol….there are so many blooms AND weeds! It’s so hard to keep up, especially with cuddles five minutes away! THAT dog…he killed another mouse yesterday…..not good! I was never a fan of rhodo’s until I saw the pink and purple varieties blooming together in The Lakes. Smitten now.Thanks Anne. xxx

  2. I think I’ve used up all my exclamation points when you sent me the video of the firewalk, so I’ll exclaim instead over your lush gorgeous blooming garden. Wow. So much loveliness. I hope you’re getting to spend some quiet moments just soaking it all in (without intermittent chasing of Buddy, for example!). Your peachy-pink rhodo is just so sweet.

  3. Thanks Chloris, there are plenty of weeds and greenfly lurking around too. The firewalk was a fundraiser for the rescue.xxx

  4. Your garden is looking lovely Dina. I don’t know how you have time with all you do. And fire walking??? What’s that about?

  5. Oh dear God! I had lost this… I am very skeptical about “physical pain”. I have some residual traumatic experience of a walk (running) on short paths of hot sand to reach the sea. No. I definitely don’t think I could walk on burning coals. Of course you have courage to sell !!
    About the fertilized eggs of “your” peacock: I’d like to have one, do you know if they get along with the chickens? Well, I’m trying to get my husband and kids to buy me a couple of rare species chickens….
    Hug and congratulations for the magnificent flowers! I’m really speechless.
    Last but not least, Emanuele Giosuè is going through a horrible moment: his sentimental relationship is in crisis and he suffers terribly. His girlfriend has “cooled” and he thinks it can only be something passing away soon… But life is hard, and the boy is too sweet to realise it, now we are really concerned about his medicine studies.
    🙁 kisses claudine

    • I was surprised at how easy the firewalk was, I imagined it to be more painful. I think peacocks are ok with chickens, but they are incredibly noisy and messy. I still have peacock poop all over my car, it’s impossible to get rid of the stuff. Good look with the chickens, I do hope you get them. Oh noooo…poor Emanuele. I do hope this doesn’t affect his studies. First love is the hardest to recover from. Love and hugs to you all.xxx

  6. Your garden is looking lovely, I envy you your Rhodos, ours just never gets enough water. So sad to read about the trashed wildlife garden, all the children’s hard work…I will never understand vandalism.
    I bet your grandbaby is getting sweeter by the day. Isn’t it just lovely being a grandparent?
    My little granddaughter is starting to talk, so very very cute! (sorry my comment is so late, I’ve been off visiting my granddaughter!)

    • Thanks Gerrie, yes, rhodos don’t like it dry, I’ve lost a few here during dry spells. Vandalism is so mindless isn’t it? What’s wrong with people? Oh yes, being a grandparent is so rewarding, I’m enjoying smiles and gurgles at the moment. Goodness, it must be lovely seeing them begin to talk….each step is so precious!xxx

  7. I really admire your courage. I don’t think I could bring myself to do a firewalk. I also admire your Clematis montana!

    • Thanks Jason, the firewalk turned out to be pretty painless in the end. I love montana, pretty indestructible, and just gets better every year.xxx

  8. Wow, lots happening up your way – and I absolutely had to watch the firewalk video – well done, it wouldn’t be something that I’d be tempted by! It must be so disheartening for the Beavers to have their wildlife garden trashed, even worse that it wasn’t done with malicious intent, just boredom or ignorance. I know how they feel as I found two large wooden planks dropped onto my shade border yesterday; they completely crushed a number of plants in flower. I’m very tempted to dig my plants out, replant them somewhere safer and let the border go back to being a litter dump! I hope that the community will rally round to help the Beavers rebuild the garden!
    PS. Please stay away from the superglue!!! xxx

    • Thanks Caro, the firewalk turned out to be a lot tamer than I had expected. Yes, it’s so infuriating to have a garden trashed deliberately. Oh, how awful to find planks tossed on your plants….I do hope you persevere, but get how disillusioned you must feel. I’ve learnt my lesson with superglue, lol.xxx

  9. Thanks Jade, the garden is looking ok-ish at the moment, I am worried about our unpredictable weather, so many native plants struggle now. I love columbines, the sheer variety and how hardy they are amazes me.
    Oh….please try the firewalk, it’s safe here…hope it is in Malaysia …..just make sure you have a instructor to talk you though it first!xxx

  10. So many beautiful flowers are there in your garden. Its a pity pests and diseases took some of them away. Especially love the Columbines.
    Oh, what a misadventure you have had with the glue!
    Nice to know Curly is now more relaxed and happy again, and the news of Peanut and her due babies!
    What a delightful grandparents you both are!
    Here in Malaysia, we have about the same kind of firewalk too during the Nine Emperor God Festival. But I’ve never tried it. Just never have the courage to walk on it! You are so brave!

  11. lowcarbdiabeticJan

    A lovely post, just a fabulous mix … although it was not pleasing to read about the mindless vandalism. Those poor Beavers, and helpers … I’m shaking my head … this world, sometimes I just don’t understand it.

    On a positive note, thought your flowers and garden look fabulous, and give your grand-daughter a hug and cuddle from me 🙂

    Enjoy the up-coming Bank Holiday weekend.

    All the best Jan

    • Oh…why do some teenagers do this? I’d put a wildlife camera out and show the footage to their parents! Hopefully the parents would care and discipline their children. Hugs and cuddles delivered…grandbabe is delightful. Good to enjoy the lovely moments and then hand her back….that’s the beauty of being a nana. Thanks Jan. xxx

  12. My, you’re gutsy. Knives and superglue; fire walks, stuck coal and blisters. ( shakes head). Hope you’ve got a pictorial record of some of your exploits, so your granddaughter enjoys what her granny got up to..

    Xxxx

    • Thanks Menhir, the superglue incident was by far scarier than that fire walk….my feet are fine, although having to do it three times was a little off-putting. Daughter videoed it, hubs did too but ended videoing himself…all blurry! That guy ! Lol…..we can’t trust him to record anything!xxx

  13. Thank you so much for sharing the fire. It was just right for me this morning… and I could almost taste the flowers too. xxx

    • Hi Shimon, really missing you! Glad you liked the fire, was it the chiminea or the fire-walk that you liked? It’s seems to be a fantastic year, so far, for the garden, the veggies and fruit, but these days we haven’t a clue what is in store given the totally unpredictable weather. Fingers are crossed …..Hope all is well with you and Nechamer, love and hugs to you both, always. xxxxxxx

  14. The glue situation and the Firewalking Event sound scary although the one by choice was good and you managed to free yourself without any injury with the other incident. Sorry to hear about the vandalism – so distressing for the Beavers and leaders. I’m glad Curly is more confident again. The garden looks great. Rambling clematis is so pretty just now. Enjoy your growing granddaughter.

    • I do think super-glue is far more dangerous than fire walking! The stories I’ve heard since I glued my fingers and thumb together, I had to scrub them for hours to get the glue off once I’d freed my right hand. I’d fire walk repeatedly rather than get super-glued up! Thanks Linda.xxx

  15. I did that superglue number on myself once, and I can’t quite remember how I got out of it. I’m surely glad that you were able to get un-glued, and managed to escape without any serious damage. Likewise with the firewalking. That still seems like an utterly crazy thing to do, but it’s not nearly so crazy as a bunch of bored teens tearing up some children’s garden. Honest to goodness, I just don’t understand some of the things that go on in this world.

    It’s exciting to hear about Peanut! I had no idea what peachicks looked like, so of course I had to go peek. They’re cute little things, and I’m sure Peanuts’ will be especially cute.

    The clematis montana is beautiful. Some of our natives are beginning to bloom now, and it’s great fun to see them.

    • I’m so pleased to hear it isn’t just me re the superglue incident, it only takes a couple of seconds of holding on too long, I remember my when my sister super-glued her eyelids together, she ended up in A&E…
      The fire-walking was pretty tame in the end, I was a little nervous on the day but can honestly say it’s pretty safe. I too can’t understand such a destructive mentality…..why oh why? Oh…how I’m looking forward to Peanuts’ babies…now I have to worry about foxes!!! There’s no peace…..ever! Looking forward to seeing your native varieties. Thanks Linda.xxx

  16. Oh, Dina! What with fire-walking, baby- loving, glorious garden-tending, and caring for all those 4-legged and winged beloveds, I can not imagine when you rest!

    I love all the blooms, and am so sorry for the wilt! A few of my long-beloveds didn’t survive our winter, and I’m puzzling how to replace such old anchors in the garden.

    Happy Curly’s doing better; hopefully, the gorgeous blooms will entice him to relax more and more. Yay, Peanut!

    I love those sweet little Beavers. I hope they can get another garden growing and it will be safe. How disappointing that those older kids are so angry, sad, and destructive.

    Blessings on your week’s end, amazing girl!

    • Ahhh, thanks Kitty, it’s odd how clematis can suddenly develop wilt, it comes out of the blue each year. Oh, you have my sympathy, losing plants is always awful, I lost so many lavenders during the drought here last year, they are perfect for our soil but obviously can’t cope with the changing climate. I hope you manage to find good replacements for your anchors, but what on earth to choose? Who knows what the weather will throw at us.
      I don’t understand why kids who have so much are so destructive…Love and hugs to you all. Your sure have your hands full!xxxx

  17. Lovely post and pictures. Weeds seem to outgrow everything else.
    Please get some nail varnish so you don’t have to use a sharp knife if you superglue your fingers together again.
    I despair at mindless vandalism. Well done on doing the fire walk, it’s not something that I’d do. xx

    • Weeds will rule the earth one day, and people will have to eat them! They don’t seem to be affected by climate change at all….maybe we should learn something from that. You have reminded me to buy in a super glue solution! Vandalism is mindless, what is the point of it….. Honestly, the fire walk is pretty tame, thankfully! Thanks Flighty.xxx

  18. Wow, you’re braver than I am. Yes, gardening is a never ending task, as quickly as one area is done you’re back to the beginning again. Glad to here that your granddaughter is doing well, I’m sure she’ll be spoilt rotten by you all, just as she should be.

    • Honestly Jo, the firewalk is pretty tame, the thought of doing it three times freaked me out a little, but I was fine, it’s all in the mind I think. This is the time to battle the damn weeds for sure, I lose that battle every year round about now. I”ll spoil grandbabe rotten, in the right way though…..with love. Thanks Jo.xxx

  19. I love the colour of that rhodo. I have the same rock rose in the allotment – it too is lovely at the moment. Young people tend to blame boredom as the reason for vandalism. Why they are bored is beyond me and even if hat is true the two don;e equate. I wouldn’t have dared behave like that even had I wanted to.

    • Obviously the rock rose loves sandy and clay soil….that surprises me, what an adaptable shrub! The blooms on it are impossible to count. There is no excuse for vandalism, like you, even if I wanted to do such a thing as a teenager, I have had hell to pay! The two don’t add up, you as a teacher know this! It’s just because they can….. thanks Sue.

  20. OMG. You’re a worry!!

    • Hahahaha…sorry Judy, I do always seem to live to tell the tale though, hope all is going well with you. xxxx

  21. veggiemummy

    I know what you mean about trying to keep up with the weeds. I’m decorating the study this week and I’m almost frightened to go out and look at the beds! Good to know the nail varnish tip and I’m so glad you didn’t amputate a finger cutting them apart! Go Peanut! Can’t wait to see her babies, and go you too – that fire walk is very impressive. Wishing you a blister and superglue free week! xx

    • Oh…those darn weeds! It’s impossible to keep up with them, they’ll always outgrow domesticated plants. Good for you decorating, I was supposed to carry on after we did the kitchen, tubs of paint are everywhere, but not a lick of paint has hit a wall. Where does time go??? It’s nail varnish remover you have to look out for…..I did think the whole super glue thing was going to end badly, but obviously the gods were smiling on me that day.
      I am looking forward to Peanut’s chicks, that would be such a fab outcome. The firewalk was pretty tame…if you get the chance, try it.xxx

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