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Earth Mother News
TOAD HALL
After my recent trip, I got a renewed interest in The Wind in
the Willow by Kenneth Grahame, who kept a room at Greenbanks Hotel
in Falmouth as a escape to take in the pub and to write.
Throughout the halls of the hotel there are bits and pieces about
Grahame. I recently ran across a video of the tale at my local
thrift store. What a find, this magical tale about life on the
riverbank. The reckless Mr. Toad of Toad Hall. Please look
up this family classic.
From the Greenbank Hotel, the tour took us off to visit
Lanhydrock, a 19th century home that was filled with the trappings of
high Victorian life. The weather was pleasant and I decided to
spend most of the visit touring the grounds. Instead of calling
this a garden, I decided to refer to this as the home of the wonderful
grounds (30 acres worth of grounds). Of the series of levels,
styles and careful arrangements, the highly trimmed evergreens were the
hallmark. As it was May 21st, spring in the English countryside,
the flowering collection of plants were the magnolias, rhododendrons and
camellias. Up the garden path I go and I mean up, up and up.
On each level there were places to sit and admire the garden room.
Then, up again to find a charming thatched cottage, a little stone
spring house probably home of the gardener. Up again and by this
time I was out of film in the camera. I found a cozy little
covered garden bench to reload the camera and dig out my water bottle.
I was joined by a delightful Cornish woman with whom I had a interesting
chat. She and her husband were retired from jobs in London and
owned a cottage nearby. Her everyday exercise was a walk through
the grounds. Every garden is special and this person made my visit
at Lanhydrock especially nice. After that, I decided to head
downhill and back to the house. I convinced the lady at the door
of the manor that I didn't have time to do a full tour and to let
me do a self tour of the downstairs level. After a quick peek, I
headed into the gift shop to look at things and buy a snack for the bus.
Long lines at the two places to eat and not enough time. What a
wonderful morning.....
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/devoncornwall for a web visit.
On the road again, off to visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan (www.heligan.com).
During the war, many of the gardens were neglected as people were trying
to protect loved ones and stay alive. Gardening for pleasure
wasn't part of life. It was after the war that many of the gardens
were rediscovered and began to be set right again. Heligan offers
200 acres for exploration. The highlight was the lush 22 acre
subtropical jungle. Jungle in the south England, yes! The
waters of the gulf stream warm the waters and air. I felt as if I
was going to see a dinosaur head pop up from the foliage. The tree
ferns are so prehistoric. I decided, I would have liked to have
seen more, but it was a good hike back to the garden gate. I had a
suspicion that a hot cup of tea and a saffron biscuit awaited me.
Upward and onward...Tea time. Oh, one of things I purchased was a
CD of Tea Time music. Fun....
After a full day of tramping about, it was back to the Greenbank Hotel
and a pint of ale. Dinner dockside and a hot shower. I hit
my comfy bed with a thud....ZZZZZ.
Enough for now; more to come. I have been busy this end of
October. I dug out an old iris bed and replaced the iris with 50
Asiatic lilies (pink & rose colored) and 48 giant purple alliums, 25
little pink double tulips and 25 mixes pink and rose regular tulips.
I still have to replant the irises somewhere. Now I have to watch
for the squirrels who find bulbs a tasty snack. I have been
thinking about using a few rocks on top until the ground freezes.
I plan to get my tree peony plants wrapped to protect them for the
winter. All four are planted on the south side of the house and
are protected from the cold north wind. The peonies are expensive and
need a few minutes of my attention. I am looking forward to my
spring garden.
So dear friends
and readers, have the best ever Thanksgiving. Set aside any anger
and replace it was sincere kindness. Eat pumpkin pie with abandon
and remember the truth always works. Da Aarde Moeder.
October 31st. 2006
Halloween
County B
Platteville, WI. 53818
nina@mhtc.net
Greenbank Hotel |
Gate House Lanhydrock |
