The changing colours of spring

Gorgeous sunny spring flowers now

Have you notice the prevalence of yellow in the colour pallette of the early spring flowers? The delicious sunny flowers offered by the spring garden that brighten up our days and feed the early insects - only this morning I watched a bumble bee hunting amongst the pot plants and you know - It had yellow stripes!

Daffodils have naturalised on the lower lawns

I love to go out into the garden at this time of the year to try to snap the first flowers after the first winter days

To Read the full Garden Diary for this spring about February in the Ednovean Farm Garden

The early primroses always transport me straight back to my childhood

Spring is moving on now!

It has been only as spring has gathered momentum that the blues have started to creep in and I am just starting to spot the shy violets and the first bluebells nestling in the shelter of the cornish banks.

I spotted the first bluebell yesterday

It is such a joy each year to watch the changing colours of the season as the new cycle of life starts again in the garden. Enjoy the spring days ahead :)

I hadn't expected the French lavender to flower at the same time as the Daffodils!

To read the full earlier garden diary's for Ednovean Farm

These short blogs are going to replace my posts on google+ to read the full previous garden diary posts just follow these links

January Garden diary

And for some of the back story about the creation of our garden in an unpromising old farmyard you may enjoy reading

Our Garden over the years

A table for our days

We have a lovely table Refectory that we have used to serve Breakfast to our guests over the years - since 1991 in fact but in each season I like to make it mine agian with a different tweak to reflect the season.

For example at Christmas time it felt right that it should be more formal with a beautiful vintage cut glass vase filled with red roses and bought by my mother for 2/6 (which shows you how many years ago it was!)

You may notice on our General info page a line of simple jam jars twinkling in the candle light and paired with spring daffodils for a more relaxed approach.

This year I'm enjoying twining the table with farmhouse style jugs in blue and white to reflect the china on the table and as the year goes on well the wonderful thing about the seasons and personal taste is that it can change with the gentle breeze of the years!

The year is still young though and I've already moved on to a vintage pressed glass vase for my first welcoming start to the morning for our Bed and Breakfast guests!

The simple joy of watching spring develop again

There is a simple joy in watching the spring develop each year and gently clothe the spare landscape of winter in delicate new green finery.

Each year the bulbs burst from the warm earth agian like old friends renewing an acquaintance and life then goes on seamlessly on the well trodden path as effortlessly as before.

Slowly the blooms will fade away again and sink to sleep over the dry baking days of summer and they will not stir again until the next spring season comes. And each year they  arrive with a flourish in a well rehearsed dance with the sun and I greet them as old friends that I have missed but known they were so very nearby.

To read my last garden diary set in the Ednovean Farm garden click Here 

Each month I will write a little more as the season unfolds in our garden at Ednovean Farm beside the sea in Cornwall.

Winter days in our courtyard garden

Is it me or does the winter seem quite long this year? I know I'm already dreaming of summer now. One thing that never fails to cheer me up is our Mediterranean inspired courtyard garden that we made in the old farmyard just looking at the Date Palms always cheers me up every morning as I open the blinds.

The fig trees that line the courtyard are bare now of course but they already have fat buds forming to give a gentle hint of the spring days to come and let me dream just a little bit of the warm mellow summer days to come when they will agian with their deep green glossy leaves that hide sweet fruits in their midst.

Nearly a sunset

We very nearly had a sunset last night - in fact I even brought the camera out in anticipation but instead the distant glow of the sun only pierced the clouds for an instant, as the dark of the winter evening wrapped us again in its embrace.

Today at Ednovean Farm

I

It was only a simple white flower pale and ethereal - almost too delicate to survive but it brightened up my morning as I hung the washing out this morning.

Over the years I've learnt to put the spring flowers near to the house in the places I'm likely to visit the most in the course of a working day when dusk comes early.

So the little supermarket finds, the gifts from neighbours have found a home not in the outer garden where summer days tempt me to linger and wander but in the unpromising area betwixt house,stables and boundary wall. and on gloomy mornings how I treasure their appearance!

Catch up with my last Garden diary here

I've filled a selection of treasured terracotta pots with spring bulbs to put beside the front door

Summertime gardens at Ednovean Farm

Sun dapples cobbles under an Olive tree at Ednovean Farm

Well what a summer we have had this year with each day conjuring up images of the Mediterranean to our everyday lives. Our Garden has flourished here at Ednovean Farm this year, enjoying the dry heat and basking in the sunshine.
Why not visit my July Garden Diary to see the snaps.

A succession of grasses give autumn interest

I must say that even  now on the cusp of autumn the garden is still sending up new growth towards the sun. If you have missed my regular updates do pop along to Google+ to visit my Garden collection where I add my snaps a couple of times a week.

Early morning sunshine on the terrace above the Date Palms

What a difference a season makes! (see below!)

Will we ever have such a wonderful summer agian or will be forever destined to intone "In my young day the summers were so hot!" Time will tell but I'd prefer us not to see the Beast from the East again this winter What a long journey we have made into our perfect Mediterranean Summer in the Garden

Snow envelopes our garden - to see more snaps click here

Where's the Ednovean Diary?

February 2017

So where has the Ednovean Diary gone to? Well it is still alive and well and available on our website but every now and again I do pop in yo here to give you a gentle reminder about how to find it.

It's not that I don't like Blogger, it is so easy to use but I just don' have time to keep up two blogs at the moment - or maybe I only have one thought at a time!

So this was Ednovean Farm this week in the cool light of the February sunshine as our ivy-clad Farmhouse settled to wait for summer as it has no doubt done over the centuries.

Ednovean Farm - February 2017

Happy reading and don't forget you can no find my blog at https://ednoveanfarm.co.uk/blog/

We've enjoyed the balmy days and spent our spare hours exploring some of Cornwall's wildest beaches! We’ve made the most of our autumn exploring the unspoilt beach of West Cornwall and The Lizard and there are so many more to see but alas on a farm as the days close in.  The couple of hours we had to spare in the afternoons is swallowed up now, along with the day light, until the nights draw out again but until then here are some memories from those last magical days that still hint of summer days. Mind you there is always the consolation of a freshly baked croissant for lazy Sunday breakfast! Gunwalloe, Poldhu and Dollar Coves have made a great finish to our autumn exploring the sandy beaches of Cornwall. One of my personal favourites has to be Portheras and Boat Cove for sheer unadulterated beauty. Kennegy for is contrasting appeal and local history beside Prussia Cove and our walk along the spectacular Godrevy and Gwinear beach will stay in my memory for a long time. Porth Chapel for a blissful sunday afternoon and Risney at high tide for moments lent from a busy day. And we even found time to walk down to the local beach in Perranuthnoe!

Porthcurno beach

To follow Ednovean Farm's weekly blog why not visit http://ednoveanfarm.co.uk/blog/

A winter gale

Perranuthnoe Beach at low tide yesterday

My word the wind blew yesterday! No sooner had i written my latest blog about the steady step of spring than cornwall was gripped by the teeth of a vicious gale insidiously called "Imogen" We knew it was coming of course as the wind quietly gathered momentum building from a whisper barely moving the daffodils, to a primeval roar carrying all before it.

We kept our horse safely in their stables for the day and the cats made their own arrangements involving a cosy blanket by the fire and it was only the human contingent of myself and Charles that ferried bales of hay and buckets of horse food about tin the stingingly cold winds.

I do believe our Bed and Breakfast guest enjoyed watching the raw power of nature bringing line after line of white capped waves towards the beaches and harbours over the weekend though and on Monday,  I did walk down through Perranuthnoe to the beach and it was so quietly peaceful in the lea o f the houses that I was totally unprepared for the stinging force of the wind as I reached the slipway. I quickly realised that even if I could cling to the handrail to the beach the blizzard like sand was not going to do my poor camera any good what so ever and retreated as the better part of valour.

I was grateful to our homes thick granite walls yesterday

We woke up to a still and tranquil world again this morning with the birds - so silent yesterday - again starting to sing in the bushes and I threw down an extra handful of oats to the little robin bobbing about beside the stables waiting for the horses breakfast - yesterday was a hard day for him after all.

Away from the February gales if you would like to follow my preparation for summer in our garden at Ednovean Farm the click here 

Each day now brings us a little bit more light as the sun climbs higher in the sky and a little bit nearer to the time when my garden will spring back into life and each day I eagerly watch for the signs of spring - don't you now too?!

Spud and Louis snoozed through the storm in the house of course

Let's celebrate winter days

A view across a cornish valley towards
Tregonning Hill

Let's celebrate winter days that offer long tranquil views and sparkling seas still in Cornwall. 

Last week i explored between countryside and Sea with my camera and found plenty to inspire me from the soft tranquil landscape in the mellow colours of winter to the bright glittering seas lapping around Mounts bay. The colours are lovely and the occasional bright flashes of vibrant yellow that are the daffodil fields never cease to intrigue me. I did stop ner to a daffodil with pickers working but they started to look rather anxious so drove away!

St Michael's Mount in the winter sunshine

A quick walk towards the sea

Next I parked in Perranuthnoe and took the bridlepath from near the church that runs towards Trenow beach and Marazion and followed the blue sea with St Michael's Mount always seeming to be beside me

The bridlepath winds down towards Marazion

So for a few precious minutes I celebrated the winter day between the countryside and the coast and have some  memories to store away - if you would like to follow my walk further just click on the link above to read a little more

Longer days ahead!

My January Breakfast table at Ednovean Farm

At last as we pass the winter solstice we can look forward to the longer days ahead and maybe - just maybe there is a glimmer of light upon the horizon. I can quite understand how early man viewed the winter as a time to chase away the dark spirits and perform rituals to encourage the sun to return. In fact I can quite sympathise with the idea amid the relentless gloom that surrounds us at the moment.

Still I have a few little tricks to brighten up the morning here for our guests and always fill the Breakfast room with candle light with a jug of bright daffodils to distill the winter gloom with the promise of spring just around the corner - because if I cannot encourage the sun to shine or the spring to come, at least I can set a bright cheerful place to start the day.

To read more of my Breakfast tips to start the morning, try my blog next blog about Breakfast at Ednovean Farm

The gentle glow of candles in the morning light

I use an eclectic collection of country chin to give a relaxed feel to breakfast

Merry Christmas!!

I just popped by to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thankyou for reading my blog and for your comments over the year. Today is a computer free day but lots of Turkey, a little Christmas Pudding, a glass of wine and a snooze in front of the TV with a nice warm puss-cat snuggled down on my lap with a happy purr. so wishing you a very special day away from the everyday routines of life and with hope for the coming year Merry Christmas!!

Christmas time in Cornwall

We eventually found the fairy for the Christmas Tree

The magic moments of Christmas are about to settle over the land and here in Cornwall, preparations have been going on for some time in the house, ready for the festive season. This year I've added a little Christmas  spirit at a time to our home at Ednovean Farm, building layers of Christmas gently starting with the first candle for Christmas and finishing with choosing the perfect Christmas tree for our hall.

2015 and the Christmas Tree is ready at last!

Local Cornish traditions

Mousehole lights

The Christmas lights are making a magical arc around Mounts Bay now, twinkling above the old granite towns and lighting the harbours never more so than at the famous Christmas lights of  Mousehole harbour that draws people from around the country to soak up the Christmas atmosphere in the little sheltered haven from the winter storms. Sadly for one night the lights are switched off leaving only a candle and angle to remember the lost of the Solomon Browne lifeboat crewed by the men from Mousehole, that went out in atrocious conditions to try to rescue people from a stricken ship. It was only as the little if boat went in for the last time perilously near to the rocks that the ship pitched over in the darkness and took the lifeboat and brave crew to the bottom.

Montol Festival

In Penzance the Winter solstice festival of Monool will be underway with a week of celebrations culminating in a candle lit parade of masked participants wearing mock fancy dress

A corner of our hall at Ednovean Farm

Wild swimming in Cornwall

Throughout Cornwall there are a a hardy band of swimmers that swim each day come rain or shine and in Penzance the Battery rocks are a popular launch point. This Christmas on Boxing Day the local, the visitors, the I-eaten-too-much-turkey will race to the Sea in Sennen to plunge into the surf in one of the most popular iconic Christmas events of Cornwall.Try this map to find the nearest spot to you.  Sadly i seem to have mislaid my costume for a while but I love sitting on a quiet cove  with a warming flask of hot chocolate aferra swim in the sea and thee is an amazing wave of warmth that suddenly spreads through your body and a great feeling of peace after a dip in the sea, although personally I've never swum below a temperature of 14 degrees in the sea water!

I hope that you enjoy your Christmas and my little blogs leading up to the celebrations and it only leaves me to wish you a very Happy Christmas!!

October in Cornwall

Looking back along the coastal footpath towards Perranuthnoe and Penzance
with the magical St Michael's Mount

What did we do this October in Cornwall? Well we've been busy running our B&B of course but we have managed to squeeze in a few visits so special places around Penzance with the aid of Lucy land rover.

This year I had a yen to see the vibrantly coloured heathlands around the coast and no, it was nothing to do with the Poldark film crew working around West Penwith! Charles wanted to revisit a Boscawen Un Stone circle  and Carn Euny ancient village and with summer slowly slipping aways we added a couple of afternoons on the beach for good measure.

Of course we've been busy here in the Ednovean Farm gardens and I took lots of photos for my  September and October garden blogs as summer turned slowly to autumn in Cornwall

Looking out to sea at sunset from the Ednovean farm gardens

September days

A statue in the Italian Garden at Ednovean Farm

Is it my imagination or has a certain peace fallen over the countryside now? The frantic energy of the nesting birds; the voluminous growth of the plants as they approached the time to seed; the scurrying of the animals as they reared their young - all has settled down now, the race has been run and there is a gentle acceptance that that autumn is in the air.

The echiums once so dramatic have faded to elegant whispy spires shedding their seeds for future generation

In our garden I love the mellow look of the final emerging grasses but couldn't resist one final look back to summer in my final August blog post  to celebrate those bright blousy summer days. I took the snap above this morning as I cleared a bedroom terrace of their al fresco breakfast - It must have been wonderfully peaceful to sit and look down over the garde towards St Michaels' Mount and Penzance!

Breakfast on one of our private bedroom terraces
(sorry everthing else had been eaten!)

Find the new Ednovean Diary

Sunset behind our courtyard garden

Don't forget that the main Ednovean farm diary has moved now but you can catch still up with all of our news here   What a summer we have had and did you spot our garden in the September issue of Homes and Gardens? We've only managed a couple of walks along the coast this summer from here as we have been so busy with the B&B

A view to St Michael's Mount from the coastal footpath

and finally a special birthday treat a picnic on a secluded
cove

So don't forget to pop by the blog and catch up with our news from Cornwall!

By for now!