Fennel in the Courtyards

The Fennel is slowly emerging from its winter hibernation, lending a slight smell of aniseed to the air, I shall let the seed heads linger long into the autumn for the last vestiges of the summer scents before we face the vagaries of Winter. But winter seems a long way away now with plump blackbirds hunting for worms on the lawn and Ollie dozing on a wooden bench near the front door. Now Summer is coming fast gamboling towards us in an out of control zig zag ready to confound and enchant with all the special qualities of a Cornish summer...............





The first little entrance courtyard around a very old bird bath




The strange flowers of the Trachycarpus Fortunei hidden in the depths of the foliage

Lavender and Courtyards

I managed to steal a few more hours for the garden on Tuesday finishing the weeding of the lavender beds at last. The rosemary basked against the courtyard walls flowering quite early i think - the vivid blue mauve flowers contrasting against the earthy toned walls. i love to plant the Mediterranean herbs to fill the courtyards with their scent in the early evening and I've also added some fennel seeds around the bird bath in one of the entrance courtyards or rooms really that welcome guest as they first come through from the car park, If I'm successful then the scent of the lavender and Rosemary will be joined by that lovely aniseedy Mediterranean scent that haunts the roads side..........I'll have to keep my fingers crossed!