Sharon Moncur
@SharonMoncur
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SWFrance and Sussex. Global issues, nature, gardens, plants, family, music, books, laughter, Christian. Late diagnosed autistic. Husband with Parkinson’s.
SW France and Sussex
Joined January 2010
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Ages since I last blogged
Open garden : Jardin ouvert
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Morning
Traditionally French people give each other bunches of lily of the valley (muguets) on May 1st. Here’s one for you.
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75 butternut squash (plus 14 with split skins off camera) from four plants we were gifted by a friend. I think that counts as a success? Grown in our own home made compost. Crown Prince pumpkins (in background) yet to be harvested (and counted!).
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Big decision made.
I’ve just had my last ever colour treatment at the hairdressers and will now let it go to its natural grey (white??!)
Wish me luck in getting used to the change!
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Morning
Turned two compost heaps yesterday morning using these three trusty tools. The shovel was left behind by builders in the 80s! The two varieties of pitchfork are so useful and I love them! I know some people like handbags. I like garden tools 🤣.
Have a good day!
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Have you ever seen such a floriferous hellebore?!
In my garden today
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@clairebubblepop
I always think of people in that kind of situation when I hear smug people say things like “it’s funny but the harder I work the luckier I become”. Makes me so cross.
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Massive storm. This taken 40 minutes ago when it started, still going strong.
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I’m not a photographer, just a happy snapper with an iPhone
Nevertheless very pleased with this capture
Coming in to land …
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I photographed the mimosa again, this time with blue sky behind it. Appropriate for the times
@jfporchez
#weepforUkraine
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Good morning
We are now ready to talk publicly about some recent very sad news
My darling husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
This is a great deal to get our heads around and quite some journey ahead of us
As always we will face it together
#kindnessalwayswelcome
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We never hear the word scullery these days. My grandparents had a room they called the scullery in their large Victorian house. I wonder what the definition is?
Frank Taylor Lockwood was better placed than many artists to turn WW2 restrictions to his advantage and began a series of interiors of his house in Dalston Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham. This work depicts the scullery and is from 1944.
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I stopped for a coffee between French class and hair appointment and spied a magnolia in the distance. So I went for a closer look …
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Isn’t this just gorgeous
This striking Art Nouveau storefront in Rue Royale, Brussels, was originally designed by Paul Hankar in 1896 as a shirt shop. After years of abandonment, it was restored & now operates as famed floral artist/designer Daniel Ost’s flower shop
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Good morning
We were so surprised when we discovered that hellebores grow well here. I’m rather pleased with how beautiful these currently look.
Have a good Saturday
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Morning
Pilates first, then more gardening. Sunny, dry, and a forecast high of 16. Perfect!
A view up what we call the Spring Walk
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After reading various news reports today ...
Isn’t it about time we stopped using the term “low-skilled workers”?
If nothing else it’s just so blatantly rude!
It’s also almost always deeply inaccurate.
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Laid up since the middle of the night with an excruciatingly painful neck/shoulder
Who knows why
So to cheer myself up I’ve just bought a Stihl mini-chainsaw and a set of electric secateurs like are used in vineyards
I know other women buy handbags … its garden tools for me!
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This may just look like an emerging snowdrop to you … BUT … it is the first one spotted of the 800 planted in the green last spring so a very happy sight.
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Morning
Just over two years ago I sowed some lupin seeds, far too early, as I desperately needed something to look forward to as we began a 16 (pandemic travel restrictions) week separation. They are still going strong. Aren’t these new leaves beautiful?
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Weekend not quite working out as hoped. Currently parked near BRI while OH is in A&E awaiting electro cardioversion. If you’re the praying type a few more prayers wouldn’t go amiss.
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The facade of Highgrove looking magnificent with a very creative use of different climbers interwoven.
Morning.
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@jolilford
Well, nothing much to see they said but you’re welcome to if you really want to. Ah ... we thought ... how embarrassing ... and beat a hasty retreat. The owners were really rather gracious. We laughed ...
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Good Monday morning
A couple of years ago I planted four Catalpa bignonioides in a square to (ultimately) create a naturally shady space
Yesterday I spotted the first flower on one of them
Fragrant and lovely
Very chuffed
May your day bring you a lovely and welcome surprise too!
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Chimneys swept, all well, the little stove now roaring away. Perfect.
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And today giving pause for reflection on a monarch and her 70 years of faithful service. If only everyone in public life followed her example.
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16 bags of walnuts from our tree, many more to come. Best harvest we’ve had. And all free!
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Bored with my irises yet? Hope not as here’s another one freshly opened.
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This is SOOOO different from a hornet (Asian or Euro). It is beautiful. Celebrate its beauty.
Please dont kill this rare & beautiful bee - the Violet Carpenter biggest bee in Europe 2.5 to 3 cm Black with blue wings her flight is fast & very loud but she's not aggressive & rarely stings. some people are confusing her with the Asian hornet
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I've joined LibDems because they're the only opposition to ghastly Brexit;
my way of standing up for future of my children & grandchildren
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Morning
Arbutus unedo is giving a great show this year. Can you see this year’s flowers (to come) preparing themselves alongside this year’s ripening fruits?
We are going to a nearby market this morning. It’s raining. Again.
Enjoy your day whatever your plans.
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Been some drama since I posted earlier. Drinking my early morning tea I heard a strange noise, looked up, and saw a car roll at speed down the bank between the lane and the neighbouring field. Raced to help, fortunately driver physically unscathed but clearly v shocked.
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Morning
Day 1 of the new boiler, estimated to take two days. Two plumber chaps are really pleasant and thoughtful (as well as highly recommended by several neighbours) so it shouldn’t be too traumatic.
Anything interesting in your life?
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The generations shifted yesterday; my mother’s long life drew peacefully to a close and an era ended.
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Good morning
If I told you we are going to market today to see if there are any plants for sale we need would you believe me?
Very pleased that I’ve managed to get foxgloves self-seeding around the garden
All my gardens must have foxgloves, it’s a law of the universe 😊
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I rarely engage with broadcast news but am making an exception at the moment
A report from Italy, suffering so grievously, on the 6pm news showed supermarkets well stocked and customers all behaving with decorum and wisdom
UK, you need to take a long hard look at yourself
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And this is what our first hellebores to flower look like
Magic
There is a white flowered plant about to burst forth too
Good morning everyone
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Always good to check in on the “Alternatives to box” trial
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In other news, we have been accepted by Jardins Ouvert (similar to the National Gardens Scheme in the U.K.) for opening next year. Just need to fix on a date … Rather excited!
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Morning
Our village is hosting its annual Vide Grenier today. We may pop along to show our faces. Have a good day whatever you’re up to.
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Darling son’s birthday today. All the love in the world to him. Darling OH now on his way to hospital for electro cardioversion in attempt to get his heart operating properly again. All so far away ... 😥
Whatever your day holds may I wish you fortitude, courage, and peace.
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May 1st, happy lily of the valley (muguet) day
Thrilled to uncover this a couple of days ago from being swamped by weeds
Enjoy Mayday, an absolutely sacrosanct public holiday here in France, everywhere closed. Excellent!
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Morning
Under the weather �� hoping it’s not the dread C
In the meantime I’m still taking enjoyment from these six giant pots of red begonias which have been flowering their socks off since late April with little assistance from me and which have outperformed pelargoniums
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Good morning!
Bishop of Llandaff May be regarded as a bit of a cliché by some; I wouldn’t be without it, currently singing out in our tiny Sussex garden.
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Good morning
I’m told it’s Saturday, but am at that stage in my life where it doesn’t make much difference to me! Sunshine again in prospect here. Hooray!
Viburnum opulus roseum. No perfume, no berries to follow, but a wonderful show while in flower
Enjoy your day
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Last year we cut two new borders out of the turf & planted with several hundred small herbaceous plants & grasses
It was challenging to keep the plants alive through drought & heatwave but most survived & are now beginning to thrive
Too many weeds still but we’re quietly pleased
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A view back down the beginnjng of the spring walk. An encouraging number of snowdrops are finally showing their welcome little faces.
Good morning. Sunshine forecast here today which will be so welcome. Have a good day whatever you’re planning. I weeded all day yesterday!
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Good morning
Celebrating 21 years of marriage today
It’s been an amazing & wonderful time
We are very blessed to have found each other and both be sure of the love and support of the other at all times and in all circumstances, whatever the world throws at us
#BlessedAndGrateful
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Mimosa (technically acacia dealbata) in a vase. I’m waiting see if the flowers fully open. There is the faintest aroma in the air.
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Commonly known as mimosa, our Acacia dealbata trees are in full swing
The flowers are so delicate, despite all that winter throws at them
We planted two, one at either end of the potager to provide some structure, interest at height, and shade in summer heat
Glorious
Good morning
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Saw another person who I occasionally exchanged a word with here flounce off because they don’t like the x. Really. I don’t like it either but I do like being here and chatting with like-minded people. Let’s just get over ourselves please!!
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One of those “why post a fairly uninteresting” pics … except …
Cowslips grow wild in a few places around here & I wanted to try & get some established in the garden
A kind farmer friend invited us to take some from their hedgerow
9 now establishing well
Chuffed & good morning!
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@jolilford
We walked into the open front door of a terraced house in Clifton, Bristol, sure that it was an NGS open garden. Walked right through the house to the kitchen at the back where people sat chatting. Hello they said. Shall we go on through to the garden we said. 1/2
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Morning, happy Sunday
A small people day ahead for us. Hope your day promises some good things too.
Anyone know the identity of this large shrub (yesterday at Highdown in W Sussex)? No scent.
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When I went to supermarket today I decided to mask up as I’ve had one of those “is it going to develop into anything” vague hints of a possible virus for a few days. Fortunately not coming to anything for me. But I didn’t want to pass anything on. Wearing a mask was no big deal
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First of the large irises, bought this time last year at a Foire aux Plantes in a village called Fources a little south from us. We treated ourselves to a few!
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Good morning, sitting outside on the terrace, drinking tea, enjoying the comparative early morning cool (22.5)
Temperatures high and getting higher for a few days.
Here’s a public garden we enjoyed a few days ago in Montluçon, beautifully planted and immaculately maintained.
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I’ve unfollowed
@TheFlowerFarmer
and
@TommyTonsberg
, until
@Twitter
or
@TwitterSupport
restore both accounts to their rightful owners. They are both lovely plant/flower/garden people and it’s so disappointing that their voices have been distorted for nefarious ends by hackers.
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Made it back to France yesterday as all advice confirmed ok to mix on day 10. Looking forward to taking a closer look at these tulips (amongst all the other beauties in the garden!).
Have a lovely Sunday
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This is a bank at Architectural Plants in Sussex which is inspiring us for a particular section of our French garden
@ArchiPlants
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Well, I might not have actually done any gardening but I did indulge in some garden retail therapy as I passed through Bergerac on my way home from Perigueux. Would have been rude not to.
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Good morning
These are in our potager
Pilates for us this morning; OH currently investigating tai chi, recommended for Parkinson’s sufferers
Let’s make the most of today
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The first of our ancient double narcissus (telemonium) to bloom this year, and a particularly delicate and fine flower form
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Room transformed from office to snug. Pleased. OH strutting round like a super-hero 😂.
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Morning
It’s that time of year when just plugging on is the only strategy. I really do not like the short days and wall to wall rain we are being graced with (I know and appreciate how important rain is). The light will return - hold that thought!
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Morning
Finally got a negative Covid test yesterday on day 14. Phew. Still feeling under the weather and running out of energy early in the day. But I did divert via a couple of garden centres yesterday … great haul … now to place and plant!
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And … 22 Crown Prince pumpkins (plus four already in the barn) grown from seed sown in situ.
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Happy new year to all my Twitter chums. Thank you for the chat, wisdom, information and encouragement. For all the concerns some have this is still a good place to be. May 2024 bring us all only good things, or at least the ability to bear what comes our way.
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Morning everyone
Here’s a photo sent to me yesterday from the French garden. Glorious or what?!
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Morning
It’s a pont day here in France, the day between a public holiday (yesterday, Ascension) and the weekend. Long weekend for many including my OH. Excellent!
Oxeye daisies and pyramid orchids in a corner of the potager
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Morning
Quiet day at home in prospect
May get out for an hour this morning on the tractor. Only allowed power tools till midday on a Sunday (very civilised). Will depend on a pitch inspection!
Here’s a hellebore for you (pic from last week)
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Wow!
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I've blogged again, after a long gap. You might be surprised by what I have to tell you ...
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First day of meteorological Spring today! Always a lovely sense of expectation; light lies ahead, the darkness has passed.
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So much admiration for Matt Baker and how he helps people facing the biggest challenges of all. And he does it with such an encouraging tone.
@BBCCountryfile
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Woke very early this morning and all I could think about, as I lay there trying hard to get back to sleep, was compost heap management! We have 11 you see, so it’s a complex issue 😂
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I’ve strimmed, dealt with weeds on the drive, pegged out two loads of washing, weeded more elsewhere, strimmed again (battery), mowed long grass where foliage of naturalising daffs have died back, sowed some seeds in potager, swept floors, made bolognaise, and I’m knackered!
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Beautiful handmade wreath given to us by our garden helpers. Extraordinary kindness and so much appreciated.
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This might not look like much. But there are 30 newly planted asparagus plants in there, all mulched with last years leaf mould.
#yum
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A great view from our dinner table … till you realise the true nature of the “grass”. Sad. Gardens have been beautifully landscaped by a skilled designer… but, oh, the artificial grass everywhere is awful.
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Good day to all
Meeting friends for lunch at a new restaurant in a village about 10k north of us where we sometimes visit a vineyard to buy an excellent Grand Vins de Bordeaux (for 6 euros a bottle …)
Realise I haven’t posted any tulip photos yet so had better rectify that now.
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