The first thing I do, once we have unpacked our car, which has been groaning with all the stuff we need for a week's stay in the holiday cottage, is head for the outer gardens of Colonsay House. It is a place of wonder for me! I particularly love the leaves of the giant rhododendrons. There are many different varieties, all planted in the early 1930s. The outer gardens are generally overgrown, having had little tending over the decades. That makes them even more magical! The old woodmill falls apart a little more every year, but that's fine by me because I love corrugated iron and especially if it's rusted! And of course the bees. Colonsay's beekeeper, Andrew Abrahams, has one of his apiaries on the edge of the pine wood. So lovely - the hum of busy bees and the heady smell of the pines. We are here - finally! Delayed by four months by the wretched virus, but now I am on holiday! Hooray!
Oh my mouth is watering now after seeing those Victoria Plums. They are my favourite variety for eating and I buy as many as I can during their short season.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little girl, I used to scrump them from the Vicarage garden where the trees over hung the lane. I think I may have eaten rather too many because I used to erupt in 'heat bumps', itchy lumps in the skin. I'm glad that doesn't happen any more!
Well I suppose there have to be some advantages in getting older!! Scrumping has to be dying art these days though! I think we are lucky to have the memories we have, of childhoods well and fruitfully spent!
ReplyDelete