Fyra otroliga år

Idag är det otroligt nog fyra år sen jag började blogga, fyra år sedan jag skrev mitt första inlägg. Minns att jag tyckte att det var lite läskigt men också jättespännande att skriva något som sen vem som helst kunde läsa. Inte för att jag trodde att någon skulle läsa eller ens hitta hit. Under en tid hade jag läst Husmusen och blivit fascinerad av Fridas härliga inlägg. Jag visste inte då att hon hette Frida det avslöjade hon långt senare. Då var det många som inte gick ut med sina riktiga namn, inte jag heller, jag kallade mig Purple (fniss). Hur som helst så fick jag för mig att jag skulle prova att blogga jag med och sen har det bara fortsatt år efter år. Massor av nya härliga bloggvänner har jag fått. Jag har också fått chansen att under ett och ett halvt år blogga för giganten SvD men även för min lokala tidning Sydsvenskan. Många har följt mig genom åren och jag vill tacka er, alla tusentals läsare, som förgyller min dag varje dag genom att gå in och läsa och ibland kanske också kommentera. Tack för alla underbara och uppmuntrande mail som jag ständigt får och som gör att det är så kul att blogga, bland det bästa jag vet.

Today its four years ago since I made my first post. Four wonderful and unbelievable years. I remember that the first post was a little bit nervous to do. But then it just went on and on for years. Today thousands of you reads my blog every day. I have also met many wonderful and inspiring new friends. I'm really grateful for that and also for all the lovely comments and mail that I get. Thank you guys for making my day.. every every day!!

Sowing the seeds of change - goodbye September!

September has been a memorable month for me - I spent two fantastic weeks in Cuba (that's me above, on the way back from birdwatching in Vinales) - which surpassed all my expectations. I visited the botanical gardens in Cienfuegos - where I found the most beautiful plant with the worst scent I've ever encountered (below) - and Havana; spent several days in Cornwall, where I discovered a whole new sub-tropical garden world even though I was there to commemorate my late father; enjoyed sunny days in Sussex although there's a serious autumn chill in the air; saw the finishing touches being added to the Deesha Hospital in India in preparation for opening (I leave for India in just over a week, so do follow me from there!); found many wonderful new blogs (more on that later) ... and suddenly autumn is upon us!

Cornwall opened many new doors for me (below) as I discovered the remarkable world of sub-tropical gardens (I haven't had time to review them all yet, but will do so in the next few weeks. I went to Trengwainton and Trewidden - both creations of the Bolitho family; visited Godolphin, which is undergoing a huge transformation under the stewardship of the National Trust; went to a sculpture garden that promises to be one of the best gardens in the UK; and enjoyed two wonderful Devon gardens - Docton Mill and Marwood Hill on the way home - both real surprises.

And as for fabulous new blogs I've found this month .. there's Rhone Street Garden, a wonderful mix of pictures and words that will have you begging for more; A Digital Botanic Garden, which I can't stop dropping in on; and Garden Delights, which has more stunning photographs, although I have to say that I'm mentioning this blogger here because they have even more energy than me!! And that's saying something!

And as the sun begins to set on September, I'm getting ready to leave for India ... yes, again ... but this time to open the hospital in Rajasthan! Construction is complete and we have a grand opening on October 21st, so do please, please follow our progress in the next few weeks. You've all been wonderfully supportive in the last two years with all your comments and encouragement, particularly those of you who follow us on Facebook.

And in conclusion, I want to say a really special thank you to Sussex Prairies (above) - one of my favourite gardens anywhere and close neighbours of mine - who will be open this weekend and who donated part of their proceeds from a previous open weekend to The Raven Foundation - thank you Paul and Pauline for helping us "Sow the Seeds of Change"! That's what we're about to do!

Grå grå krukor

Grå krukor och gröna växter är ett vinnande koncept som funkar både utomhus och inomhus. Belgiska Atelier Vierkant håller sig till en gråskala från beige till mörk grå i sina krukor. Riktigt snyggt att blanda. Formerna är raka eller runda, enkla utan för mycket dekorationer. Min stil mitt i prick. Gillar gröna växter och lite grövre krukor i enkel form. Tror visserligen inte att just de här går att köpa i Sverige, men inspirationen kan man ta åt sig och kanske hittar man något liknande. Bilder Atelier Vierkant, via DesiretoInspire.

When it comes to pots and plants, grey and green always works. These inspiration images are from Atelier Vierkant. I like the simple shapes of the pots and the colours from beige to grey. Also beautiful to mix. Via Desireto Inspire.

Med grafisk känsla

Tänk det kan man nästan se, att ägarna till det här hemmet är grafiska formgivare. För det har en grafisk känsla i sitt formspråk och med en skön färgkombination av vitt, svart och natur blir det stramt vackert. Mixen retro tillsammans med vitmålade brädor blir en lite ovanlig men väl fungerande kombination. Från ett reportage i Sköna Hem.

Its easy to see that they owner of this house are working with graphical design. So calm and beautiful with the colours of black, white and beige. Images from Sköna Hem.

Marvellous Marwood Hill - don't miss it!

Marwood Hill - wonderful vistas, a myriad of colour and first signs of what you'll see there this autumn (above) as the leaves begin to turn. This is a another Devon garden you shouldn't miss. Home to the national astilbe collection (which I was too late to see), 22 champion trees and a wisteria pergola that I have to see next spring, this is a magical garden with unforgettable colours and views at this time of year.

When Dr Jimmy Smart arrived here in 1949, there wasn't a garden and he knew nothing about gardening! There was just a neglected hillside which he took in hand. But for the anaesthetist, this wonderful 20-acre plot became a passion and he famously described gardening as:

"a disease, at times infectious, and certainly, as far as I am

concerned, quite incurable"

and it took him some 20 years to sow the seeds for the stunning site that is Marwood today. In 1972, Malcolm Pharoah arrived from Wisley to help and when Smart retired a year later, they worked together to turn Marwood into the glorious garden that it is today - a little piece of paradise in North Devon.

The joy of Marwood is that you approach the garden at the top of the hill and wander through the upper garden, where there are double borders, which house another National collection - Tulbaghias - native to South Africa, but which thrive here in the well-drained soil and sunshine. There is also a scree garden and wall terracing, before you emerge and see the lakes in the valley (above).

The three small lakes are fed by a stream and are filled with fish and wildfowl, and are the perfect haven for the Bog Garden and the wonderful Japanese irises (Iris ensenata) that flower here in the spring. There are also a host of architectural plants, hostas and ornamental grasses adjacent to the three lakes, which make them a watery wonder with the vivid colours and bold shapes reflected in the water. But the sheltered position of Marwood Hill and the sloping valleys make it a haven for the trees, which are undoubtedly the finest feature of this garden, particularly now, as the colours begin to turn.

Marwood Hill is open from March to the end of October daily, so you still have time to get there to see the wonderful colours. It is easily combined with a visit to Docton Mill, if you want to see two very different gardens in a day. And of course, if you're in the area, you've also got RHS Rosemoor nearby - another stunning garden and flagship of the RHS in the west.

Heaven in Devon - Docton Mill

Imagine a little bit of heaven in Devon! My visit to Docton Mill today was just that. This is a simply glorious garden just a stone's throw from the North Devon coast near Barnstaple, and as you approach the Mill you have wonderful views of Lundy Island and the Bristol Channel. I've read about this garden many times, but I've never been in the area before, so on my return from Cornwall today, I went out of my way to visit.

The mill at Docton dates back to Saxon times and although there was a garden there in the 20th century - tended by Iris and Norman Pugh, commemorated at the entrance by current owners - it is John and Lana Borrett - the current custodians of this heavenly spot who have breathed new life into the gardens in the last ten years. They arrived here in 1999 and although they had no prior knowledge of gardens and gardening at all, they have made the Mill what it is today - an absolute paradise!

Docton Mill is set in a valley with the River Speke flowing through it. The natural course of the river runs along the western course of the garden and over the mill wheel attached to the house and then flows through the valley to the sea less than a mile away. Water is a major feature of this nine-acre garden, which enjoys a unique microclimate and allows plant and animal life to flourish. The Pugh's rescued the mill and garden from dereliction when they arrived here in 1980, but the Borretts have breathed new life into it and made it what it is today.

When you arrive, you walk along the edge of the mill leat (above), which is fringed with lovely trees, before approaching the house and tea terrace (top pictures), which are a riot of colour even on a grey day like today. I cannot imagine how wonderful Docton looks in the spring when it is filled with daffodils, or when the camelias and magnolias come into bloom. But even in September, it's heavenly and you can wander round the Woodland, Waterfall, Summer and Bog Garden areas, taking in all the plants and trees and staring in amazement at the incredible greenery.

I know how the roses smelled in September, and that's enough to etch Docton Mill on my brain until the spring! This is certainly a great place to stop for lunch - Lana's home cooking is a real joy and we enjoyed wonderful fresh food here. My husband had the best Cornish pasty (and this isn't even Cornwall) and I had delicious home-made soup. But you can also have an award-winning cream tea here.

Docton Mill is located on the Hartland Peninsula - designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. It's near enough to Bideford to take the passenger ferry to Lundy Island for a day trip if you're so inclined. I'll be reviewing all the glorious Cornish gardens I visited in the next few weeks, but this garden took my breath away, so I've sneaked it in today.

Höstnyheter från Ferm Living

Några nyheter från Ferm Living den här hösten.... ny retroinspirerad tapet, kuddar, kalender som wallstickers, virkade förvaringskorgar, kemiflaskor och fina askar. Färgskalan går i petroleum och gult. Pressbilder från Ferm Living.

Autumn news from Ferm Living (calendar stickers, wallpaper, chemistry bottles, baskets, boxes and pilows).

From Cuba to Penzance ... cannas everywhere!

From Cuba to Penzance ... all in a week! I'm here in Cornwall on family business, staying in the glorious Abbey Hotel - started by famous 60s super model, Jean Shrimpton - which overlooks Marazion and St Michael's Mount, and although the weather's not as good as Havana, the gardens here are amazing ... with many tropical plants similar to those we saw in Cuba. The Abbey Hotel has its own tiny charming garden (below) which still has many plants in bloom, although I'm told that it's at its peak in spring, when the tulips are out.

Penzance is lucky in that it enjoys a sub-tropical climate and one of the striking features of the town is the huge number of palms you see everywhere ... and cannas. Wander round the town with a camera and you will be amazed by the gardens, particularly the brightly-coloured houses in Regent Square (below), where you will see many unusual plants in bloom.

Penzance enjoys an unusual climate, located as it is near the Gulf Stream, and is an ideal place to stay to visit the great gardens locally, including Trengwainton, Trewidden and St Michael's Mount. I'm hoping to get to all three tomorrow, weather permitting, but the forecast isn't looking too good right now, so fingers crossed!

Right in the heart of the town, between the High Street and the seafront, are the wonderful Morrab Gardens (below) - magical gardens laid out in the early1900s where exotic species including palms, trees ferns and cannas thrive in sheltered conditions.

The layout has not changed since the gardens were first created more than 100 years ago and there's a wonderful Victorian bandstand, war memorial and fountain ponds - all maintained by the local council and a team of volunteers. The density of planting (below) is quite striking and the gardens look stunning rain or shine (it was definitely drizzling when I visited!).

More tomorrow when I know what the weather's like .... but for other Cornish gardens, check out my UK Garden Visits section.

Glasvaser och sommarens sista blommor

Som jag nämnt tidigare är jag väldigt förtjust i glasvaser. Här är några vackra bilder på temat. Kanske man kan ta in sommarens sista blommor och inspireras av dessa bilder till något liknande arrangemang. Bilder från fotograf Marjon Hoogervorst.

As I have told you before, I love glass vases. Here some inspiration images from Marjon Hoogervorst.

Cuba's first Biosphere - living in a glorious garden!

After Vinales, we went to Las Terrazas, still in Pinar del Rio province, but in the hills. This is another beautiful region, but it wasn't always like this! Back in the 1960's the whole area had been ruined by forest fires and shortsighted agricultural techniques. But in the early 70's a reservoir was created in Las Terrazas and thousands of trees were planted to prevent further erosion. The project was so successful that in 1985 this area was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, known as Sierra del Rosario. Today it's a fine example of nature preserved and you would never know that it had been anything other than verdant forest.

At the heart of the hillside community is a hotel - La Moka (above) - where we spent several nights. It's perched among the canopy of trees overlooking the reservoir and valley below and is one of the finest hotels we stayed in during our two-week trip to Cuba. We loved it here and I include it in my blog because the whole area is one great big garden - everywhere you look there are green vistas, tropical plants and many birds.

Walk out early in the morning and you will see the locals at work (above); birdwatchers can go with a local guide and see many different species (local guides claim that there are more than 80) and there are many hummingbirds here, although I failed dismally when I tried to photograph them so I remain in awe of all those clever garden bloggers who catch them on camera!

Las Terrazas is the one place in Cuba you can take an ariel canopy tour and although I didn't do it, my teenagers did and loved it! We just sat at the cafe on the reservoir (above) while they sailed past us high in the sky. They said it gave fantastic views of the village and was one of the highlights of their trip!

I was happy to spend my time here walking and looking at all the tropical plants and trees we don't have back at home. Las Terrazas was formerly at the heart of Cuba's coffee growing industry back in the C19th and you can visit the ruins of a coffee plantation built by French refugees from Haiti at nearby Cafetal Buenavista - just one of more than 50 similar estates that flourished here in the 1800s. There are also natural swimming pools near the hotel at Banos del San Juan on the river; and horse riding is also popular here.

The water lilies were just coming into bloom as we were at La Moka, and although they were quite sparse when we visited, I'm told the display is awesome later in the season. This is definitely a place to take time out and enjoy Cuba at its verdant best! More soon from Havana ...