Early Morning Beauties

These fantastic flowers grow wild at Pendennis Point along the paths.

1st June 1st swim this year!

It was cold, very cold. Josh calls it "Freeze your veins cold" Trebah wonderful as ever.

The exotics of an early morning seaside walk

These are known as the Hotentot Figs (I think from S.Africa) they grow in abundance near Gyllynvase. Another German Cruise ship heads into port at 7.30.am; 3rd this week. A seagull observes the scene like a traffic warden.

We had a lovely cliff walk from Swanpool to Maenporth

We thought this was a beautiful beetle and the foxgloves were as good as any at Chelsea flower show. Such a grey day for a walk but the flowers and creatures more than made up for the dull weather, we felt sorry for the people on the boat trip. A passerby told us that Adders sun themselves on hot days along this path! Hope I can catch a snap of one someday.

Matthew's coat stand on location!

Matt is getting his porfolio up together for his forthcoming Degree Show at Tremough for Falmouth Art College (this is a photo he is not using of his coat stand). I really like this piece. It has such an organic tree like sense and the fact it has an easy reach 'branch' for shorter people to use I think will be popular with families. We have tested this in my busy hall way for acouple of months; even with loads of coats on it was always stable. He has put a natural twig on at right angles to contrast & it holds umbrellas very well too. Matt likes to call this coat stand " Twiglet "

they don't have these in London

These are Echieums. I think that's how it is spelt say Eck-key-um. They grow like weeds in Cornwall! This takes 3 years only then they flower, fall over and die in the autumn. Owen Bunza Rabbit, hiding out of the wind today it is quite fierce one of those Echieums has fallen over already it was more than 15ft tall. Too big for the compost bin!

Spring into Summer walk

The Church at Penryn called after a Cornish Celtic saint, St Gluvias. Wild stunning Orchids were often along the path. Looking back over to Falmouth you can just make out the famous Greenbank Hotel Hidden creeks with intriguing house boats or should I say garden boat in this case, we saw the owner later on with a big bag of compost in a dinghy he was taking back to his boat.

We had a lovely stroll on the otherside of the river today, along a beautiful flower strewn way. The Blackthorn glory has given way to the summery frivolity of Cow Parsley and Bluebells on banks and hedgerows. For the unwary the brazen Buttercup is happy to become entangled with common Stinging Nettle. They are growing very fast now at hand level.

Kennall Vale, Ponsanooth,near Falmouth

This a fantastic place that Christopher found quite by accident last year. Such a beautiful valley so close to Falmouth less than 10 mins away. Full of the most glorious woodland with streams, many waterfalls and wonderful spring flowers. Hard to imagine it in its heyday full of the industrial activity of the Kennall Valley Gunpowder Mills. All the streams & leats were to power a multitude of watermills (the ruins are still there) the mines of Cornwall were dependent on this product. www.cornish-mining.org.uk/sites/knnllvlly.htm It is now a Cornish Wildlife Reserve, we had a marvelous family sunday afternoon ramble here. Although the rush and commotion of falling water is very loud the atmosphere is full of tranquil peace and delight.

The World Pilot Gig Championships 2006

Chris is away at the World Pilot Gig Championships on The Isles of Scilly with his club The Helford River Club. The weather is being kind for over a hundred Gig boats that are gathered at St Marys, the largest of the Isles. Here are 2 of the Helford boats, Golden Gear, Merthen the other boat is called Helford. Chris was rowing in Golen Gear and they came 25th out of the 100, not bad at all and I think he has had a brilliant time. He has taken loads of photos so I hope to show some soon. http://pilotgigs.info have some good shots too. The Cornish Gig rowing is growing very fast as a great competitive local sport. The Isles of Scilly are the spiritual home of Gig rowing, with the start of the season being the ultimate competition everyone aspires to; take part, to be there. It has grown spectacularly in the last 15 years new boats are being ordered & built all the time but always in the same tradional way and of Cornish Elm too!

Spring has certainly sprung!

The paths round here are getting into their spring glory. It's a shame that my camera seems to have jammed at the moment so I can't show you the first Bluebells on the cliff path at Maenporth. Here are a few pics I took last week of other flowers, can you name them?

Bank Holiday Monday

All together at the Pandora Inn near Mylor.

The Church looked magnificent this Easter

We had a huge crowd and the choir were tremendous the worship was wonderful!!! Jesus Christ is Risen!!!! Alleluia!!! There were a lot of young people here too, but they came in after I took the photo. They enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt after the Service, Mrs Mooney who is in her 90's had knitted lots of little chicks to hide the eggs.

Amazing Gardens

So Different to Trebah yet so near. There are some very odd plants here. David at Glendurgan( National Trust) the twin sister garden to Trebah; both gardens run in parallel to each other. Skimming stones is quite a natural pastime here. This beach is very rocky and has some of the best skim stones.

This heather is striking it almost looks like a forrest!

This is for my friends Clare & Robin, these Koi at Trebah are very friendly! Matthew still enjoys playing with fish. Remembering your pond! These gardens running down to the banks of the Helford river are in their full glory at this time of year.

Good Friday in Falmouth

All the Churches together in Falmouth, join in this medative walk through the town calling at each of the Churches as points to remember what had happened on that Good Friday to Jesus Christ.

When I survey the wonderous Cross

on which the Prince of Glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingling down;

did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John chapter 3 verse 16

Because God so Loved the World. Does that love touch your heart?