Holkham Hall Plant Fair

We are very lucky to have so many lovely gardens in Norfolk to visit and, despite having lived here for some years now, some of them have still to be viewed.   While on a jolly to Cromer last summer, I popped into the Tourist Information Office for a recce on places to go, and discovered that Holkham Hall were having a plant fair.  This is a garden that I haven't been to before, despite going to Holkham Beach a lot with Finn.   If I hadn't gone to Tourist Info, I'd never have found out about this plant fair, as it wasn't very well publicised at all.  Good for Mum and I though as less customers to compete with!

The plant fair was held within the walled garden, a six acre site with borders, an orchard, a vineyard and massive glasshouses.  Strictly speaking, it was a number of walled gardens within another walled garden.  We visited on a beautiful - hot, again! - day and, as usual, I had a number of trips back to my car with plants and coats too!

It was at Holkham that I discovered a love of sedum - I had no idea it came in such a range of colours?  (I had already gleaned during one of my classes at college that sedum is incredibly easy to propagate, so was on the look out for it.)

It was so hot that we had to have a few sit downs - the tea van was doing a roaring trade, but, if we go again, I think I'd be tempted to take our own food and drink, as they were very slow and over run with customers.  The plant stall holders were also doing lots of business, which we put down to the incredibly reasonable prices of everything - very well worth the money.

We heard quite a few chuckles as passersby were checking out our caged plant collection in the back of the car!

Once again, we'd bought lots of plants, few of which featured on our wish lists, but hey ho!

College

Back in September, after years of banging on about doing a gardening apprenticeship, I finally decided it was time to get my finger out and get on with it.  To gain a National Trust gardening apprenticeship, firstly I need to get my RHS Level 2 in Horticulture to even be considered and, serendipitously, our local agricultural college, Easton College in Norwich, run this course.  Amanda and I headed off one Saturday for a college open day/ course advice day, with the view to me signing up in September 2017.  (Amanda came along to write everything down as I was too nervous to ask questions and write at the same time.  I wonder why I'm even considering studying at this rate!)  The chap we spoke to was very helpful and very entertaining and certainly put my mind at ease.   However, when I said I was thinking about September 2017, he told me that was basically nonsense and he had a place on the course available from Tuesday!  TUESDAY?!!  Luckily, the Finance people were very accommodating which meant I could pay for my course in monthly instalments, and, with that reassurance, I was in!

Clearly, I'm taking this very seriously - I have bought up pretty much all the stationery in Wilkinsons!  I bloody love stationery!

The first term has been quite tricky - there's a lot of science involved and I am having to learn Latin names for everything.

The second part of the term though dealt with soil which I know a little bit about, so it's definitely getting more understandable.

I'm really REALLY enjoying it - and come out of the class every Tuesday absolutely buzzing.  I had no idea I was going to enjoy it so much.   I'm still struggling with the science - but thoroughly enjoyed the time we have spent in the lab so far.  We have our first exams at the beginning of February, and then we are doing practical stuff in the glasshouses until our next lot of exams in June.  (And if I fail the February exams, I can always resit in June, which is not ideal, but at least gives me a contingency plan.) 

So, this is my Tuesday evenings taken up for the next two years and, from September 2017, I will be attending college one full day a week as well (on Wednesdays) to do practical gardening and gain my RHS Level 2 Diploma. 

Lots of exciting things to look forward to and I'm already getting so much out of it now.  Should never have left it this late to start!

Odds and Sods - December 2016

Well, another year is over - they go much too quickly for my liking.  December has been a busy month - preparing for Christmas mainly, but with a few jollies thrown in for good measure, most of which will be covered in other posts.

I've been making things .....

I've been for some lovely walks with Finn .....

I've had some lovely festive moments with Andy, we celebrated our Christmas a wee bit early and here he is modelling his new jumper, beautifully made by Amanda .....

And here is my present from Andy, my fabulous trollbeads which I LOVE .....

This is me (supposedly) studying, but mainly being distracted by amaretto coffee and my new slippers .....

But, mostly, as with every other month of every year, it's all about Finn!