Oh how wonderful it would be to float on the wings of an angel. To see the world, spread out before you and to sprinkle goodwill and love wherever you wanted would be such a marvellously liberating thing. Sometimes, all I want is a bit of angel dust on me……
These angel’s wings are an ‘angel wing’ begonia – don’t know its real botanical name but I love this name. They are spectacular plants, which I’ve seen grow 20 feet high or more. Mine has never been more than about six feet high. The red undersides of the leaves are glorious and they have bracts of pink flowers that seem to go on and on forever.
I have seen it growing in tropical houses in places like Eden and Kew (though I can’t remember exactly where now).
This one is called Humphrey. This is because around about thirty years ago, a lady called Betty Humphries (a close friend of my Mum’s) gave the first bit to our family. Since then, it has been propagated by sticking a bit that’s cut off into a milk bottle while it grows shoots and then it’s been planted in a pot and grown on.
I have, in recent weeks, because of the travelling and workload problems I’ve been facing, almost killed it. This bit has been cut off and put into the modern-day equivalent of a milk bottle, a beer bottle, to grow roots so my Mum can take it back and give it some tlc for me. I’m hoping to get a bit back at some later stage so I can enjoy its beauty and charm again.
The shot isn’t spectacular, though it is ‘from the heart’ and it’s lit behind by the studio light with an umbrella so that’s the spoke. I decided not to try to clone it out.
KIM: No, it’s not difficult to keep chickens and they make wonderful pets. Feeding them costs very little and they will clear your garden of slugs and snails for you willingly. All they need is somewhere to roost that you can secure from foxes from twilight until morning. I’ll do an entry in a couple of weeks with instructions!!!
Last year we were loving Cornwall....as ever! Two years ago, I was frustrated because my friend Beth (and the lovely Marianne) was leaving me....
