Looking into the walled gardens

I am again today looking back to my visit to Agatha Christie's  house Greenway in South Devon which I featured in my blog Devon Delights. I am using this to join in with Helena's ZIZO for week 39. Although this is a Zoom Out and a Zoom In, it is also a bit of a peep through the garden gate!

There are two walled gardens and they were developed more by Christie's daughter Rosalind Hicks. One is still set out very much as a nursery with a lot of potted plants as well as few ready for use!

The second is mostly borders and lawns but contains a fabulous restored peach house which is apparently the longest in Devon

It is this that took my eye for a closer look firstly at the structure of the roof.

Then inside.

To zoom in on a variety of Cacti.

Some more friendly than others!

We Plough the Fields and...

Preparing the ground for the next crops is now underway. All the fields need to be ploughed and harrowed before planting. The ploughing has started. One misty afternoon last week I took the dog out to see Kate ploughing.

Our soil is very red because of the iron ore content and it was indeed quarried for the red ochre.

I had a little ride in the tractor.

I was however disappointed not to see any seagulls following the plough as they make a great photo.

There is still a lot of ploughing to be done.

Sheep Grazing

Part of the farm is run as a conservation area and this includes an old quarry. This area is only grazed after the flowers and grasses have gone to seed. Grazing the sheep after this period then helps to keep down some of the undergrowth. The sheep are in the quarry at the moment and are enjoying the different terrain. It ts also a great opportunity to take some different photos of them!

The sheep are mainly Suffolk cross but they cope well with the terrain.

They have been separated from their lambs for some time now. In about a month the rams will be put back with them.

I was a little suprised to find Socks wandering amongst the sheep.

He followed me for a while and then went his own way!

Half Marathon.

The girls have been planning to take part in the Bristol half marathon for some time all except Emma who is not old enough for another year. This morning they were ready to go despite between them one cough, one late night birthday celebrating and 2 bad knees!

They all completed with times of  2hrs 11min , 2hr 14 min and 2hr 25 mins. Not bad considering only one of them had trained!

The Village Dog Show

The weather stayed fair for the dog show and a good number of dogs and their owners came along.

The cream teas did a roaring trade.

The dogs came in all shapes and sizes.

Some were better behaved than others.

And then there were the more dignified!

A good time was had by all!

Dog Entries

Tomorrow is the local village dog show. I have been making scones for the cream teas.

Entries for the dog show can be made on the day. I don't think either of ours are up to it!

Further flowers in mum's garden.

The Belladonna lilies are only one of many flowers still looking beautiful in mum's garden.

And at a closer look.

This is a particularly pretty cosmos.

My Morning Glories stopped flowering a long time ago.