Decisions, Decisions

Hello Friends!

Well, I didn't go to the Open Gardens Weekend.  I am deeply disappointed, but I think it was for the best.  I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday, and by the time I got myself together, it was gone 1:00 p.m. and I had already heard from several people that it was very busy and crowded, with queues for some of the smaller gardens.  I shied away.  Today was a tad cooler, but I feared the crowds which I don't get on with these days, not since I have to use my rollator.  Walking aids and a lot of people do not mix well.

So, I stayed home and took some photos of my rambler rose, a David Austen "Frances E Lester" which is incredibly fragrant, and particularly splendid this year.  There was also a Tesco delivery, well I could hardly be out for that, could I?

My neighbour opened her garden to the public, but only on Saturday, so it was closed on Sunday.  It goes without saying that I was back and forth to my door having to tell the disappointed public that no, it was not my garden, and the one they had come to see was closed.  I ended up making a quick A4 poster to put in my door!

I am now in two minds.  This rose is incredibly fragrant, and I am desperate to make an oil infusion with the petals, but it is so magnificent that I don't want to spoil how it looks.  I keep saying that I have taken photos so the memory is preserved, and in a few weeks it will be bare again.  Picking the leaves will not prevent or affect the hips from growing but will preserve the fragrance.  Even so . . . 

Until next time

💙🌷💙

OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND

Hello Friends!

This coming weekend, the weather is going to be beautiful and on Saturday and Sunday 13th/14th June 2026 there is an Open Gardens Weekend on the beautiful north Pembrokeshire peninsula of St Davids {Tyddewi} between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. So why not visit Britain's Smallest City for a glorious weekend of exploration and discovery?

About — St Davids Open Gardens

If my fellow students on WWHM2026 are reading this, then Please Note: It is “gardens” not specifically herbs, but as so many “garden plants” have medicinal properties I thought some of you might be interested in this very popular annual event, created by Julia founder of the Really Wild Emporium on the High Street, in aid of several charities, please see poster links below.

Links — St Davids Open Gardens

This year, some 24 gardens and green spaces are open to the public, and you can find them on the map, link below, to help you plan your visit, along with other useful information you will need.

Our Gardens — St Davids Open Gardens

Tickets are available in advance from the Really Wild Emporium, and include a map with information symbols and details about each garden, or you can buy on the day from the Erw Dewi stand on the Cross Square.

A day ticket costs £6.00 for adults, £3.00 for children

A two day ticket is £10.00 for adults, £4.50 for children.

All the information, everything you need to know can be found HERE

There are events for all ages, including sowing seeds for children at one venue, and don’t forget to visit Oriel y Parc to check out availability on one of their guided Wildflower Walks, or specialist talks on bees and pollinators, along with so many other informative and entertaining events.

Festivals and Seasonal Events - Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The gardens and green spaces are diverse and varied, and some come with the most magnificent views of the surrounding countryside imaginable {worth the entrance fee on their own, but at no extra cost!} As well as private gardens, there are green spaces, the newly established community orchard and village green area, local allotments, a volunteer run historical walled garden, and even the pollinator walled garden with 1km trail at Dr Sarah Beynon's Bug Farm {you can pay extra to go into the Bug Farm if you have time or come back later!}, to name just a few.

At the hub of the event on the Cross Square, there will be a plethora of stalls selling all manner of plants and gardening paraphernalia.

This is not some random, local flower festival, it is a very well organised established annual event which is promoted nationally and very well attended.  There are many volunteers along the way to answer questions and help you if you need assistance.  Everything is beautifully presented and clear directions on the now familiar “Bee” signs, the symbol of the event, and indicative that we are striving to achieve “Bee Friendly Status” for our city {along with Dog Friendly . . . yes, we’re very animal and pollinator friendly folks here in the west of Wales}

St Davids also boasts a wide variety of first class eateries from a tapas bar, pizzeria, traditional pubs and hotels serving thumpingly good traditional Sunday roast dinners {booking advisable}, traditional, local family owned Fish ‘n’ Chips from Peter's Plaice, cafés and coffee shops {the home made from scratch, fresh from the oven about 8:00 a.m. daily, Cinnamon Buns at Drifters are totally to die for!} local made ice cream {I recommend the authentic Italian ice cream} from The Bench 11 High Street, as well as a chocolate boutique, and delicatessens selling a wide variety of local and Welsh treats, including botanical gin and Car y Mor sea vegetable seasonings. So come hungry, eat well, and walk it all off going around the gardens.  Prepare to go home loaded down with goodies and a lighter wallet!

Don’t forget to take poochie into the National Trust Shop just above the Cross Square, where doggie treats are handed out {with the humans permission, of course} and all doggie diets {usually} catered for!  The manager, Cath, is a super friendly lady and the dog equivalent of a crazy cat lady!

The Patron of the Event is 

Iolo Williams

Well known Ornithologist, Presenter, Author, probably best known to most as a presenter of Springwatch, and of course he is Welsh {and ~ maybe controversially, I think he's better than Attenborough . . . there, I've said it!}

I know I've rambled on here, but I'm passionate about this event {did you guess?} and, tbh, I would love to see some of you here and get to meet you in person. I'm also passionate about where I live, I mean it's kind of obvious, isn't it?  

Until next time

💙🌷💙

I am hoping to go to some of this event, so photos etc to follow!

Turns Out Vinegar Is Good!

Hello Friends!

At last I have finished the fundraiser for Parkinson's UK and to date, before Gift Aid, I have raised in excess of £840.00, which I think is pretty darn good!  I still have a few pledges outstanding so will give you the final total in about a month when it is all processed.  I won't pretend it was easy, but I am so pleased I did it now, for many reasons.

We finished just in time as the weather is not good now, and I am glad I don't have to go out in it.  We're back to strong winds and heavy rain almost all day long.  I have just listened to the Countryfile weather forecast for the week ahead.  "Heavy and frequent downpours" seem to feature for the first half of the week at least!  Sighs . . . 

Moving on. I now have made several herbal remedies or tonics.  For the introduction I studied Nettles, Dandelion and Rosemary. Last month, the first of the full year we looked at Cleavers aka Goosegrass, and Hawthorn.  We reviewed Nettles as there is much to learn about them.  They are one of the most valuable herbs that grows.  We learned about making herbal vinegars and how to use them for different purposes.  This month we are discovering the properties of Elder, Plantain and Comfrey.  We are learning how to make herbal infusions with different oils and methods of preparation, and again how to use them in a variety of ways according to need.

I have already made Nettle Vinegar, Rosemary Vinegar and a Dandelion Vinegar along with an infusion of seeds of Sweet Cicely in runny honey.  That is still steeping.  Now I am preparing to make infused oils.  As the weather is bad and isn't good for harvesting anything, so while I patiently wait for a dry day for the harvesting, I am preparing everything else so I will be ready when I need to be.

I have decided I will be using the warm method of extraction, and I will be using my "dirty pourer" that I no longer use for tea.  In fact, I was surprised I still had it as I thought it had gone to the charidee shop long ago!

Now that it is ready, I am drinking the Nettle Vinegar as a general tonic.  Vinegar tends to catch in my throat, but I have overcome this by adding a brown sugar cube and topping up a glass with fizzy spring water.  I find it is quite palatable. I wish I had made more.  

I am also making a cold water infusion of Cleavers every evening, which is found in my water bottle daily.  It has a refreshing, green flavour and I find it delicious!

I have purchased some British organic Rapeseed oil and some organic Almond oil to make infused oils as soon as the weather allows me to pick my chosen blooms.  I am hoping to use some of these rose petals.

My lavender hedge is doing rather well this year, so something will no doubt be made from those flowers too!

Finally, this is how the mysterious flower spike on the Aloe Vera is coming along.

Until next time 

🩵🌷🩵