Provenance

Yes, provenance, not Provence, although I'd quite like to chat about Provence if I had the time. Anyway, sorry, where was I? Oh yes, provenance. We all like to know where our food comes from these days, has it been well looked after? Has it had plenty of acres for free-ranging in? Has another been planted in its place etc. etc.

Last weekend I was asked quite possibly the strangest question I've ever been asked... "Is the watercress local?" The lady in question actually was purchasing a free-range egg mayonnaise and cress sandwich so I was unsure as to where the watercress came into the equation. My response? I had to admit I had no idea where the watercress came from. This did, however get me thinking! I could grow cress. It's easy, I did it with the children when they were little. They wouldn't eat it of course because it was green. I laughed out loud this evening as I walked into Morrisons, immediately in front of the door was a stand of seeds and at eye level was, yes you guessed it, cress. So, slightly tongue in cheek, I have purchased some cress seeds with a view to growing it in weekly sowings and using it in the cafe for the egg mayonnaise sandwiches.

I had a lovely walk round the garden earlier this week. It still seems slightly confused with peonies in flower alongside roses. On bottom terrace there are some outrageously beautiful pale pink peonies. I was very taken with Rosa Comte de Chambord in the swimming pool garden. With your back to the house it is on the left hand side, deep cerise pink, very beautiful and smells just like a rose should. Also just starting to look wonderful is the Buttress Border, the delphiniums never fail to delight and it seems I see a new one every year.

That's the beauty of a garden, always something new to see.

Flaming June

Finally, the weather has got its act together and we are enjoying wall to wall sunshine (ssh, no one say it out loud). May was really busy for us all, the Bluebells never fail to attract people and its not difficult to see why is it? This year, as in previous years, for Bluebell Fortnight I wanted to put up my Osbert Sitwell quote about the beauty of Bluebells.  Could I find it? Could I heck. Of course, June 1st comes along, I pick up a notebook and on the first page what is there but the blooming quote. So just so a year doesn't go by with it not being used here it is "To my knowledge their [bluebells] beauty has no rival elsewhere."  I quite agree.

May is now a distant memory and we are well into June which is quite literally bursting out all over in the garden. I don't know what David does to his Alliums but they always stand taller and straighter than mine at home, mind you I reckon my Agapanthus could take his (although not in quantity).


This month to celebrate the arrival of summer we will be serving jugs of Pimms in the cafe, if it proves a hit then it will stay otherwise we'll move it off in favour of something else. The Bradfield Brewery Beers, Farmers Blonde and Brown Cow, are proving popular and I'm pleased to report not only with me! It was a bit of worry that we wouldn't sell any as I have been known to be slightly partial to a Farmers Blonde but I've resisted the temptation.

Renishaw is appearing on Country House Sunday again this morning, ITV at 8.30am or get it on the ITV player at a much more reasonable hour.