I'm still picking sweet peas, almost four months on from the first bunch of the year!
If you look back at that post you'll see mention of the sweet pea competition of 1911, the Borders village of Sprouston, and Denholm Fraser who was minister there at the time. I paid a visit to Sprouston when I was in the area the other day but was sorry to discover that the church - or 'Sweet Pea Kirk', as a banner at the gate proclaims it - was locked, and so I couldn't see the chancel, added by Rev. Fraser thanks to his sweet pea prize money, nor the embroidered pulpit falls which depict the flowers either side of a cross. I'd also like to have seen this piscina depicting a knight's head which is thought to date from between the 12th to the 15th centuries and which was found during the digging of Rev. Fraser's chancel foundations.
It's a sad, but understandable, fact that many churches are now locked at all times other than during services and in some places the historic graveyard is also locked up. We have always visited churches when out and about and found some real cultural treasures in the most unassuming looking places, but recent day trips have shown this pleasure has pretty much come to an end.
Posted by: Spade & Dagger | 06 October 2015 at 11:08 AM
How fabulous to have the scent of sweet peas in October. Ours were over a while ago. Visitors to the village church here can get the key from the shop round the corner if they want to get in when it's locked. That's assuming the shop is open, of course.
Posted by: Sam | 06 October 2015 at 12:41 PM
I knew when I read 'Still Going Strong' as the photo uploaded that you were going to show me some gorgeous sweet peas. I don't grudge you them Karen, really! But I do envy you them. (You may remember mine were a total failure this year...)
Posted by: Freda | 06 October 2015 at 04:33 PM
No sweet peas here ...but we camped for 3 weeks surrounded by Wild beach peas and the scent was heaven (sorry for typing but I have a kitten asleep in my lap and a cat between self and keyboard)
Posted by: Val | 06 October 2015 at 05:39 PM
Gorgeous colour. I think I've just picked my last bunch and they're on the kitchen table in front of me. They were very late to get going to have lasted and lasted.
Posted by: Claire | 07 October 2015 at 03:08 PM