Sharon Moncur
@sharonmoncur.bsky.social
Occasionally write a blog at renaissancegardener.org
Natural world gardens plants family
Sussex & France
Travel music books laughter
Christian
Late diagnosed autistic
OH has Parkinson’s
Natural world gardens plants family
Sussex & France
Travel music books laughter
Christian
Late diagnosed autistic
OH has Parkinson’s
Good morning
The ancient trees in the glorious morning light
The ancient trees in the glorious morning light
December 19, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Good morning
The ancient trees in the glorious morning light
The ancient trees in the glorious morning light
The first of the chandeliers to come down; bought more than 35 years ago in Murano.
December 18, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The first of the chandeliers to come down; bought more than 35 years ago in Murano.
Good morning
A rather cute photo screenshotted from today’s Times (read the caption). I’m a sucker for cute dog pics! I hope you enjoy it too.
Electrician coming today to take chandeliers down and replace with ordinary light fittings so we can pack them to take with us.
Hope your day goes well.
A rather cute photo screenshotted from today’s Times (read the caption). I’m a sucker for cute dog pics! I hope you enjoy it too.
Electrician coming today to take chandeliers down and replace with ordinary light fittings so we can pack them to take with us.
Hope your day goes well.
December 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Good morning
A rather cute photo screenshotted from today’s Times (read the caption). I’m a sucker for cute dog pics! I hope you enjoy it too.
Electrician coming today to take chandeliers down and replace with ordinary light fittings so we can pack them to take with us.
Hope your day goes well.
A rather cute photo screenshotted from today’s Times (read the caption). I’m a sucker for cute dog pics! I hope you enjoy it too.
Electrician coming today to take chandeliers down and replace with ordinary light fittings so we can pack them to take with us.
Hope your day goes well.
Good morning
A few things going on here today: final cull of wardrobes to take rejects to the charity place, coffee with a brave friend on her fourth round of chemotherapy, garden helpers here for one of their final sessions
Hoping for no fog
Mild
I hope your day is a good one
Arbutus in flower
A few things going on here today: final cull of wardrobes to take rejects to the charity place, coffee with a brave friend on her fourth round of chemotherapy, garden helpers here for one of their final sessions
Hoping for no fog
Mild
I hope your day is a good one
Arbutus in flower
December 16, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Good morning
A few things going on here today: final cull of wardrobes to take rejects to the charity place, coffee with a brave friend on her fourth round of chemotherapy, garden helpers here for one of their final sessions
Hoping for no fog
Mild
I hope your day is a good one
Arbutus in flower
A few things going on here today: final cull of wardrobes to take rejects to the charity place, coffee with a brave friend on her fourth round of chemotherapy, garden helpers here for one of their final sessions
Hoping for no fog
Mild
I hope your day is a good one
Arbutus in flower
Still going strong on the grass borders, two long flowerbeds with planting inspired by Piet Oudolf
December 14, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Still going strong on the grass borders, two long flowerbeds with planting inspired by Piet Oudolf
Anisodontea in the garden yesterday
Flowers virtually all year
Does need space though
Flowers virtually all year
Does need space though
December 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Anisodontea in the garden yesterday
Flowers virtually all year
Does need space though
Flowers virtually all year
Does need space though
And another beauty from the walk around the garden yesterday afternoon -
The fruits of Melia azadarach, a fabulous small tree. Late spring blossom is very pretty and very fragrant. The leaves are pinnate and v attractive throughout summer, and then turn beautiful autumn colours
The fruits of Melia azadarach, a fabulous small tree. Late spring blossom is very pretty and very fragrant. The leaves are pinnate and v attractive throughout summer, and then turn beautiful autumn colours
December 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
And another beauty from the walk around the garden yesterday afternoon -
The fruits of Melia azadarach, a fabulous small tree. Late spring blossom is very pretty and very fragrant. The leaves are pinnate and v attractive throughout summer, and then turn beautiful autumn colours
The fruits of Melia azadarach, a fabulous small tree. Late spring blossom is very pretty and very fragrant. The leaves are pinnate and v attractive throughout summer, and then turn beautiful autumn colours
Not sure I’ve seen either of these fungi in the garden before. Single one was very large. Group of three growing in a split in the trunk of a young acacia dealbata tree
December 14, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Not sure I’ve seen either of these fungi in the garden before. Single one was very large. Group of three growing in a split in the trunk of a young acacia dealbata tree
Our young crab apple trees shining bright
December 14, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Our young crab apple trees shining bright
Berries in the garden
December 14, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Berries in the garden
Good morning on this 3rd Sunday of Advent
The first hellebore flowers are about to open
This plant is the earliest to flower in the garden
I would never have expected hellebores to do well here in SWFrance but they do which is a real joy, just needing a little extra water in high summer
The first hellebore flowers are about to open
This plant is the earliest to flower in the garden
I would never have expected hellebores to do well here in SWFrance but they do which is a real joy, just needing a little extra water in high summer
December 14, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Good morning on this 3rd Sunday of Advent
The first hellebore flowers are about to open
This plant is the earliest to flower in the garden
I would never have expected hellebores to do well here in SWFrance but they do which is a real joy, just needing a little extra water in high summer
The first hellebore flowers are about to open
This plant is the earliest to flower in the garden
I would never have expected hellebores to do well here in SWFrance but they do which is a real joy, just needing a little extra water in high summer
An accidental photo of the sky taken while I was having a wander around the garden
Rather appropriate for this place don’t you think?!
Rather appropriate for this place don’t you think?!
December 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
An accidental photo of the sky taken while I was having a wander around the garden
Rather appropriate for this place don’t you think?!
Rather appropriate for this place don’t you think?!
Good morning
Sunrise yesterday looking south
When we bought this place ten years ago we didn’t really notice how well it sat within the landscape
I guess there’s so much to see when you view a property
What a fab surprise it was when we noticed
We are going to miss the stunning countryside views
Sunrise yesterday looking south
When we bought this place ten years ago we didn’t really notice how well it sat within the landscape
I guess there’s so much to see when you view a property
What a fab surprise it was when we noticed
We are going to miss the stunning countryside views
December 13, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Good morning
Sunrise yesterday looking south
When we bought this place ten years ago we didn’t really notice how well it sat within the landscape
I guess there’s so much to see when you view a property
What a fab surprise it was when we noticed
We are going to miss the stunning countryside views
Sunrise yesterday looking south
When we bought this place ten years ago we didn’t really notice how well it sat within the landscape
I guess there’s so much to see when you view a property
What a fab surprise it was when we noticed
We are going to miss the stunning countryside views
Good morning
Musa basjoo (ornamental banana) has now been nuked (technical term) by frost. It will come back bigger and better next spring when the fried (another technical term) leaves will be removed. Leaving them on protects the growing point during winter. It’s humongous!
Have a good day.
Musa basjoo (ornamental banana) has now been nuked (technical term) by frost. It will come back bigger and better next spring when the fried (another technical term) leaves will be removed. Leaving them on protects the growing point during winter. It’s humongous!
Have a good day.
December 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Good morning
Musa basjoo (ornamental banana) has now been nuked (technical term) by frost. It will come back bigger and better next spring when the fried (another technical term) leaves will be removed. Leaving them on protects the growing point during winter. It’s humongous!
Have a good day.
Musa basjoo (ornamental banana) has now been nuked (technical term) by frost. It will come back bigger and better next spring when the fried (another technical term) leaves will be removed. Leaving them on protects the growing point during winter. It’s humongous!
Have a good day.
Good morning
Today marks the passage of the earth around the sun one more time for me
Rather pretty combination of sunrise and mist this morning to help me celebrate
Today marks the passage of the earth around the sun one more time for me
Rather pretty combination of sunrise and mist this morning to help me celebrate
December 8, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Good morning
Today marks the passage of the earth around the sun one more time for me
Rather pretty combination of sunrise and mist this morning to help me celebrate
Today marks the passage of the earth around the sun one more time for me
Rather pretty combination of sunrise and mist this morning to help me celebrate
Good morning
You’d never know this had been jetwashed a week or so earlier!
Owls in residence; one splat of several on the covered terrace that used to be a tobacco barn
Am taking things easy while dealing with all the medications
Have ploughed on for several weeks; maybe not such a good strategy?
You’d never know this had been jetwashed a week or so earlier!
Owls in residence; one splat of several on the covered terrace that used to be a tobacco barn
Am taking things easy while dealing with all the medications
Have ploughed on for several weeks; maybe not such a good strategy?
December 6, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Good morning
You’d never know this had been jetwashed a week or so earlier!
Owls in residence; one splat of several on the covered terrace that used to be a tobacco barn
Am taking things easy while dealing with all the medications
Have ploughed on for several weeks; maybe not such a good strategy?
You’d never know this had been jetwashed a week or so earlier!
Owls in residence; one splat of several on the covered terrace that used to be a tobacco barn
Am taking things easy while dealing with all the medications
Have ploughed on for several weeks; maybe not such a good strategy?
Sunrise this morning, looking west. Self-sown oak tree on the left, just on the farmer’s side of the fence. It’s about 3.4 metres tall now. What’s the betting it came from one of the oaks on the other side of the field? Or perhaps even from one of the oaks further beyond at the top of the hill?
December 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Sunrise this morning, looking west. Self-sown oak tree on the left, just on the farmer’s side of the fence. It’s about 3.4 metres tall now. What’s the betting it came from one of the oaks on the other side of the field? Or perhaps even from one of the oaks further beyond at the top of the hill?
Good morning
I rather like this; food for thought
I rather like this; food for thought
December 3, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Good morning
I rather like this; food for thought
I rather like this; food for thought
Good morning
More planning today, adding more pieces to the jigsaw
Also photographing a few pieces of furniture we won’t be taking with us and offering them for sale
Wish me luck!
Starlings are very interested in our kaki tree at the moment!
More planning today, adding more pieces to the jigsaw
Also photographing a few pieces of furniture we won’t be taking with us and offering them for sale
Wish me luck!
Starlings are very interested in our kaki tree at the moment!
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Good morning
More planning today, adding more pieces to the jigsaw
Also photographing a few pieces of furniture we won’t be taking with us and offering them for sale
Wish me luck!
Starlings are very interested in our kaki tree at the moment!
More planning today, adding more pieces to the jigsaw
Also photographing a few pieces of furniture we won’t be taking with us and offering them for sale
Wish me luck!
Starlings are very interested in our kaki tree at the moment!
Good morning
A new week …
Off to the notaire this afternoon to hand over some documents
Otherwise pressing on with preparing the inventory for the removal quote, a very gritty job
What does your Monday offer you?
Here’s some of our giant dinner plate dahlias before the frost arrived, mug for size
A new week …
Off to the notaire this afternoon to hand over some documents
Otherwise pressing on with preparing the inventory for the removal quote, a very gritty job
What does your Monday offer you?
Here’s some of our giant dinner plate dahlias before the frost arrived, mug for size
November 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Good morning
A new week …
Off to the notaire this afternoon to hand over some documents
Otherwise pressing on with preparing the inventory for the removal quote, a very gritty job
What does your Monday offer you?
Here’s some of our giant dinner plate dahlias before the frost arrived, mug for size
A new week …
Off to the notaire this afternoon to hand over some documents
Otherwise pressing on with preparing the inventory for the removal quote, a very gritty job
What does your Monday offer you?
Here’s some of our giant dinner plate dahlias before the frost arrived, mug for size
The southern sun meets the overnight frost
November 22, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The southern sun meets the overnight frost
Good morning
Big changes ahead.
Big changes ahead.
November 18, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Good morning
Big changes ahead.
Big changes ahead.
Kaki tree in all it’s autumn glory. Well, the beautifully coloured leaves have fallen, now just the fruit remains. Sadly these fruits aren’t particularly palatable, having huge seeds in them. So we will just admire how they look.
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Kaki tree in all it’s autumn glory. Well, the beautifully coloured leaves have fallen, now just the fruit remains. Sadly these fruits aren’t particularly palatable, having huge seeds in them. So we will just admire how they look.
Sunshine on a corner of the house
November 17, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Sunshine on a corner of the house
Some lovely autumn colours still shining at NT Petworth today
November 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Some lovely autumn colours still shining at NT Petworth today