Dear Kathleen I do hope everyone is well? I saw this at Hampton Court, and yes it is made from clay! My camera does not do this justice as the detail is fantastic. It is not cast but every bit hand done. My friend loved it so much she bought it for her garden, although where she is to put it I am not sure. A fantastic piece of work I think.
Regards.
Neil.

For porkpal a Sempervivum pig!

That's my kind of chicken - one that doesn't need to be fed! I like the pig, too. My experiences with fowl and swine have led me to believe that I am indeed a person meant to deal with cows, stupid things that they can be.

To all you lurkers, welcome and jump right in!

VERY cool Neil

vic said:VERY cool Neil

Thanks, Neil! - I like the hen too...

Dear porkpal, I had to take the photos as they made me laugh. The clay chicken is of no use to Kathleen as it needs to be nursed over the winter indoors as it is clay, and would crack in the frost. The pig is no use at all, as it would need to be watered, which is not a lot of use to you in a drought!
Sorry for my sense of humour.
However this is Alium a member of the garlic family, try weeding this!
Kindest regards.
Neil.

lol! and I'm allergic to onions! Not garlic, but definitely onions!
Honestly, as long as they don't run out of the fence or yard, I could probably deal with them. Maybe not the pig...

Pigs are under-appreciated!

Not on my plate.

Dear Kathleen, my new Article on the Chelsea Flower Show is at http://garden.org/ideas/view/N...
Don't worry Part 2 in the beginning is a tribute to farmers!

Neil.

A magnificent wild rooster that lives in town near the Animal Shelter Flea Market. I wish I could get closer, he's really Some Bird!

teehee

Oh wow, Neil! As usual your pictures are fantastic and the subject matter almost unbelievable. Are all those displays - even the entire gardens - actually set up in only one month?

Dear porkpal, yes they are as that is all you get! I won a Silver medal at Chelsea the first time whilst at college, then a Silver Gilt medal, but for a nursery I worked for I won a Gold medal on my own, and that is astonishingly hard work!
Yes of course you get help as it is held on the lawns of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea. This is not a Hospital for the Royal family, it was set up hundreds of years ago for the Chelsea pensioners. They are ex military and go there to live, as some are not well at all and are over 65 years old.
Every year they give up their park/gardens and it is dug up for the show and every exhibitor, after the show has to put their park/gardens back together again. It is not an easy task, believe me as you get a lot of people, including H.M. Queen at Chelsea each year for the week it is on. Last year the day i went there was 175,000 people there in the morning, packed into 6 acres! Which does not sound a lot but, the gardens and all the stands take a lot of room up, and of course the Beer tents.
Here is a Chelsea Pensioner!
Regards.
Neil.

This is the Royal Hospital where they live and are loved by the British public.

Impressive. The British really know how to do this sort of thing - no effort spared to get the right result.

Dear porkpal, only the best will do at any of the RHS shows!
Wait till you see Part2.
Nice to hear from you, and yes I love pigs.!
Regards.
Neil.

Just a lurker and a learner here. We have 5.5 acres and I'm wanting to learn how make good use of it. I have 3 Plymouth Barred Rock chickens (plan to get more), small veggie garden and plants EVERYWHERE. Great place to learn here!

Welcome, pdoyle! My first chickens were Barred Rocks and I still have some - among others - they are one of my favorite breeds.