926 
With pots and hanging baskets competing for space with border herbs and burgeoning bushes, it’s dizzying, as all these
Diamond dog…
he first thing you notice when you step inside Ellen Clancy’s family 
cottage over in Blacklion is the fact that there are flowers pretty much everywhere.
With pots and hanging baskets competing for space with border herbs and burgeoning bushes, it’s dizzying, as all these 
beauties vie for your attention. And affection. And maybe even a quick up of fertiliser, while you’re at it.
The second thing you notice, of course, are the dogs. They were being kept indoors, and away from Max, this afternoon, thanks to a bug that had everyone up until 5am. “Never had anything like that before,” says Ellen. “Shocking…“
Ellen was born and raised in this fine little house, and it was her father’s love of gardening that ensured this happy home would always be covered with roses, dahlias, daisies, and all sorts of exotic and aromatic flowers found tither and hither.
“That’s the great thing about plants,” nods Ellen, “they just keep on giving. So, the smallest cutting can turn into your biggest blossom, and sometimes, I’m not even sure what we’ve ended up with in the garden. There’s one green beauty, and I still haven’t been able to find out what it’s called.”
We took our chance this afternoon when there was a break in the rain to have a quick tour of this inviting array of plants and flowers. And it just about made the sun come out.
“Next time, stay for a cup of tea,” finishes Ellen, as Max and I begin to head. “We were so busy with the flowers, and the dogs, we never really got around to any good gossip…”
 
 
 
