Here are some of the fruits of Jackie’s recent and past creative labours in the garden: 
Helen and Bill gave us this box for Christmas. It has now been filled with plants and placed on the wall surrounding the recently converted compost heap, providing a signal to visitors that they have come up the correct back drive. These concrete blocks are some of those I dug out of the kitchen garden last year.
Where there was a ramshackle, fairly useless, cobbled, fence today’s Birthday Girl has produced a natural barrier. All that remains is for Aaron to finish paving the projected rose garden, and consequently removing the bag of sand and stack of bricks. I did help bag up the rubble, and moved remaining rocks and concrete blocks to other parts of the garden, where Jackie reinforced border edges and laid stepping stones across the beds with them.
Somewhat flattened and spattered by the battering of yesterday’s gales, this large blue clematis was such a weedy little thing last year that we incorrectly identified it. It has been lovingly fed and nurtured through the winter. Still not sure of its identity, we know that its splendid sepals must belong to a different variety.
We have hanging baskets wherever a hook can be hitched. These marigolds swing from the eucalyptus tree. At least, they do today. Features tend to be moved around, and sometimes I only spot this when I bang my head on them.
This afternoon a fly engaged in mountaineering atop a new deep pink climber heavily pruned and retrained last autumn;
and a gargantuan humble bee, the pollen dusting adding the last straw to prevent a standing take-off, tumbled to the ground as Jackie carefully flicked the slug bait off the recently planted erigeron Sea Breeze, on which the creature was becoming intoxicated. The insect lumbered off, rather like Eric the pheasant. The bait, by the way, is of the type unharmful to birds.
This afternoon we dumped several bags of rubble into the Efford Recycling Centre.
With 50 m.p.h. winds forecast overnight, Jackie toured the garden taking down and sheltering her hanging baskets. Goodness knows where the above marigolds will be found tomorrow.
This evening we dined at The Plough in Tiptoe, where we found the usual efficient, friendly service, and superb, plentiful food. Jackie’s choice was the half rack of ribs. I once had the whole rack and had as much trouble managing to eat it all as I had with today’s mixed grill.
I have featured this feast before, and make no apology for photographing it again, because it has to be seen to be believed. However, because this huge plate is piled high, I bet you can’t list everything on it. Don’t be deceived by the steak knife. It is itself of proportions that would have suited Jim Bowie. Jackie enjoyed the pub’s legendary creme brûlée. I was so full I could not manage a sweet. Jackie drank Becks. My choice of beverage was Doom Bar.
Happy Birthday Jackie – the garden is looking beautiful! Derrick, that plate of food is rather impressive!!
It’s still having an impression Pauline 🙂
Ha!
Thank you Pauline, We have gales here now so I fear for the poor garden!
Blood Pudding, grilled chicken, egg, some kind of sausage (a banger?), broiled tomato, fried onion rings and potatoes, peas (those can’t be the mushy type you’ve referred to because they aren’t mushed!), parsley, a broiled plum? and something that looks like a chicken neck but could be bacon and I have no idea of what that pink thing is near the tomato. Do tell, Derreck, what is it?
Jackie, Happy Birthday from the U.S.A.!!!
Ginene
Thanks Ginene, love your description of D’s dinner!!
Wow, I’m impressed with your list! I thought that piece looked like a chicken neck too. A lamb chop?
Thanks Crystal. Yes, I believe it is called a cutlet because it is small
We are both screaming with laughter here, Ginene. Very well done. That pink thing is a piece of kidney; the chicken neck is a lamb cutlet; concealed beneath the egg is a gammon steak; and underneath the rest a beef steak.
I read what I wrote and I was laughing over here, too. It cracked me up.
I was going to list everything Ginene had said except I would’ve got everything correct (yeah right – it’s called cut and paste). Happy Birthday Jackie!
Thanks Bruce. Message appreciated by Jackie
Having been a vegetarian for 28 years until 2007 went I came back over to the dark side, I have NO idea what all that stuff is and admire Ginene’s ability to name it! That’s a LOTTA food, Derrick. Happy birthday to Jackie, whose garden is gorgeous. May she have many more happy gardening plans and much enjoyment!
Thank you Lisa. Message passed on. Jackie was pleased
What a birthday banquet; hope it was a happy feast for Jackie. Is that a slice of black pudding underneath the kidney? Don’t tell me you ate it all.
Thank you Mary. It was, and yes, and yes 🙂
Hello Derrick, I am so very fond of your beautiful garden and that plate is to die for! We are relatively new to the blogging world and are excited to have found you. Happy gardening (and dining (:
Many thanks. Welcome aboard.
thank you kind sir
Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said the bee was gargantuan. That is beyond huge!
Happy Birthday to Jackie from Texas!! A wonderful banquet of delicious foods ~
Thank you Mary. Message passed on, and welcomed.
Happy Belated Birthday, Jackie! Lol, Ginene. I thought that was a chicken neck too.
Gorgeous garden and spectacular pictures. Amazed by the bumble bee
Thank you Cynthia. Jackie appreciated the birthday wishes.
“Sometimes I only spot this when I bang my head upon them. ” So funny. I do the same as your lovely wife. You have to put them where they fit.
Heads? or hanging baskets? 🙂
Funny guy – You should see my cabbage patch – I may HAVE to put some of those heads elsewhere.
🙂
Beautiful flowers (love that clematis shot) and looks like delicious food. While I’ve enjoyed Becks, I’d not heard of Doom Bar.
Thank you Laurie. Doom bar is a Cornish beer that I had not heard of until I came to live in the South coastal area.