This morning we drove to Highcliffe for coffee with Caroline and Keith Martin, with whom Margery had put us in touch. This was a very enjoyable meeting. All thanks to Margery.
Meanwhile our garden tour continues.
We call this Elizabeth’s red climbing rose, because it is in a bed she cleared last autumn.
A bee burrowed into one of the recently blooming rhododendron flowers,
which can be seen alongside the Phantom Path, so called because of an eponymous ghost-like hydrangea, not yet flowering and not seen in this shot.
These are views from each end of the Heligan Path.
Another winding path leads from the proposed rose garden to the back drive. Jackie, on this very hot day, is to be seen watering her new tub planting.
Forming a kind of clef in branching off from this is a gravel track surrounding the Oval Bed. Along the back fence is Elizabeth’s Bed.
It is only this year that we have paid due attention to the small front garden. The freshly planted blue hydrangea has yet to mature, and is consequently dwarfed by the red potted foxglove.
It was the creation of this previously ill-defined path that gave us the necessary impetus.
The head gardener correctly informs me that two days ago I incorrectly termed The Brick Path The Agriframes Arch Path,
because it also contains The Gothic Arch. We erected this last year and, on one side, retrained two roses that had been lost in the jungle, and on the other, planted two clematises.
Just a few yards down Downton Lane
honeysuckle
and white roses festoon the hedgerows. (are those spider’s eggs behind the central bloom?)
After the usual long stint in the garden, Jackie roasted the succulent pork, and the crunchy crackling; baked the crisp Yorkshire pudding; and produced the tasty gravy for our dinner, whilst I prepared the vegetables. These latter included carrots, green beans, and mange tout; but I was particularly proud of the Anya potatoes, three weeks past their best before date, that, after complete desprouting and partial peeling, tasted as good as new, although they were somewhat reduced in size. I drank Casillero del Diablo cabernet sauvignon reserva 2013, but I was enjoying the potatoes before I began it.
Life is sweet, Derrick. A garden like that and then roast pork with crackling. PG Wodehouse would have had trouble marrying it all – early summer day etc, etc.
Ps Your garden looks amazing.
Many thanks Alex. I know you read them all, and much appreciate it.
Beautiful garden !:)
Thank you Sylvie
A rose by any other name… I refer of course to the tubs-waterer.
TEE HEE
What an amazing garden! Thanks for the tour! Pork and crackling, eh? Mmmmm!
Many thanks Dale
Beautiful!
Thank you Pauline
It was difficult to scroll past Elizabeth’s red rose; what a beauty. Enjoyed the stroll around the rest of your garden; looking good! Crackling – yum. Haven’t had pork since I’ve been in Turkey.
Thank you Mary. It is an amazing rose
And Jackie was pleased the photo didn’t have a bee on it 🙂
Haha I actually tried to take a bee photo yesterday but it didn’t stand out so I didn’t post it.
That rose is perfect.
Thank you Lisa
My compliments to the Head Gardener (and you, of course)! Everything is absolutely beautiful
Lovely tranquility.I have no idea how you keep the curious and admiring away. I am in the US but would leap across if I could, just to have a look.
The head gardener says: ‘Lovely’
Your garden looks fantastic and I love all of the winding pathways overflowing with plants!
Thank you Matt
Visual Delight. Enjoyed the post. Thank you for posting.
Many thanks Satzie
This garden keeps looking better! I am so impressed by all the changes since I first began reading. It must be restorative to spend your time out there – if you ever give yourself a chance to sit in the shade and soak it in.
Thank you Crystal. We need the blog to remind us what it all looked like when we arrived on 31st March last year.
Thanks for the garden walk. Amazing beauty!
Thank you Anna
Thanks for the refreshing stroll through your lovely garden:)