As is now customary, I began the day with a meander round the garden. 
This is how Jackie has refurbished the knackered decking;
and here is her sign for Elizabeth’s bed.
She has positioned stepping stones between Aaron’s paving, and added phlox to the rose garden.
In the former compost bed the dahlia Bishop of Llandaff and a yellow hollyhock now rise among foxgloves and poppies, now adopting their sculptural quality as they begin to seed.
Red hollyhocks bloom elsewhere in the garden. The seeds of this one were a gift from Margery.
Bees were busy on the Phantom Path hebe. You may need to search for this one.
Since it was men’s semi-final day at Wimbledon, I spent the afternoon on the sofa watching tennis balls travel back and forth across the TV screen. Two splendid matches were in progress. In each, one player who performed extremely well was beaten in straight sets by another who played even better. Djokovic was probably expected to beat Gasquet, but the Frenchman put up a great fight, probably playing his best tennis.
Tension was the norm in the match between Murray and the phenomenal Federer. More or less from the start, Andy Murray had his work cut out, but fought back time and again to make us think that perhaps he had a chance. Roger Federer had other ideas.
We learned that Novak Djokovic, a great slider on the tennis court, has engaged Boris Becker as his coach. Between the two matches, we were treated to highlights of the seventeen year old Becker’s first Wimbledon competition, in which he dived and slid all over the place, to become the first unseeded winner of the tournament. I can believe it was thirty years ago I watched that amazing final.
I am not sure who took this amazing photograph, but it appears on Turnstile and Fashion website, advertising the player’s shoes.
After the second match, I helped Jackie plant yesterday’s purchases. This morning she bought a white lace-cap hydrangea for the shady corner by the orange shed. When I hit more concrete and rubble whilst digging the whole, I put the job off for another day, and Jackie stood the plant in a bucket of water.
This evening we dined on succulent roast pork with crisp crackling, boiled potatoes, and cabbage, carrots, and runner beans, followed by profiteroles. Jackie drank Hoegaarden, and I opened a bottle of Louis de Camponac cabernet sauvignon 2014.
I enjoyed the graphic pun on Elizabeth’s bed !
Thank you Cynthia. Actually, Becky gave us that one when she said: ‘It’s a bit harsh making your sister sleep in the garden
🙂
What a great tennis photo. I don’t follow tennis but I am familiar with the players. Glad you’re enjoying it so.
Thanks, Kate
Your summer adventure continues! And I’m forever learning: a profiterole is a choux à la crème !
Thank you Bruce. Happy to educate you
The garden is looking more inviting than ever 🙂 I have seen Becker play… could it be Lendl?…in Sydney though I was more interested in the champagne and canapés they were serving in the corporate box. Can’t tell you a thing about the match though I do remember thinking at the time that the men had nice rumps.
Thank you Mary. So maybe there is something about sport that doesn’t turn you off?
Dear Derrick: that has nothing to do with sport 🙂
I love the knackered decking!
Thank you Pauline
One of my favorite places too, tucked away and not often seen, I can sit there and watch the sunset from that elevated place, I have tried to put plenty of scented plants around. J
You’ve made a beautiful garden Jackie – and I love the way you make something for the eye to admire wherever it looks. I can imagine the scents!
Garden is looking great and menu sounds good. I am available for adoption…
Get the papers drawn up, but there has to be a clause the says you are available for several hours weeding each week.
Yes, there is always a price to be paid for a great garden. I prefer to think in terms of “alternative salad” rather than weeds. 😉
I always thought Djokovic’s playing was more about power, and Federer’s more about style and grace. But since I cut the cord on cable TV, it’s been quite awhile since I’ve seen a tennis match. I do remember that watching made me feel a little stressed out, especially if the player I was rooting for was losing. I never noticed the nice rumps of the players, and now I wish I had. 🙂
Many thanks
Why do I always feel better after I visit here? Thanks, Derrick.
And you, Ann
Love seeing your flower bed and sunshine in your garden Derrick and Jackie – bit cold in Perth at the moment.
Thanks Gay. Nice to see you on here
I so enjoy a stroll with you around your garden – it really is so beautiful now!
Great to catch up on the tennis news – we do not have a TV so miss the odd things we used to enjoy! Thanks for the updates!
Wish you both a great weekend both in the garden and in front of the finals (I’m presuming!)
Thanks, Rob.
There’s always something new to enjoy in the garden. The decking area looks lovely and I did enjoy the poppies and dahlias too.
Many thanks, Peggy
Such beautiful flowers – and that first photo is amazing! Love the positioning of all of the plants – it’s like a magazine.
Thank you Jodie
The photograph of the pink poppies, foxglove and poppy seed heads is magnificent. This must be the loveliest garden in the UK. Years ago, I visited what I thought of as a secret garden in London, I think it was called the Museum of Garden History. I enjoyed it so much because of the charming setting, and the lovely chat I had with the women. They even gave me some seeds to take home and try to grow in Illinois. Your and Jackie’s garden makes that one seem rather pale in comparison. Yours is an absolute riot of color, shape, texture and form.
That is praise indeed, Ginene. Thank you so much
That little garden in London is very beautiful and as you say like a secret paradise in the city. J
The garden is just so lovely Derrick, it’s like a little slice of paradise, truly.
Many thanks, Julie
Ah Becker; we’d just bought our first house that year and sat in the garden ( a flat piece of mud before we laid it out having dug our more bindweed than we had electrical cables inside) and watched it via a portable TV and extension cable. Black and white too. Great memories