This morning’s task was to dig a pit I had chickened out of last night. This was for the lace-cap hydrangea alongside the orange shed. Beneath about two inches of poor soil lay an impacted heap of rubble. With pick-axe, fork, and spade, I managed to get through what we hope is enough of it for the plant to find its way. Jackie filled the hole with good multi-purpose compost, and gave it a good watering.
It takes the two of us a couple of hours to irrigate the trillion hanging baskets, window boxes, tubs, chimney pots, and various other plantings that the Head Gardener has stuffed with flowers. This, today had to form the bread in a sandwich, the filling of which was an absolutely cracking Wimbledon ladies final. Despite dropping the opening game in which she served three double faults, Serena Williams recovered her champion’s composure to win in straight sets, over Garbine Muguruza, who was no push-over. Both women thrilled the crowd, and even I was choked up, with tears in my eyes, at the gleeful dance of the unbeatable American, and the reception given, at the presentation ceremony by the crowd, and by Serena herself, to the runner-up. I cannot call Garbine the loser.
She will be back. But this was the serene Miss Williams’s day, which she was generous enough to share.
It was difficult to get my photos in focus, pointing at the TV, from the sofa, in a somewhat emotional condition.
The lost label rose we bought some days ago, has now produced a flower. We think it may be a David Austin Aloha. When it opens out a bit more, we will have a better idea.
The varieties of nasturtium in the front garden have been multiplied,
as have the day lilies in the main one.
I thought we may have had a visit from an apparently almost extinct butterfly. This, however, is not the Large Tortoiseshell, but the
Comma, attracted by verbena bonarensis.
I am grateful to Norma and Laurie Palmer for correcting me.
The red Bottle Brush bushes are now in flower.
The one above has this view from the pergola path.
Yellow/green nicotiana has now joined its white neighbour on the patio.
We are aiming for a very scented rose garden, but, just at the moment, our new plants cannot compete with our neighbours’ buddleia draped over our fence.
Reminiscent of our pink camellias, which turn pleasing shades of ochre, the sepals of the clematis Carnaby have now matured into the texture of parchment.
This evening we dined on cheese-centred haddock fish cakes; sauteed potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and peppers; and crisp cauliflower and carrots. Jackie drank Hoegaarden, and I drank more of the cabernet sauvignon.
Nasturtiums are a favorite of mine…I have not seen that double-colored one before.. when I see those gorgeous roses, I think it’s too bad “they” haven’t yet developed sniffability on our computers….
Thanks Cynthia 🙂
I never saw nasturtiums with sheared petals like that. Amazing picture of that Tortoiseshell butterfly, Derrick!! Wow!! I also love the way you depicted that bottlebrush. I’m guessing you have mended completely since you are wielding a pick axe. I am very glad.
Thanks Cynthia. Much better, but still using pain relief. Thank you for the compliments. Unfortunately the butterfly is actually a comma 🙁
Such captured beauty!!!
Thanks, Gary
Buddleia is my favourite smell in the garden, after stock. This might be construed as slightly mean of me – the buddleia belonging to the neighbour and the stock nowhere in sight! However, having lost my sense of smell about 10 years ago, the sight of your beautiful garden more than compensates!
Thanks, Bruce. We do have stocks, but not in the rose garden
Very well captured Derrick… beautifulll
Thank you Chitra
Your garden amaze me every day. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you Sylvie
I don’t think I ever shared on my blog that once I had a garden almost exclusively in pots and tubs. I lived on the side of a hill and grew everything on a large deck. It was a magnificent display and I became quite skilled at ‘pot gardening’. The highlight of my day was to arrive home at the end of a long stressful work day and spend a couple of hours watering and tending to my pots. I was convinced it was that one on one care and attention given to every rose, every lemon tree, every clematis and jasmine, every overstuffed basket of lobelia and pansies and geraniums and other flowers who’s names elude me at the moment, that made my pot garden grow in such abundant splendour. Your garden reminds me of that time in my life! 🙂
Jackie will absolutely love this comment, Pauline. (She’s asleep at the moment). In the meantime, you might like this post: http://derrickjknight.com/2012/07/09/merton-in-bloom/
Yes I did! 🙂
Oh Pauline I couldn’t agree more! Watering and dead heading as you go is the best bit of the day. How I would love a lemon tree! I would need an ‘Orangery’ somewhere in the garden to achieve that. maybe one day?
Picking your lemons fresh from the tree as needed is just the best thing! Yes, I watered, dead headed and squished aphids as I went – So often I would lose track of time and not have a single worrisome thought in my head the whole time. I think an Orangerie would be a marvelous thing for you to have – is there any room anywhere though?
I hear a note of impatience at the mention of watering…would it have something to do with what’s on TV? Ah, the opportunities lost on the sport of binge-watching…how fortunate you are to have Jackie’s garden to save you from becoming a couch potato.
Many thanks, Mary 🙂
the red bottle brush look really cool. I am enjoying merlot, at the moment.
Thank you Ashley
Your photos are beautiful, as usual. Even the ones taken off the television! Do you ever use the nasturtiums In salad? They have a nice peppery taste.
Thank you Lisa. We don’t use nasturtiums in salad, but keep talking about doing so. Thanks for the prompt
The leaves taste peppery and the blossoms are nice, too.
Just wonderful take. It requires a special trait to click special features of flowers or any bounty of Nature. You really have been grace this bounty in abundance in our Lord.
Thank you Harbans
My huge huge pleasure sir. :))
That sounds like a busy day. I am pleased that your ‘Phoenix’ nasturtiums have the flowers you expected. A lot of mine – and most of the plants that flowered first – have ‘ordinary’ flowers without those ragged edges. The caterpillars don’t mind though!
Many thanks
Lovely shots. I’m looking forward to the match today.
Thanks. We’ve got to go to a birthday party. Perhaps it will be on
Wonderful shots to see this Sunday morning Derrick!
Thank you, Mary
Awesome flowers… I am in awe of your photographs 🙂
Thank you Himali
I love watching nature photography.. but I am a terrible photographer. Your shots brought me a smile 😊
More stunning photography; but I have to say the cracking match was 120 miles west of Wimbledon
It was – but we don’t have Sky
Ah, my one… Hmm one of my indulgences.
I’m just stubborn. I refuse to subscribe when I would only watch cricket on their channel
I’m totally stubborn… Except there where I’m utterly feeble and a televisual quisling…