After a morning clearing shrubberies and watering window boxes, we took a trip to Efford Recycling Centre. Although we did dump more sections of aluminium frames, probably the last of the alleged ‘greenhouse, unassembled’, the real purpose of the trip was to seek out mirrors from the sales section.
Jackie found two perfect specimens.
Yes, we know each would be an acquired taste, but for what we had in mind they were perfect.
Penny Lane is a climbing rose. Just about a foot tall at the moment it will climb to 8′. The first new bud emerging early this morning was fully opened by the afternoon.
Margaret Merrill, equally virginal crisp and fresh two days ago, glowed, blowsy, in the morning light.
This gloriously hot and sunny afternoon I wandered around the garden whilst Jackie went off to do some shopping.
From the second armchair in the rose garden one can see past tall roses in the Oval Bed to the gladioli in the former compost bed, around flutter numerous butterflies like this Small White:
Leaving the rose garden let us walk through the arch and turn right on the pergola path where agapanthus nods to petunias and montbretia hides in long ornamental grasses.
From the grass patch to the left, looking over the top of the Dump Bench, so called because it was an early purchase from the recycling centre, the stable door is glimpsed.
We have quite a lot of montbretia. It likes shade but doesn’t always hide,
although these pink hollyhocks are attempting to do so.
Later, we hung our mirrors. Now, please don’t run away with the idea that we have both been struck by an attack of narcissism. There is enough seating in the rose garden now to encourage quiet reflection.
The mirrors are positioned to reflect the sunlight into darker corners. One, with the armchair, and the clock, provides a cosy corner for reflection in both senses.
In the third Test Match, Australia rallied and set England 121 to win. The home team lost two wickets in reaching the target.
Our dinner this evening was provided by Hordle Chinese Take Away. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I made further inroads into the beaujolais.
those mirrors….ingenious and aesthetically rewarding!
Thank you, Cynthia. You know whose idea they were
Agreed! I am so impressed with the mirrors.
i knew immediately what Jackie’s plans were for the mirrors – though the clock is a surprise addition!
Thank you Pauline. Great minds…….. Becky provided the clock
The mirrors are a great idea for reflecting sunlight into the dark corners, I love it!
Thanks, Julie
Blowsy, indeed. Speaking of blowsy, I wonder what happened to the Puffy Shirt that Jerry Seinfeld tried to make popular… Has that style caught on yet with men? 🙂
Thank you, Johnna. I had to look up the Puffy Shirt. I’ve never seen one.
Yes, I enjoyed the word blowsy, as well. Got the puffy shirt reference, too. Lol
Thank you, Jodie
Great photos, as always. Love the mirrors.
Thank you, Quercus
Your small white butterfly looks like the cabbage moths we loathe 🙂
Thank you, Weekly.
Mirrors are great idea to use as a reflectors….Genius Derrick…
Thank you Chitra. Genius Jackie, actually. 🙂
Perfect!
Thank you, Ashley
Beautiful scenes, beautifully photographed. Those roses and hollyhocks almost make me want to move somewhere where I could grow them! 🙂
Thank you, Bianca
The mirrors were fantastic finds; they have their own character and frame their reflections well. I love the Margaret Merrill; the flowers reminds me of crushed balls of paper which every writer knows well 🙂 The Montbretia is a weed here; impossible to eradicate though easy enough to pull up. I allow them to colonise the darker corners of my garden; they do look cheerful 🙂
Thank you very much, for all your comments, Mary
Monbretia is a bit of a weed here too, but I love it, with such a big garden there is plenty of room. Breeders have worked hard to get different colours and I have one called ‘Lucifer’ and another called ‘Solfatare’ that one has brownish leaves and a light yellow flower , I am waiting for it to flower and spread so far this year only leaves. Glad you like the mirrors. J
Beautiful roses and the mirrors… an added metaphorical and literary reflective touch… Beauts!! 🙂
Thank you, Rob
They are a great addition to the garden…just perfect! The shots of the garden are very beautiful.
Thank you, Matt
I want to walk in your garden and eat dinner with you 🙂
You would be welcome. Thank you
It would be nice to have you here. J
You make me very nostalgic for an English country garden . . .
Thank you, Gwen
I’m wondering whether the scent of roses is wafting around your neighborhood.
Thank you Lisa. It will be 🙂
Such a beautiful garden. You both have done an amazing job. I like the one mirror with the diagonal edging…Mid Century…kind of.
Thank you, Garry. I think you are right about the mirror. The other is probably a bit later – all right for the garden, but not the house 🙂
I would not mind either mirror in the house, They had to be nice or they don’t get to go in our garden! J
🙂
Well done, Jackie and Apprentice Gardener. Those mirrors were such an inspired idea.
I love those mirrors – such a stylish addition to your already beautiful garden.
Enjoyed the pictures and the words.
Pictures were aesthetic.
I like the picture titled “view-from-grass-patch”.
Words were more clean, clear and simple.
A good post altogether Mr.Derrick 🙂
Reading the post was like watching a Test match. Enjoyed it.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you very much, Satzie, of such a full comment
for
The second photograph of Penny Lane is surely made of icing. It is perfect. (And – may I mention in passing – my -g-grandfather was from Australia.)
Thank you, Bruce. No wonder your gg left for NZ
Absolutely stunning Derrick. I love the mirror idea. I can see why you’d need a clock nearby lol I would pass entire days sitting in your garden I’m sure :))
Thank you, Patricia
Magic photo of Margaret Merrill and lovely mirrors in the garden!
Thank you Anna
You’re welcome. Your posts are always very inspirering 🙂
They look good enough to smell, even if I couldn’t smell kerosene with this cold. Lovely photos.
Thanks, Alex. I hope the cold is improving
Thanks 🙂
Oh my gosh those mirrors Derrick are perfect and an awesome addition. I love your hollyhocks, well I love everything about your gardens.
Thank you Mary
Well, I must repeat the others: the Margaret Merrill photo is magical. The light makes it seems otherworldly. Your photo is perfect.
And yes, Jackie is genius for the mirrors. I am going to remember this idea forever. I don’t need to add shazam to a garden wall quite yet, in my enormous as-yet-ungardened field, but I will pull this memory out again, one day. Now if only there will be fabulous mirrors available at a recycling center on the day I go looking.
Thank you Crystal. May you find your magic mirrors
Your rose photos are beautiful! The garden is looking very colourful at the moment, really enjoyed this post. Glad you had a fruitful trip to the recycling centre too! 🙂
Thank you, Becka
I love the mirrors, and the stroll through your garden was delightful, as well as your accompanying descriptions. I haven’t encountered the word “blowsy” in I don’t know how long!
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.