On another warm and sunny day that, once we had got going in the garden, felt like the height of summer, we continued soil preparation. In addition to all her other maintenance tasks
Jackie dug in the compost she had laid on the Palm Bed yesterday,
and I completed the mulching of the rose garden with three more 100 litre bags of Landscape Bark. I swear they are becoming heavier by the day.
Looking from the Back Drive towards this section,
or across the Helicon Path towards the house,
one can see the burgeoning new growth popping up everywhere.
We now have profusions of Spanish bluebells,
and of forget-me-nots.
Permanently perched on the telephone cable over Christchurch Road is a male collared dove,
pretending he is nothing to do with the nest in our holly tree upon which his lady is incubating.
Even when paying a visit, he first lands on the flowering cherry photographed yesterday. Since he is quite a ponderous creature he shakes the boughs freeing many cherry petals,
just as Matthew did to the delight of Hannah, Ben, and Sam in May 1983.
This evening we dined at Dynasty in Brockenhurst with Elizabeth, Danni and Andy. My choice was lamb shatkora, special fried rice an onion bhaji. Along with Jackie I drank Kingfisher. The others drank red wine, cobra, or coke. Service and food were excellent.
The restaurant is close to the ford which we could see was waterlogged. As we were ten minutes early, I sniffed a photo opportunity and wandered down the road.
This was the scene as I approached, directly into the sun.
I was a bit slow to catch two cyclists wheeling through their spray. As they passed me I cried: ‘You wouldn’t like to do that again, would you’. ‘Do it again?’ was the reply. ‘Yes’, I answered.
They immediately turned tail, sped through the water,
and, returning quite happily, enjoyed another shower.
Ha! That was obliging of those cyclists!
Wasn’t it, Jenny? Thanks
I love the photo of the children with the flower petals. It’s stunning and captures the sheer joy they’re feeling.
So funny about the cyclists going through the water again. 🙂
Many thanks, Merril
So beautiful as usual but I really loved the photograph with the children under the cherry petals. It is really a fantastic one!
Thank you so much, Geetha
Welcome. I am always in awe of your keen eye for beautiful images
Such fun! I always enjoy reading about your meals. My palate is terribly unsophisticated in comparison.
Many thanks, Leslie
The showering petals photo is always a winner – I’m sure if you entered it in some competition or other it would be a winner too. Or have you already done that? And Hoorah! for the cyclists 🙂
Thanks, Pauline. There are a number of prints knocking around, but I don’t really do competitions. Yes, good on the cyclists
From someone who’s had two back surgeries, take it easy lifting those bags, Derrick.
Everything looks so green and blue too! Love those cyclists!
Thanks, Jill. It has been quite a shock to find I can’t lift the big ones on my own. I was so pleased that the cyclists entered into the spirit
I am playing catch up tonight, Derrick. I enjoyed more garden photos. The collared dove in the present made me smile, guarding his partner while she is nesting.
The old photo with Matthew unseen, but shaking branches with pink blossoms floating over the delightful trio, was a gorgeous family treasure. You could blow this up and make a framed portrait. 🙂
Thanks, Robin. There are a number of copies of that print including one that Hannah and Ben’s father still has on his wall
Jenny said it first: Such obliging cyclists!
Weren’t they, Lisa? Thanks
The bikers seemed to go in a cycle.
in a washing machine. Thanks, Bruce
That was a response I wasn’t expecting in a thousand years!
New growth and birds, love it. Love cycling too, I would have done the same thing, turned around and gone through the puddle again. 🙂
Thanks, Miriam
Hey, I know that dove, it’s from New Mexico. It crapped on my car. 🙂
Served you right 🙂 Hope you are settling in Johnna
I can’t think of anything I’ve done (lately) that would deserve a retaliation from karma like that, Sir Derrick. Thanks for asking, settling in and trying to adjust, especially to what may be a woodpecker that enjoys the dawn. 🙂
I do hope it is a woodpecker. I’m sure you don’t deserve any crap
I’m not sure… it could be my refrigerator. New sounds to get used to and all. But, just in case, I’ll be looking for that woodpecker…
Loved the photo of the children enjoying the cherry petals.
Thanks, Mostly
I love the photo of the dove 🙂
Thanks, Sylvie
Such a blue, blue sky, and a dove sending down pink snow…..lovely.
Thanks, Cynthia
Lovely day. Thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, Jim
I’m really glad to see that those cyclists are wearing helmets. I absolutely dread dealing with cyclists in city traffic. Excellent photograph into the sun, by the way.
Thanks, John. Cyclists are a nightmare in the New Forest, but these two will now have us feeling more forgiving
so lovely
Many thanks hapehorizontin
Your hard work in the garden is really paying off.
Thanks, Jessica. You would know about hard work 🙂
Another great day and – who doesn’t like going through puddles?!!! 🙂
Exactly, GP. Thanks
A cup of tea in the morning would do nicely in this garden.
Thanks, Joanne
Your garden looks like a slice of heaven, and all the more impressive from where it started. The children dancing in the petals made me smile, and the bikers made me laugh. What a great way to start a day. Thank you, Derrick.
Such a beautiful garden, Derrick! Precious photo of Hannah, Ben, and Sam.
I like the water splash the two bikers made. 🙂 🙂
Many thanks, Amy
Excellent post – I love how you bring the old photo into the current story. And, of course the cyclists obliged! Who can resist your charm? : ) Garden is SO beautiful – love the names for the areas.
Thank you so much, Jodie
I think I’ve seen the one with Hannah, Ben and Sam before. Is that right? It is a splendid photo and should be used to illustrate cherry blossoms as often as possible.
The photos with the cyclists are nice, and the story behind it makes them better.
Many thanks, Crystal. You are right about the cherry blossom picture.